JCPenney Credit Card Reviews for 2025 | WalletHubReviews, rates, fees, and rewards details for The JCPenney Credit Card. Compare to other cards and apply online in secondsJohn KiernanWalletHubNo membership fees35% discount initial rewards bonusQualify with fair creditHigh regular APRDeferred interest
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Finance New Purchases (Store Cards)." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.
The JCPenney Credit Card has a $0 annual fee and offers an attractive initial bonus, but its ongoing rewards aren't as valuable. Still, it's worth considering if you have fair credit and you like to shop at JCPenney.
Info about the JCPenney Credit Card has been collected by WalletHub to help consumers better compare cards. The financial institution did not provide the details.
WalletHub Rating Breakdown
User Reviews
3.3/5
767 reviewsRead and write reviews
Editor’s Review
3.3/5
John Kiernan, Credit Card EditorRead full review
Market Comparison
Market Comparison
4.5
The Market Comparison is a key component of the WalletHub Rating, as it measures how appealing the terms of a card are compared to a pool of over 1,500 credit card offers monitored by WalletHub. To ensure cards are evaluated for their most relevant purpose, we score each card across various cardholder needs and select the rating for the need with the highest score, which is “Finance New Purchases (Store Cards)” for this card.
Fees
5.0
Rewards
1.7
Cost
5.0
APR
4.0
4.5/5
Compared against 1,500+ credit cards
KEY TERMS
Accepted Credit Scores
Accepted Credit Scores
Excellent Credit, Good Credit, Fair Credit
Annual Fee
$0
APR on Purchases
0% intro APR for 18 - 24 months, 33.99% (V) APR after that
Balance Transfer
Balance Transfers Not Allowed
Rewards
Get an extra 35% off original, regular and sale-priced apparel, shoes, accessories, fine jewelry, and home purchases when you open and use your card.
Earn 1.5 Cash Pass points per $1 on JCPenny purchases with your credit card up to the point maximum (2,000) on a single purchase.
Receive extra 20% and 5% on other select merchandise.
Get a $10 JCPenney Rewards certificate for every 200 points.
Earn additional JCP Rewards and discounts when you reach Gold by spending of at least $500 annually on merchandise or services or Platinum status by spending of at least $1,000 annually on merchandise or services.
JCPenney Credit Card's Additional Info
Deferred Interest Details: No interest if paid in full within 18 months on qualifying furniture & mattress purchases of at least $499 (after discounts).
Limited time offer - Deferred Interest Details: No interest if paid in full within 24 months on qualifying furniture & mattress purchases of at least $999 (after discounts).
One application with two options you can get approved for. You can apply for the JCPenney Store Card but the system will determine if you are eligible for either a Mastercard version or the Store Card.
The JCPenney Credit Card has a $0 annual fee and offers an attractive initial bonus, but its ongoing rewards aren't as valuable. Still, it's worth considering if you have fair credit and you like to shop at JCPenney.
JCPenney Credit Card Review Highlights
Save up to 35% on your first purchase
This could help you save a bundle. But it’s worth noting that the JCPenney Card’s first-purchase discount is neither the most rewarding nor the most straightforward initial bonus available from a store credit card. The 35% discount only applies to certain items – such as clothing, shoes and accessories – while other purchases instead qualify for a 20% or 5% discount and still others aren’t eligible for any savings.
Earn surprisingly valuable ongoing rewards
You will earn 1.5 points per $1 charged to your JCPenney Credit Card, which is roughly the market average for a rewards card. But while most credit card points are worth about a penny apiece, each point you earn with the JCPenney Rewards Card is worth $0.05, since you need 200 points for a $10 gift certificate.
Special discounts for frequent shoppers
If you spend at least $500 in a calendar year, you will earn gold status. On the other hand, if you spend at least $1,000 in a calendar year, you will earn platinum status and get to enjoy additional discounts.
Promotional financing is a good deal
The JCPenney Credit Card offers Deferred Interest for 18 to 24 months on qualifying purchases. Minimum purchase is required.
Offers low-cost credit improvement
With no annual fee and only “fair” credit required for approval, the JCPenney Credit Card can help you improve your credit score while spending as little as possible. You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub to see where you stand before applying, then use our free daily updates to monitor your progress over time.
Note: This review is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Opinions and ratings are our own.
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Finance New Purchases (Store Cards)." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.
Editor’s Rating
3.3
User Reviews
3.3
Market Comparison
4.5
fees: 5.0
rewards: 1.7
cost: 5.0
APR: 4.0
4.3WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
4.3
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Earn Rewards." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.
Editor’s Rating
4.2
User Reviews
4.2
Market Comparison
4.4
fees: 5.0
rewards: 4.3
cost: 4.6
Other Features: 0.0
3.6WalletHub Rating
WalletHub Rating
3.6
This card has been scored using WalletHub’s proprietary credit card rating system. We evaluated this card for various cardholder needs and picked the rating for the need with the highest score, which is "Earn Gas Rewards." A score of 5 is the best a card can receive, and the rating for the card may vary on different pages where it is compared to other cards for different needs.
