J. Crew clothing is expensive, so if you’re a fan of the brand, it makes sense to find ways to save money. The J. Crew credit card wants to save you money, but the reality is that other credit cards may save you more.
The J. Crew credit card, issued by Synchrony Bank, has a $0 annual fee, but you must spend at least $1,000 per year at J. Crew to get the best rewards rate. There’s also no 0% introductory APR promotion for the card, and the ongoing interest rate on the card is so high that you won’t want to use it to buy new clothes.
If you’re considering applying for a J. Crew credit card, here’s what you need to know.
In 2024, the J. Crew credit card issuer officially changed from Bread Financial to Synchrony Bank. The old card (green color) issued by Bread Financial will no longer be accepted after June 16, 2024. People who hold this card must receive a new card (dark blue) before June 2024.
1. Have two J. Crew credit cards
There are two types of J. Crew credit cards:
- The J. Crew Mastercard is accepted everywhere Mastercard is accepted.
- The J. Crew credit card can only be used for purchases at J. Crew and J. Crew Factory. (Note that you can’t use it at Madewell, even though that brand is owned by J. Crew.)
Which J. Crew card you can get depends on your credit rating. Potential cardholders can use a prequalification tool to determine if they qualify for any of the cards.
You must be a member of Passport, J. Crew’s store loyalty program, to apply for this card. Customers who hold this card but are not Passport members will not receive rewards.
2. Rewards depend on your passport class
The rewards you can earn with a J. Crew credit card depend on your status in the Passport loyalty program. There are three levels: Green, Navy and Gold. All three levels earn 1 point per dollar spent at J. Crew, but if you have a J. Crew credit card, you’ll earn extra points.
- Green Membership. Free to join. Green members earn 1 point per $1 spent at J. Crew.
- Fleet. Must spend $500 per year at J. Crew or have a J. Crew credit card. Fleet members with a J. Crew card earn 2 points per $1 spent at J. Crew.
- Gold. Must spend $1,000 at J. Crew each year. Gold members with the J. Crew card earn 3 points for every $1 spent at J. Crew.
The Mastercard version also earns 1 point per $1 spent on gas and groceries, and 1 point per $2 spent on all other purchases. (Paghouse-style gas stations and some supercenters and grocery stores are not eligible.)
3. Rewards are valuable, but salvation is rigid
For every 200 points earned, cardholders automatically receive a $5 reward certificate. On the bright side, this means 1 point is worth 2.5 points, which is well above the industry standard of 1 cent per point. But there are some things to be aware of when using rewards.
First, like many store cards, the rewards can only be used to buy more J. Crew products. Second, since you automatically get a $5 rewards certificate once you accumulate 200 points, you can’t “stack” rewards over time to use on larger purchases — especially since rewards expire within 90 days of the issue date.
4. Higher annual interest rate
As of this writing, outstanding balances on J. Crew credit cards will be charged more than 31% interest. That’s nearly 10 percentage points higher than the average APR for compound-interest credit cards as of February 2024, according to the Federal Reserve.
5. Credit card benefits include birthday gifts and small sign-up bonuses
In addition to earning a higher rewards rate, there are some additional benefits to being a J. Crew cardholder. Whether you have a J. Crew credit card or a J. Crew Mastercard, you can get a $25 birthday gift, free standard shipping from J. Crew and J. Crew Factory, and free standard alterations.
As of this writing, new cardholders can also enjoy 20% off their first J. Crew purchase using the J. Crew Credit Card. This discount can be combined with other offers for a single transaction.
Please see this page for rates and fees for the American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card.
