Review: Kohl's Charge Card by Capital One
Review
Updated
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The Kohl's credit card is issued by Capital One and also known as the "Kohl's Charge" card. It has some valuable benefits for frequent Kohl's shoppers, as well as a few key drawbacks to be aware of, such as a confusing rewards program structure and a high interest rate. In this Kohl's credit card review, you can learn everything you need to decide whether or not the Kohl's Charge credit card is right for you.
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
Intro: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR |
|
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
25,000 points 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5-3 points per dollar Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. |
Intro: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
You'll get 35% off of your first purchase when you open and use the Kohl's Charge credit card. Plus, you'll get another 15% discount off of another purchase when you get your card in the mail.
Cardmembers get access to exclusive monthly discounts and sales throughout the year as well as a special offer each year on your card anniversary.
The card lets you take advantage of receipt-free returns, so you don't have to worry about holding onto your receipts. You can also connect to Kohl's Pay, a mobile payment option, and pay your credit card bill through Kohl's mobile app.
If you spend $600 per year on your Kohl's Charge credit card, you'll become a Most Valued Customer (MVC). This gets you access to free shipping and a birthday gift.
This is a no annual fee credit card, which means you can enjoy the perks and benefits without worrying about a membership fee cutting into your rewards. As long as you pay off your balance in full each month, you won't have to pay to carry Kohl's Charge credit card in your wallet.
Like most store credit cards, the Kohl's Charge credit card comes with a significantly higher interest rate than regular credit cards. This means that if you carry a balance from month to month, you could end up paying big money on interest fees. If you need to carry a balance, it's better to go for a 0% intro APR credit card instead.
The Kohl's Charge credit card is a store card and doesn't belong to any major credit card networks like Visa or Mastercard. This means it can be only used for purchases at Kohl's or on Kohl's website, which is pretty limiting.
While the discounts offered by the Kohl's Charge credit card can be combined with Kohl's Cash coupons and the Yes2You Rewards® program, both these rewards programs are open to general shoppers. The card itself doesn't come with its own reward program or points system.
In order to maximize rewards and savings with this card, you’ll have to combine the monthly discounts it offers with programs outside of the credit card such as Kohl’s Cash and Yes2You Rewards®. While it’s great that you can combine these programs to increase your savings, it can get confusing and makes it easy to miss out on some potential savings.
Read more: Best Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
If you have good credit or excellent credit, or in other words, a FICO® Score of 670 or higher, you'll have a good chance of being approved. Even if your score is slightly lower, you might still get approved with a score in the mid 600s.
Luckily, Kohl's offers a pre-qualification tool that can help you get a sense of whether or not you'd qualify for the Kohl's Charge credit card without any impact on your credit. Keep in mind that there are no strict credit guidelines, and no one is ever guaranteed approval. Along with your credit score, credit card issuers typically look at your income and existing debt.
It's worth noting that the Kohl's Charge credit card isn't the best choice for shoppers who plan to carry a balance. Even a generous introductory 35% discount could easily be negated by the card's high APR. If you plan to carry a balance, opt for a credit card with a low interest rate.
The rewards and discount program is fairly complicated because you have to combine general store rewards with the credit card's discounts to maximize the value. If you don't mind navigating this, you could snag some generous savings.
However, if you're after a simpler, more flexible credit card, you may be better opting for a general cash back or travel rewards credit card. These often have their own easy-to-understand rewards programs, which you can combine with the other two Kohl's loyalty programs.
The bottom line is that if you're a regular shopper at Kohl's -- either in-store or online -- the Kohl's Charge credit card could be a smart addition to your wallet.
At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
The minimum credit limit for the Kohl's Charge card seems to be $300. Initial credit limits as high as $800 have been reported, but credit limit increases seem to be the best way to get a higher credit limit.
The Kohl's Charge card can only be used in Kohl's stores or online at Kohls.com. It is a closed-loop store card that does not operate on any credit card networks.
Yes, the Kohl's Charge card can be used to build credit. This card is associated with a line of credit, and your payment history and balances will be reported to the credit bureaus. Keep in mind that any card that can help you build credit can also damage your credit if you don't regularly pay down what you owe. For best results, pay your card in full and on time every month.
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