Can't find what you are looking for? Submit your question about JCPenney Credit Card to our community. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by the issuer of this offer. Please keep in mind that it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered. In addition, WalletHub independently collected information for some of the cards on this page.
You can make JCPenney Credit Card payment online, by phone, through the Synchrony Bank mobile app or by mail. To pay JCPenney Credit Card bill online, log in to your online account and click on “Pay My Bill.” Then, choose how much to pay, when to pay it, and where the payment is coming from. Synchrony Bank does allow cardholders to set up automatic payments, too.
Ways to Make JCPenney Credit Card Payment
Online: Log in to your online account and click on “Pay My Bill.”
By phone: Call 1-800-542-0800 and enter your card information when prompted, then follow the prompts to make a credit card payment.
Through the mobile app: Log in to your account and select your card, then tap the payment button.
By mail: Send a check or money order (but not cash) to
SYNCB P.O. Box 960090 Orlando, FL 32896-0090
Make sure to send it early enough that it will arrive by the due date. Write your credit card number on the check, too.
At any JCPenney Department store: You can make payments with cash, check, or money order at any JCPenney store. Find your nearest location here.
In conclusion, there are multiple ways to make a JCPenney Credit Card payment, so just choose whichever method is easiest for you. The important part is to not miss payments, as that can seriously damage your credit score.
The minimum requirements for the JCPenney Credit Card include being at least 18 years old, having a fair credit score of 640 or better, and earning enough income to afford monthly bill payments. You also need to have a Social Security number or International Tax Identification Number.
It is not hard to get the JCPenney Credit Card, though it's not especially easy, either. This card is available to people with fair credit or better, which means that most people should have a shot at approval but there are also plenty of people who won't qualify.
In order to get the JCPenney Credit Card, you will have to meet the credit score requirement, have a steady income and be at least 18 years old. You'll also...
Yes, the JCPenney Credit Card may offer instant approval, but it is not guaranteed. Generally, this credit card gives instant approval to applicants who apply online or in-store and clearly meet the eligibility requirements.
What to Know About the JCPenney Credit Card Approval Process
After you submit your application, you may get approved instantly and your credit card will be ready to use right away. Making sure everything is complete and accurate on your application helps...
Yes, you can pay your JCPenney Credit Card bill by phone. To make your JCPenney Credit Card payment over the phone, call (800) 527-4403 and follow the instructions from the automated menu, then enter your payment information. The process should only take a few minutes.
How to Pay Your JCPenney Credit Card Bill by Phone
The easiest way to apply for the JCPenney Credit Card is online, and you can get to the online application by clicking the “Learn More” button on WalletHub or by going directly to Synchrony Bank's website. Alternatively, you can apply in store.
Keep in mind that the JCPenney Credit Card requires fair credit, which means you need a 640+ credit score for high approval odds. Also note that applying for the card triggers a hard inquiry, which may temporarily...
To check your JCPenney Credit Card balance, log in to your Synchrony Bank account online or call customer service at 1-800-542-0800. It's also possible to check your JCPenney Credit Card balance through the Synchrony Bank app.
How to Check Your JCPenney Credit Card Balance
Online:Log in to your Synchrony Bank account. You will see your balance on the home page.
By Phone: Call 1-800-542-0800 and follow the prompts to connect with a customer service representative.
The JCPenney Credit Card credit score requirement is 640 or better. That means people with fair credit or better have a shot at getting approved for the JCPenney Credit Card.
Note that while your credit score is an important factor, there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for the JCPenney Credit Card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, recent credit inquiries, number of open accounts, housing status, and...
You can send your payment via check or money order. For that, you need to have a valid checking account from a U.S. financial institution. Make sure to add your JCPenney Credit Card account number, too.
To cancel a JCPenney Credit Card, call customer service at 1 (800) 527-4403 and ask a customer service rep to cancel your card account. Issuer does not allow you to cancel an account in person or by mail.
Be aware that if there's a balance remaining on the canceled account, you are still required to make at least the minimum payment every month until the balance is paid in full. In addition, if you cancel your credit card,...
Share your insights and review for the JCPenney Credit Card
5
31%
4
17%
3
27%
2
11%
1
15%
3.3
767 reviews
767 reviews
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Valri Crain @vcrainatm_1
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1 Star Rating
Verified Customer
Do not get it. It's serviced by Synchrony Bank, and they will lower your limit if you use the card and don't pay it off monthly. So far, every single Synchrony serviced store card I have had the limit lowered multiple times. And no, it's not me or my credit. My credit score is good, and my credit cards and other store cards increase my limits regularly. Synchrony's excuse is that I "don't have a mortgage loan" on my credit report. When they lower the limit, it's a hit to your credit score. I could understand if I were behind on something or fully maxed out on the Synchrony cards, but I'm not, nor was I in the past. Since I rent, my limits are lowered.
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Steve Knauf @sscmariposa
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1 Star Rating
They issue a card with a preset limit. Then they change your limit anytime they want. I have never had a card that did it like that. You never know what your limit is. Unbelievable!
