If you swear by Editor pants, Portofino shirts, and Dolce Vita boots, you may have considered adding an Express credit card to your wallet. And, depending on how much you’re actually spending on said products, that plastic could be a worthwhile addition. But shopaholics beware: If you charge more than you can afford, you’ll pay handsomely on interest. Here’s what you should know about the Express credit card:
That’s the formal title of the Express store credit card, issued through Comenity Bank. Express Next cardholders earn 20 points per dollar spent, plus a few other benefits, including monthly bonus point opportunities and an annual birthday gift. They get a $10 rewards certificate for every 2,500 points earned. Cardholders who earn 7,500 points in a program year will achieve A-List status, which entitles them to a $15 reward certificate for every 2,500 points earned, free standard shipping on Express.com orders and a premium birthday gift. A program year is defined as March 1 to the last day of the following February.
The rewards return is pretty good as far as store credit cards go. There’s no annual fee, so, if you don’t carry a balance, it won’t cost you anything to have the card in your wallet. Plus, the card has some cool tech components, including an app that tracks your points and rewards. You also get 20% off your first purchase when you open a credit card account.
Something else to keep in mind: Store credit cards tend to have lower credit score standards, so if you’re looking for a card to establish some credit, you may have some luck here. (You can see where your credit currently stands by viewing two of your credit scores on Credit.com.)
It carries a variable 29.24% annual percentage rate (APR) and late payment fees up to $39, so if you’re prone to carrying a balance or missing payments, this is not the card for you.
That’s the other big drawback: The Express Next credit card isn’t backed by a major network, like Visa or Mastercard, so you can only use it at Express. Similarly, the rewards you earn can only be redeemed there as well. You’ll be notified via email when a rewards certificate is available and be sure to use them imminently. Certificates expire at a minimum of 60 days from issuance. Points can also expire on a rolling 12-month period unless used toward a reward certificate.
As with most store credit cards, the Express Next credit card could be worthwhile if you’re a frequent shopper who pays off their purchases in full. If that doesn’t sound like you, here are a few other cards to consider. (Note: See card agreements for full terms and conditions.)
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Why We’re Mentioning it: Because if you’re prone to carrying a balance, you’ll want to opt for a low-interest credit card. The Barclaycard Ring Mastercard offers a APR on balance transfers and purchases.
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Need more details before making a decision about what credit card might be right for you? Luckily, we’ve got a full review of the Discover it and a deep dive into the Barclaycard Ring Mastercard. Plus, we’ve got the skinny on more cash rewards credit cards in our “Best of” roundup.
At publishing time, the Barclaycard Ring Mastercard credit cards are offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply and ultimately sign up for these cards. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment. This content is not provided by the card issuer(s). Any opinions expressed are those of Credit.com alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer(s).
Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.
This article was last updated on April 25, 2019.
