A retail women’s clothing store chain offering clothes for plus-size women is not something you will always see. This is one of the reasons why Lane Bryant just keeps on flourishing, making it the largest plus-size retailer in the United States. If you are often shopping at one of its stores, you’ve probably been offered a Lane Bryant credit card before. The store claims it will help you save, but to what extent? Can it really help you enjoy your shopping experiences, or would it just complicate things for you?
Intro Bonus: $20 off your first purchase
Regular APR: 26.99%
Credit Score: Fair to Good
Annual Fee: $0
Highlight:
- It is a retail store card that doesn’t charge annual fees.
- You can covert 3,000 points for a $10 reward.
- Using the card can give additional 5 points to your points earning.
- The welcome bonus comes in the form of a $20 discount on your first purchase.
- The card gives you access to extended returns for up to 60 days and Lane Bryant Credit Card Days.
Lane Bryant Credit Card Review:
The Lane Bryant credit card is a closed-loop card offered to the store’s customers. It has $0 annual fees, and qualifying for it is almost effortless for most shoppers as it only requires a fair to good credit score.
The card’s reward structure relies on the store’s Lane Rewards program; thus, membership is required to experience its benefits. Through the said program, you can get various benefits such as:
- Birthday offer yearly
- Free standard shipping on qualifying $75 online purchase
- Best Customer Exclusive Access (notifications about an advance sale, Early shopping experiences, and more)
- Earn points at Lane Bryant, Lane Bryant Outlet, lanebryant.com, or cacique.com
- Convert 3,000 points for a $10 reward.
Those things are basically the entirety of the program, but you get a few additions using the Lane Bryant credit card.
Once you have qualified for the card, you are entitled to a $20 discount on your first purchase. However, getting this introduction bonus isn’t that simple. According to Lane Bryant, the application and approval must occur the same day to receive the offer, and it can only be redeemed at the location in which you applied. Moreover, the offer is only valid at Lane Bryant, Lane Bryant Outlets, and lanebryant.com. With this, it is best to make sure you are ready to use the card as soon as you get the approval to benefit from the bonus.
The card can also give your points earning a boost, depending on your membership tier. The rewards program has three: Silver ($0 to $349 spending requirement), Gold ($350 to $799 spending requirement), and Platinum ($800+ spending requirement). They receive 10, 15, and 20 points (per dollar spent) respectively when you make your Lane Bryant purchase without a card. On the other hand, a Lane Bryant credit card can give you additional 5 points when you use it. This increases the numbers to 15, 20, and 25 points, respectively. As an addition, the Lane Bryant credit card also offers extended returns for up to 60 days and Lane Bryant Credit Card Days, where you can receive exclusive savings and discounts on specific days as chosen by Lane Bryant from time to time.
With all those things mentioned, is the Lane Bryant credit card worth it? As a general rule in all closed-loop store cards, it is crucial to understand your spending activity. If you always shop at Lane Bryant stores, the credit card can be a fine addition to your shopping tools. The rewards structure is downright simple, but the fact that the card only offers a very minimal set of features is something to question. You can get Lane Bryant Credit Card Days, 60-day extended returns, and additional 5 points in your earnings, BUT you will be exposed to the possibility of paying for interest. While the card charges $0 annual fees, the APR of the card comes at an overwhelming 26.99% rate, and the late payment fee can hit up to $40. Also, the card is issued by the Comenity Bank, which is notorious for the bad reviews it is receiving among cardholders.
So, really, should you get the card? It’s better not to. It has nothing massive to offer and is surprisingly plain that anyone would question why Lane Bryant even offers it. As an alternative, our finance experts recommend sticking with the basic rewards program membership, which provides enough benefits for the needs of frequent Lane Bryant shoppers. You will miss the small perks at Lane Bryant stores, but you can be sure that you are safe from the risk of paying unwanted interest charges.
Nonetheless, if you need a card to use when shopping, going for a general rewards card might benefit you more. They offer a wide variety of categories, allowing you to earn points wherever you use them. They can even offer flexible redeeming options for your points: gift cards, cashback as a statement credit, deposit to your bank account, and more. If you want such perks, consider credit cards from Bank of America, Capital One, Discover, and Chase.