JCPenney Credit Card Review 2024 (2024)

The JCPenney Credit Card, issued by Synchrony Bank, is a store card that earns 1 JCPenney Rewards point for each $1 spent on a qualifying purchase at JCPenney stores or jcp.com using your JCPenney credit card account. If you use a different payment method, you will receive 1 point for every $2 spent on a qualifying purchase up to the point maximum. That rate is the same whether you shop in-person or online and it’s double the rate you’ll get as a JCPenney rewards member without the card.

Depending on how much you spend on purchases throughout the year, you can earn Gold or Platinum status. These statuses entitle you to extra benefits including additional discount days and special coupons.

While this card could be decent for loyal JCPenney customers, its use is limited only to JCPenney stores. This severely hampers its applicability in day-to-day life. Those who qualify for it would likely be better off with the JCPenney Mastercard* that earns points everywhere you spend, or with one of the top credit cards for shopping.

• You’ll earn 1 JCPenney Rewards point for each $1 spent on a qualifying purchase at JCPenney stores or jcp.com using your JCPenney credit card account. If you use a different payment method, you will receive 1 point for every $2 spent on a qualifying purchase up to the point maximum. This is double the earning rate of non-cardholder rewards members, who earn 1 point for every $2 of spend at JCPenney
• Special financing is available to cardholders, subject to credit approval
• Fair to good credit recommended

Earning Rewards

The JCPenney Credit Card offers a simple earning structure: Earn 1 point per dollar spent. After earning 200 points, you’ll receive a $10 reward, which means each point is worth $0.05 cents. This is equivalent to earning 5% back on your purchases.

Members can earn a maximum of 2,000 points on any single purchase. If you’re making a purchase over $2,000, you should split it into multiple transactions.

Be aware that your points will expire after 12 months of inactivity. Keep them current by earning points on a qualifying purchase at least once per year.

After spending $500 in a year, you’ll reach Gold status, which entitles you to a passbook of coupons. After spending $1,000 in a year, you’ll reach Platinum status, which offers bonus points days and an extra 30% off on special days, in addition to the coupon book. You’ll also receive an extra $5 on your birthday coupon ($15 instead of $10).

New cardholders can get an extra discount on purchases when you open and use your JCPenney Credit Card. The card offers a 35% discount on select apparel, shoes, accessories, fine jewelry and home, a 20% discount on blinds and shades, housewares, storage and organization, watches, salon products, fragrances and select JCPenney Beauty as well as a 5% discount applies to electrics/electronics, Modern Bride® Design Your Dream Ring and smartwatches.

Redeeming Rewards

Rewards can be redeemed online or in-store. Online, you can sign in to your account at www.jcp.com/rewards to view and redeem your rewards. In-store, you’ll need to provide the phone number or email address associated with your account to access your available certificates.

Rewards Potential

Based on Forbes Advisor’s estimates, the 50th percentile of wage-earning households brings in $91,162 annually and can reasonably charge $28,431 a year to credit cards.

If all purchases are made using the JCPenny card, the 6,758 points earned would result in 33 $10 reward certificates per year, or $330 worth of merchandise at JCPenney, with $7.90 left over.

• Additional discounts: Gold and Platinum members receive a passbook of coupons.
• Platinum appreciation: Platinum members earn additional special offers.

Interest Rates

• APR: 31.24% variable APR on purchases
• Purchase Intro APR: N/A
• Balance Transfer Intro APR: N/A

Fees

• Annual fee: $0
• Balance transfer fee: N/A
• Foreign purchase transaction fee: N/A

JCPenney Credit Card* vs. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

While the JCPenney credit card will give you better earnings for your purchases at its stores, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Cardoffers a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

As a Mastercard, you can use your Capital One card in many locations worldwide, which can exponentially increase your annual earnings. This is in direct contrast to the JCPenney card, which can only be used in-store and online at JCPenney.com.

Although the Capital One card charges a $39 annual fee, it is possible to make up for this with your expanded opportunities to earn rewards.

JCPenney Credit Card* vs. Citi Double Cash® Card*

Even better, the Citi Double Cash® Card* earns 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off, with no bonus categories to keep track of or limits to how much cash back you can earn.

With the JCPenney Card, your points expire after a year of inactivity but with the Double Cash, your cash-back rewards are earned as ThankYou Points which won’t expire as long as your account is open. Your points can be redeemed for a statement credit, direct deposit or check, as well as gift cards and travel.

JCPenney Credit Card* vs. U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Another option is the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, which outshines the JCPenney Credit Card by earning 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center, 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories of choice, 2% cash back on one everyday category such as gas stations, grocery stores or restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. You can change these categories quarterly, so you’ll always have the option to earn a full 5% back in one area of your spending (up to the quarterly limit).

It also charges a $0 annual fee and offers other benefits, such as a 0% introductory APR for new purchases. There is a $25 minimum for reward redemptions.

Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors including:

• Annual fees
• Welcome bonus offers
• Ongoing earning rates
• Value of individual points or miles
• Included travel or merchant credits
• Additional cardholder benefits

Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors came together to provide a star rating for each individual card.