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John Barrett @John_Barrett_3
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1 Star Rating
Verified Customer
My JCPenney $8,000 credit limit was reduced by $3,000 after I made an extra $1,000 payment! I made many extra payments of $200, $300, and $400 on multiple occasions in addition to on-time payments.
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Richard Ulrich @RickActng
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2 Star Rating
Fraudulent Action by Synchrony/JCP card issuer. Their systems changed my account to AutoPay without my authorization, then claimed I changed it and set an amount above what I ever would have paid per month. They could refund the extra money taken, but they would have to do it by mailing me a check. I've changed the settings to off for AutoPay and have stopped them from using my debit card/bank for further payments. It's bad enough that I can't find much in JCP that I'd want to buy, except for national brands. They've cheapened the JCP store brands.
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Gina Christopher @WeBeMBSC
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3 Star Rating
JC Penney Credit Card is great; you can set your payment for auto-pay and make changes to your profile when needed. The bad things are that customer service is poor. When calling credit card services, the automated system can't hear half the answers and it takes 30 minutes to get a live representative. The company uses an automated computer program to determine changes in your credit limit, decreasing it unexpectedly, which can result in being over the limit, followed by an over-the-limit fee, all done without notice and for no apparent reason, even to a good customer who always makes payments on time and has never had any issues. Do I recommend this card and company? No. This is the second time this company has done this to me and has negatively impacted my credit score because of it. I only had less than $400 charged on my card, I pay most of it off at the end of the month, and they decreased it from $2500. I've been in customer service for 35 years and it's so sad that people don't matter to these companies anymore.
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Brenda Richardson @bfaadstill
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2 Star Rating
I have loved Penney's sales. Due to the rising cost of everything, I am trying to pay off bills and stick to a budget. I am up to date; I only pay for quarterly insurance, but the appreciation was increased to 34%. How does one say they don't want your business without saying it?
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atwilsonjr @atwilsonjr
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1 Star Rating
Verified Customer
Do not do business with this company. I have never missed a payment and have always been punctual. Additionally, I always pay triple the minimum payment. My available credit started at $2,500. They then dropped it to $1,300, and again to $890, at which point I closed the card. They were essentially lowering the available credit to match my current balance as I continued to pay it down, which effectively kept me at 90+% credit utilization, negatively impacting my credit score. Don't trust this company; they offer no resolution process for your issues. They simply inform you of these arbitrary decisions and assert that you have no course of counteraction. They're not going to last.
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Valri Crain @vcrainatm_1
That's EXACTLY what they did to me on all of the store cards I have that are serviced by Synchrony - JC Penny, Belk, Care Credit, Rooms To Go, QVC. I'll be closing ALL of my Sychrony cards this year. I passed on some other cards once I discovered they were serviced by Synchrony.
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cruz_liz67 @cruz_liz67
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1 Star Rating
F… this credit card, do not apply for it! They will charge $90 for an interest fee if you do not make your monthly payment on time and will mislead you when you apply by saying you will not incur an interest fee for a year. If I could rate this negatively, I would. I will be reporting them and escalate this issue to whoever I need to. I make payments on time, and that charge is resulting in a higher balance on my account. F….the JC Penney credit card.
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evans_taysha @evans_taysha
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2 Star Rating
Verified Customer
I'm paying this credit card off next month and so happy to do so! I absolutely hate this credit card. We got the card to get a promotion on my engagement ring 2 years ago. It sounded like a great deal to have a year of 0% interest. Not only is this card extremely high interest, but they also have terrible customer service. We had a mistake with our bank account and 2 of our payments were returned twice in a row, which were paid the same month. The card never fell behind; it just had 2 returned payments. When the first payment was returned, they reduced my credit line right to the balance, so my utilization shot to 100%! I was livid! Then, when the second payment the following month was returned, they just closed the card! That's okay, I will never shop at this store ever again. You close the entire card due to not receiving $60 after years of on-time payment history? I'm not happy with their service, their APR, and I've had to turn push notifications off from their app because they are constantly trying to get you to buy more things and create more debt. They are a greedy company, that much is obvious, and when I called to tell them I wasn't happy, they told me to open another credit card! Never again in my LIFE will I open another card with how you've treated us. This card has been a nightmare; I never know what tactic they are going to use next, and this is why I will gladly work out something with my other credit cards just to pay this whole thing off next month. Whatever it takes to be done doing business with this company that honestly seems to be using people's debt to survive. Without your credit card fees and debt, JC Penney would file for bankruptcy!
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Clarice @clariceperry2
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2 Star Rating
Verified Customer
JC Penney's card, while it is a good card to have, be aware of their arbitrary practices that could affect your credit. I have had my card for a number of years, never been close to late on a payment, and my credit balance was reduced from $1,300 to $100. I tend to only use my card around Christmas and don't feel like I should be mandated or manipulated to use my card more frequently. I'm not sure what criteria they use to do this arbitrarily, but this is the second time they have done this. And I'm pretty upset about it!
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