Store cards are easier to get than bank credit cards, but approval still depends on your credit score and income
Store credit cards have lower approval thresholds than Visa or Mastercard issued by banks. They look at your credit score, but they care less about a perfect history than a bank does. Most store cards will consider you if your score is 600 or above, though some go lower. A few retailers — Target, Kohl's, Amazon, and Best Buy among them — have been known to approve people with scores in the 550 to 600 range, or even without an established credit history at all.
The reason is straightforward: store cards make money when you carry a balance and pay interest, not just when you use the card. A bank card issuer makes money on merchant fees and annual fees. A store card issuer makes money on your interest payments, so they are willing to take on slightly riskier borrowers. That willingness to approve people with thinner credit files is what makes store cards the easiest entry point into credit.
That said, "easiest to get" does not mean automatic approval. You still need to show you have income and are not drowning in existing debt. The store will pull your credit report and check your debt-to-income ratio — how much you already owe compared to what you earn. If you have no credit history at all, some stores will still approve you, but many will not.
Key Takeaways
- Target, Kohl's, Amazon, and Best Buy store cards have historically approved people with credit scores below 600 or with no credit history at all.
- Store card issuers approve based on income and existing debt load, not just credit score, so a stable job matters more than a perfect payment history.
- Store cards charge higher interest rates than bank cards — often 20% to 30% — so carrying a balance costs significantly more.
- Using a store card to build credit works only if you pay the full balance each month; carrying a balance to "build history" is a costly mistake.
Which store cards have the most lenient approval standards
Target RedCard, Kohl's Card, and Amazon Prime Store Card are the three most commonly approved store cards for people with limited or damaged credit. All three are issued by third-party banks (not by the retailers themselves), but the retailers set the approval bar, and they have chosen to approve thinner credit files. Target and Kohl's cards are particularly known for approving people with no credit history or scores in the 550 to 600 range.
Best Buy's card (issued by Citi) also approves people with lower scores, though less consistently than Target or Kohl's. Walmart and Sam's Club cards are harder to pin down — approval varies by region and by the specific bank handling the process at that moment. Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowe's, and Home Depot cards tend to require a score of 600 or higher.
The catch is that these approval standards change. A card that approved people with 580 scores last year might require 620 this year if the retailer's default rates went up. The only way to know your actual odds is to check the card's current terms on the retailer's website or to explore and see what happens. A hard inquiry (the credit check that happens when you explore) stays on your report for two years, but it only costs a few points.
What happens during the store card process process
You fill out an process in-store or online. The retailer asks for your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, annual income, and employment status. They run a hard inquiry on your credit report. Within minutes to a few hours, you get a decision: approved, denied, or pending.
If you are approved, the card either prints at the register (in-store applications) or arrives by mail within 7 to 10 days (online applications). You can usually use it when ready online even if the physical card has not arrived. If you are denied, you will receive a letter explaining the reason — usually "insufficient credit history" or "debt-to-income ratio too high." That letter also tells you how to dispute the decision if you believe the information is wrong.
The entire process takes less time than a bank credit card process. Most store cards give you an answer the same day. Bank cards often take 5 to 7 business days. This speed is one reason store cards are easier to get: the retailer is willing to move fast because they have less to lose.
Why store cards cost more even though they are easier to get
Store card interest rates run 19% to 29% depending on the card and the retailer. Bank credit cards for people with fair credit run 16% to 22%. The difference is not huge, but it adds up fast. If you carry a $1,000 balance on a store card at 25% for one year, you pay $250 in interest. On a bank card at 18%, you pay $180. That $70 difference is the price of easier approval.
Store cards also offer smaller credit limits — often $300 to $1,000 for a first-time applicant — compared to $500 to $2,500 for a bank card. And store cards can only be used at that one retailer (or a small network of affiliated stores), so they are less useful for everyday spending. You cannot use a Target card at Walmart or online at Amazon.
The real cost of a store card is not the interest rate itself, but the temptation to carry a balance. Because the card is straightforward to get and the limit is small, people often think of it as "information programs" rather than debt. That mindset is what makes store cards profitable for retailers — and expensive for cardholders.
