What the B&H Photo Video Credit Card Does
The B&H Photo Video credit card is a store card issued by Synchrony Bank that works only at B&H Photo Video, an electronics and camera retailer. You use it to make purchases at their physical stores or online, and you earn rewards on those purchases. The card offers promotional financing options — meaning zero-interest periods on certain purchases — which is the main reason people open it.
This is not a general-purpose credit card. You cannot use it at other retailers, restaurants, or gas stations. It only works at B&H Photo Video. If you shop there regularly for cameras, computers, lighting, or audio equipment, the rewards and financing offers may be worth having. If you shop there once a year, it probably is not.
Key Takeaways
- The B&H Photo Video card earns rewards only on purchases at B&H Photo Video stores and their website, not elsewhere.
- The main benefit is promotional financing — typically zero interest for 12 to 24 months on purchases above a certain amount, depending on the promotion running that month.
- You need to check your credit report and know your credit score before opening any store card, because approval depends on your credit history.
- Store cards usually have higher interest rates than general credit cards, so carrying a balance after the promotional period ends costs more.
- The card reports to the three major credit bureaus, so it affects your credit score both when you open it and when you use it.
How Rewards and Promotional Financing Work
When you use the B&H Photo Video card at B&H, you earn rewards points on your purchase. The exact rewards rate varies — B&H runs different promotions at different times. You typically earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar spent, depending on what you are buying and what promotion is active. Those points convert to statement credits, meaning they reduce your bill.
The bigger draw for most cardholders is the promotional financing. B&H regularly offers zero-interest periods on purchases over a certain amount — often $500 or $1,000. If you buy a camera for $1,200 and the current promotion is 18 months zero interest, you pay nothing in interest if you pay off the full $1,200 within 18 months. After 18 months, if any balance remains, the regular interest rate kicks in retroactively on the entire purchase.
This matters: if you do not pay off the full amount before the promotional period ends, you owe interest on the whole purchase from the original purchase date, not just on what is left. This is called deferred interest. Many people think they only pay interest on the remaining balance, but that is not how it works.
Interest Rates and Fees You Should Know
The B&H Photo Video card does not have an annual fee. However, the regular interest rate — the rate you pay if you carry a balance after any promotional period ends — is typically higher than rates on general credit cards. Store cards often range from 19% to 27% APR, depending on your credit score and current market rates. You will see the exact rate in your cardholder agreement after you are approved.
Late payments carry a penalty. If you miss a payment, you may face a late fee and a higher interest rate. Missing a payment also reports to the credit bureaus and damages your credit score. The promotional financing offer can also be cancelled if you miss a payment, which means deferred interest kicks in when ready.
If you carry a balance and the promotional period ends, the interest accrues daily on your remaining balance. A $500 balance at 24% APR costs roughly $10 per month in interest alone. This is why promotional financing is only a good deal if you have a concrete plan to pay off the purchase before the period ends.
How Opening This Card Affects Your Credit
When you open the B&H Photo Video card, the issuer pulls your credit report — this is called a hard inquiry. A hard inquiry temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points, usually 5 to 10 points. The impact fades over time, but it is real and when ready.
Once the card is open, it reports to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Your credit utilization — the percentage of your credit limit you are using — affects your score. If the card has a $2,000 limit and you charge $1,000, your utilization on that card is 50%. High utilization lowers your score. Keeping your balance below 30% of the limit is generally better for your score.
The card also reports your payment history. Making on-time payments helps your score over time. Missing payments or carrying a balance hurts it. If you open this card only to use the promotional financing and then close it after you pay off the purchase, closing the account also affects your score — it reduces the total credit available to you and can raise your utilization on other cards.
When This Card Makes Sense to Open
The B&H Photo Video card is worth considering if you are planning a specific large purchase at B&H and you can pay it off during the promotional period. For example, if you are buying a $2,000 camera system and the current promotion is 24 months zero interest, you can spread the cost over two years interest-free. That is genuinely useful if you have the income to pay roughly $85 per month.
It also makes sense if you shop at B&H regularly — multiple times per year — and the rewards rate is high enough that the points add up to real savings. If you spend $3,000 per year at B&H and earn 2 points per dollar, that is 6,000 points. If those points are worth $60 in statement credits, that is a 2% return on your spending.
The card does not make sense if you shop at B&H rarely, if you cannot commit to paying off a promotional purchase before interest kicks in, or if you are trying to rebuild credit — store cards have higher interest rates and are harder to use strategically than general credit cards.
What Happens If You Cannot Pay Off the Promotional Purchase
If the promotional period ends and you still owe money, deferred interest applies. This means you owe interest on the full original purchase amount, not just the remaining balance. If you bought a $1,500 item on 18 months zero interest and still owe $300 when month 18 ends, you owe interest on the full $1,500 from the purchase date forward.
At that point, your options are limited. You can pay the remaining balance in full when ready to stop the interest clock. You can try to transfer the balance to another credit card with a lower rate, though balance transfers also carry fees and may not be possible if your credit score has dropped. Or you can continue paying the card at the higher interest rate, which costs more money over time.
The best protection is to calculate the monthly payment you need before you make the purchase. If the promotion is 18 months and you owe $1,500, you need to pay at least $83 per month to clear it. If that is not realistic for your budget, do not use the promotional financing.
Comparing This Card to Other Options
If you are buying electronics or camera gear, you have other choices. A general rewards credit card — one that works anywhere — might offer 1.5% to 2% cash back on all purchases. Over time, that can add up to more than a store card's rewards, especially if you shop at multiple retailers. General cards also have lower interest rates if you do carry a balance.
Saving up and paying cash avoids interest entirely and means you do not have to worry about a promotional period ending. If you can wait a few months to save the money, that is often the cheapest option.
Some retailers offer in-store financing through third-party lenders that are not tied to a credit card. B&H sometimes offers these as well. These work similarly to the card's promotional financing but do not affect your credit score in the same way. Read the terms carefully — some charge origination fees or have different rules about deferred interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the B&H Photo Video card anywhere besides B&H?
No. This is a store card that works only at B&H Photo Video locations and on their website. You cannot use it at other retailers, online marketplaces, or anywhere else. If you need a credit card for general use, you need a different card.
What is the difference between the promotional interest rate and the regular interest rate?
The promotional rate is zero percent for a set period — usually 12 to 24 months — on purchases above a certain amount. After that period ends, the regular interest rate applies to any remaining balance. The regular rate is typically 19% to 27% APR, depending on your credit score. If you do not pay off the full amount before the promotion ends, you owe interest on the entire original purchase, not just what is left.
Does opening this card hurt my credit score?
Yes, but usually only temporarily. The hard inquiry when you open the card lowers your score by a few points. Over time, the impact fades. However, if you carry a high balance or miss payments, the damage is longer-lasting. Keeping your balance low and paying on time helps your score recover.
What happens if I close the card after I pay it off?
Closing the card removes that credit limit from your total available credit, which can raise your credit utilization on other cards and lower your score slightly. It also removes the card's payment history from your active accounts. If you plan to close it, wait at least a few months after paying off the balance so the positive payment history has time to help your score.
Can I transfer a balance from another card to the B&H card?
Typically, no. Store cards usually do not accept balance transfers. They are designed for purchases at that retailer only. If you want to move a balance from another card, you would need to transfer it to a different general credit card that offers balance transfer promotions.