What the Nordstrom Bank Credit Card Is
The Nordstrom Bank credit card is a store card issued by Nordstrom Bank, a subsidiary of Nordstrom Inc. It works like most retail cards: you use it to buy things at Nordstrom stores and on Nordstrom.com, and you pay back what you owe each month. The card comes with rewards in the form of points you can spend on future purchases, and it offers some perks specific to Nordstrom shoppers.
Nordstrom Bank also issues a second version called the Nordstrom Bank Visa card, which works at any merchant that takes Visa, not just Nordstrom. The two cards have different rewards structures and different annual fees, so the choice between them depends on where you shop most often.
Key Takeaways
- The standard Nordstrom card earns points only at Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com, while the Nordstrom Visa card earns points everywhere but has an annual fee.
- Both cards require you to have a credit history and a credit score in the fair to good range to be considered, though exact score requirements vary by applicant.
- The card's interest rate (called the APR) is not fixed and depends on your creditworthiness at the time you open the account.
- Nordstrom offers a discount on your first purchase when you open the card, but this is a one-time offer and not a reason to open an account you won't use regularly.
How Rewards Work on the Nordstrom Card
The standard Nordstrom card earns points at a rate that varies by what you buy. You typically earn 1 point per dollar spent on most purchases at Nordstrom, and higher point rates (usually 2 or 3 points per dollar) on certain categories like beauty or home goods during promotional periods. Points never expire as long as your account stays open and in good standing.
You redeem points by converting them to Nordstrom Notes, which are essentially store credit. The conversion rate is usually 100 points equals $1 in store credit, though Nordstrom sometimes runs promotions where points are worth more. You can only use Nordstrom Notes to buy things at Nordstrom, not anywhere else.
The Nordstrom Visa card works differently. It earns cash back instead of points: typically 1% cash back on most purchases, and higher rates (2% or 3%) on certain categories. Cash back can be redeemed as a statement credit, which reduces your balance, or sometimes transferred to other accounts. The Nordstrom Visa card charges an annual fee, usually around $95, which the standard card does not.
Interest Rates and Fees You Should Know
When you open a Nordstrom card, Nordstrom Bank assigns you an APR (annual percentage rate) based on your credit score, income, and credit history. This rate is not the same for everyone. If you have a higher credit score, you will likely get a lower rate. If you have a lower score, your rate will be higher. Nordstrom Bank does not publish the exact range, so you will not know your rate until you explore.
You only pay interest if you carry a balance from one month to the next. If you pay your full statement balance by the due date each month, no interest charges explore. Late payments trigger a penalty APR, which is higher than your regular rate and applies if you miss a payment by more than 60 days.
The standard Nordstrom card has no annual fee. The Nordstrom Visa card charges an annual fee, usually $95, charged once per year on your account anniversary. There is no grace period for this fee — it is charged whether you use the card or not.
Who Should Consider This Card
The standard Nordstrom card makes sense if you shop at Nordstrom regularly and want to earn rewards on those purchases. If you spend $2,000 or more per year at Nordstrom, the points you earn will likely add up to meaningful discounts. The card has no annual fee, so there is no cost to holding it if you do not use it.
The Nordstrom Visa card is worth considering only if you shop at Nordstrom frequently enough that the cash back rewards exceed the $95 annual fee. For example, if you spend $10,000 per year at Nordstrom at a 1% cash back rate, you earn $100 in cash back, which covers the fee with $5 left over. If you spend less than that, or if you rarely shop at Nordstrom, the annual fee makes this card more expensive than it is worth.
Neither card is a good choice if you carry a balance month to month. Store cards typically have higher interest rates than general-purpose credit cards, so if you plan to pay interest, a different card with a lower APR will cost you less money over time.
How to Open an Account
You can open a Nordstrom card online at Nordstrom.com, in a Nordstrom store, or by phone. The online process takes about 10 minutes. You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and information about your income and employment.
Nordstrom Bank will check your credit report, which is called a hard inquiry. This inquiry temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points. If you are approved, you will receive a decision within minutes to a few days. If you are denied, Nordstrom Bank will send you a letter explaining why, and you can request a copy of the credit report they used to make that decision.
Once approved, your card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can start using it in Nordstrom stores when ready if you explore in person, or you can request a temporary card number online to shop on Nordstrom.com while you wait for the physical card.
How This Card Affects Your Credit Score
Opening a new credit card affects your credit score in two ways. First, the hard inquiry lowers your score by a small amount, usually 5 to 10 points. Second, opening a new account lowers your average age of accounts, which also affects your score. These effects are temporary and fade over time.
Using the card responsibly — paying your full balance on time each month — helps your credit score over the long term. It shows lenders that you can manage credit reliably. Carrying a high balance relative to your credit limit, or missing payments, will hurt your score.
Comparing the Nordstrom Card to Other Options
If you shop at multiple department stores, a general-purpose rewards card (like a Visa or Mastercard with cash back) might earn you more value than a store card. General-purpose cards work everywhere, not just at one retailer, and many have no annual fee.
If you shop at Nordstrom but also want rewards at other stores, the Nordstrom Visa card lets you earn cash back everywhere. However, the $95 annual fee means you need to spend enough to make that worthwhile. A general-purpose card with no annual fee might be a better fit if you do not spend heavily at Nordstrom.
Store cards are useful if you are loyal to one retailer and want to maximize rewards there. The standard Nordstrom card fits this use case well because it has no annual fee and earns points only at Nordstrom, which encourages you to use it where it benefits you most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss a payment on the Nordstrom card?
A missed payment is reported to the credit bureaus after 30 days and damages your credit score. After 60 days, a penalty APR kicks in, raising your interest rate. After 120 days, the account may be sent to a collection agency. Contact Nordstrom Bank when ready if you cannot pay on time to discuss options.
Can I use the Nordstrom card outside of Nordstrom stores?
The standard Nordstrom card works only at Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com. The Nordstrom Visa card works anywhere Visa is accepted. If you need a card that works everywhere, you need the Visa version, which charges an annual fee.
Do I have to pay an annual fee to keep the card open?
The standard Nordstrom card has no annual fee, so you can keep it open indefinitely at no cost. The Nordstrom Visa card charges $95 per year whether you use it or not. If you do not want to pay the fee, you can close the account or downgrade to the standard card.
What is the credit score I need to open a Nordstrom card?
Nordstrom Bank does not publish a minimum credit score. Most people approved for the card have a score of 650 or higher, but approval depends on your full credit history, not just your score. The only way to know if you will be approved is to explore.
Can I transfer my Nordstrom points to cash or another card?
Nordstrom points can only be converted to Nordstrom Notes, which is store credit at Nordstrom. You cannot transfer points to cash, another credit card, or a different retailer. If you want cash back instead of store credit, the Nordstrom Visa card offers that option.