How to use a store card to build credit without paying interest
The only way a store card helps your credit without costing you money is to pay the full balance every month. Your payment history makes up 35% of your credit score, and on-time payments are the fastest way to improve a low score. A store card reports to the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — just like a bank card does.
Here is the strategy: get approved for the store card, make one small purchase (a coffee, a tank of gas, a greeting card), and pay it off in full before the due date. Do this every month for 6 to 12 months. Your score will climb because you are showing consistent, on-time payment on an active account. After 6 to 12 months of this, you become may be able to access for a bank credit card with a lower interest rate and a higher limit.
Do not carry a balance "to build credit faster." That is a myth. Your credit score does not care whether you carry a balance or pay in full — it only cares that you pay on time. Carrying a balance costs you money and teaches you bad habits. The goal is to use the card as a stepping stone, not as a permanent borrowing tool.
What to do if you are denied for a store card
If you are denied, the denial letter will tell you why. The most common reasons are: no credit history, credit score too low, or debt-to-income ratio too high. Each has a different fix.
If you have no credit history, you can become an authorized user on someone else's credit card (usually a family member's). Their payment history will show up on your report, and after 30 to 60 days, your score may climb enough to get approved for a store card. Alternatively, you can get a secured credit card from a bank — you put down a cash deposit ($300 to $2,500), and the bank gives you a card with a matching limit. After 6 to 12 months of on-time payments, you can graduate to an unsecured card.
If your score is too low, focus on paying down existing debt and making all payments on time. Your score will climb about 5 to 10 points per month if you stop missing payments. After 3 to 6 months of clean payment history, reapply for the store card.
If your debt-to-income ratio is too high, you have too much debt relative to your income. The only fix is to pay down debt or increase your income. Paying down debt is faster — even $500 to $1,000 in payoff can move the needle enough to get approved on a second process.
Comparing store cards to other credit-building options
Store cards are not the only way to build credit, and they are not always the best way. Here are the main alternatives:
Secured credit cards from banks: You put down a cash deposit, get a card with a matching limit, and build credit the same way as with a store card. Interest rates are lower (usually 18% to 24%), and the card works everywhere, not just one store. The downside is that your cash is tied up as collateral.
Becoming an authorized user: Someone with good credit adds you to their account. Their payment history shows up on your report when ready, and your score climbs without you having to explore for anything. The downside is that you depend on someone else's behavior, and if they miss a payment, your score drops too.
Credit-builder loans: You borrow money from a credit union, but the money sits in a savings account while you make payments. After you pay off the loan, you get the money back. It costs a small amount in interest (usually 5% to 10%), but it is a may provide way to build credit. The downside is that it takes 12 to 24 months.
Store cards are fastest and require no cash upfront, which is why they are popular. But they are not the cheapest option if you carry a balance, and they are not the most flexible option if you want to use your card everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a store card with no credit history?
Yes, some retailers — particularly Target and Kohl's — approve people with no credit history at all. You will need a job and a Social Security number, but you do not need an established credit file. Other retailers require at least a score of 580 to 600, which means you need some credit history, even if it is thin.
Will explore for a store card hurt my credit score?
The process itself (a hard inquiry) costs about 5 to 10 points and stays on your report for two years. But if you are approved and use the card responsibly, your score will climb faster than it fell. After 6 months of on-time payments, the inquiry's impact fades.
Can I use a store card at other stores?
No. A Target card works only at Target and Target.com. A Kohl's card works only at Kohl's. Some store cards are part of a network — for example, some Lowe's cards can be used at other home improvement retailers — but this is rare. Check the card's terms before you explore if you want to use it in multiple places.
What is the difference between a store card and a store-branded bank card?
A store card is issued by the retailer's bank partner and can only be used at that retailer. A store-branded bank card (like Target's Mastercard or Kohl's Visa) is issued by a bank and can be used anywhere that accepts Mastercard or Visa. Store-branded bank cards have higher approval standards but lower interest rates and more flexibility.
How long does it take to build credit with a store card?
You will see movement in your score within 30 to 60 days of your first on-time payment. Meaningful improvement — 50 to 100 points — usually takes 6 to 12 months of consistent, on-time payments. After that, you become may be able to access for better credit products like bank cards or personal loans.