Nordstrom Card Review: Just for the Retailer's Most Loyal Customers

If you shop at Nordstrom often, you could earn rewards there with a Nordstrom credit card. The department store chain offers the Nordstrom retail credit card, which can only be used at Nordstrom, and the Nordstrom Visa® credit card that you can use anywhere Visa is accepted. Learn whether it's worth applying for in our Nordstrom credit card review.

This credit card is a good fit for: Shoppers who want to earn rewards or get special perks with Nordstrom.

Features and benefits

You won't get a ton of useful features with a Nordstrom credit card. But it at least has some benefits that come in handy when shopping at Nordstrom, and it's easier to get than many rewards credit cards.

Save at Nordstrom with rewards and a small sign-up bonus

With both versions of the Nordstrom credit card, the top perk is the rewards opportunities. They each offer a $40 bonus note for future use upon approval and with a same-day purchase.

That's a far cry from the biggest credit card sign-up bonuses. Many cards offer $200 or more. But Nordstrom at least starts you off with some quick cash. Nordstrom cash, that is.

These cards also earn 2 points per $1 at Nordstrom to start, which goes up to 3 points per $1 if you reach Ambassador or Icon status. The Nordstrom Visa® credit card earns 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

Once you've reached a certain points threshold, your points are automatically redeemed for a Nordstrom Note. It starts at 1,000 points for a $10 Nordstrom Note. If you have the Nordstrom mobile iOS app, you can redeem points in smaller amounts: 500 points for a $5 Nordstrom Note.

Flexible approval process makes it easier to get a card

If you've had trouble getting approved for a credit card, you could have better luck with a Nordstrom credit card. There are three versions of the card:

• Nordstrom Visa Signature® credit card
• Nordstrom Visa Platinum® credit card
• Nordstrom retail credit card

This means you have three opportunities to be approved for a Nordstrom credit card. First, you're considered for the Nordstrom Visa Signature® credit card. If you're not approved for that, you're considered for the Nordstrom Visa Platinum® credit card, and then the Nordstrom retail credit card.

Higher status in The Nordy Club and cardmember exclusives

The Nordy Club is Nordstrom's rewards program. It has four status tiers, and as you move up, you get more benefits. Here are the tiers and the requirements for each one:

• Member: Free to join
• Influencer: $500 in yearly Nordstrom spending or a Nordstrom credit card
• Ambassador: $5,000 in yearly Nordstrom spending
• Icon: $15,000 in yearly Nordstrom spending on a Nordstrom credit card

A Nordstrom credit card bumps you up to Influencer status, without needing to spend any money to get there. It's also the only way to get to Icon status, although that requires a lot of spending at Nordstrom.

So, what kind of benefits does being an Influencer get you? Here's what it offers that you don't get as a regular Member:

• Three double points days per year
• Priority access to style events
• Early access to the popular Nordstrom anniversary sale*
• Up to $200 in alterations*
• Free two-day shipping (in selected areas)*

*Cardmember exclusive

A card you can use abroad with no foreign transaction fee

If you get approved for a Nordstrom Visa® credit card, you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted. That includes internationally, and there's no foreign transaction fee. Many credit cards tack on an extra 3%, an unpleasant surprise when you get back home and see your bill.

Now, if you have a good credit score, and you travel often, I'd recommend a travel credit card. That type of card will be much more useful than a Nordstrom credit card, which doesn't have any travel benefits. This Nordstrom credit card is more for infrequent travelers and those who don't have the credit to qualify for travel cards yet.

RELATED: The Ascent's Best Travel Credit Cards Hub

Drawbacks to know about

The Nordstrom credit card has some benefits for shopping at Nordstrom. The problem is that it doesn't have much to offer anywhere else, which is a common issue among store credit cards.

Weak rewards program: Don't expect much value from this card

This is technically a rewards card, but it's not all that rewarding. A $40 bonus note and earning 2 points per $1 at Nordstrom might seem decent, if you see it offered in stores or online. It's actually a pretty poor rate compared to what you could earn with good cash back cards or travel cards.

For a straightforward comparison, there are cash back cards that earn 2% back on purchases everywhere. That's a lot better than 2 points per $1 only at Nordstrom. And a $40 bonus note doesn't even come close to the kinds of sign-up bonuses other cards offer.

Here's the other big problem: You could earn 1 point per $1 at Nordstrom just by signing up for The Nordy Club. You don't need a Nordstrom credit card. As a member, you could use another rewards card to pay for your purchase. For example, if you used a 2% cash back card, you'd earn:

• 2% cash back from your credit card
• 1 point per $1 for being a member of The Nordy Club

The only reason to go with a Nordstrom credit card is if your credit score isn't high enough to qualify for something better. If you have good credit (a score of 670 or higher), you should definitely apply for a different rewards card.

Points are useless outside of Nordstrom, and there's a redemption minimum

When you get a rewards card, it's important to pick one with rewards you won't have any trouble using. That's one of the reasons cash back cards are so popular -- everyone can use cash back.

It's also one of the reasons store credit cards, this Nordstrom credit card included, usually aren't recommended. The only way to redeem your points is Nordstrom Notes. If you have $50 worth of rewards and nothing to buy at Nordstrom, you're stuck. You'll need to either wait or buy something you don't need. Either way, your credit card rewards aren't doing you much good.

To make it even more difficult, there's the redemption minimum. You'll need to have at least 500 points to redeem for a $5 Nordstrom Note, and that's if you use the Nordstrom mobile iOS app. Otherwise, the minimum is even higher at 1,000 points.

That's not a huge issue, but it can be annoying. And considering how many rewards cards now have no redemption minimum, it'd be nice for Nordstrom to do the same.

No special financing offers to pay off purchases over time

Several store cards have special financing offers available, but not the Nordstrom credit card. To be fair, these kinds of financing offers can be risky. They can motivate you to spend more than you should. Many of them are deferred interest offers, where if you don't pay off your full balance within the promotional period, you're charged interest going back to the purchase date.

Still, there are other store cards that at least give you a financing option if you need it. There are also 0% intro APR credit cards, which don't charge any interest during an intro period.

It's recommended to have a FICO® Score of 640 or higher to apply for a Nordstrom credit card. You will likely need at least fair credit to get approved. You may be able to successfully apply with a lower credit score, especially if you're only aiming for the Nordstrom retail credit card, but it's less likely.

You want early access to Nordstrom's anniversary sale or you shop at Nordstrom often and are looking for a card you can get with fair credit.

For most consumers, and even Nordstrom enthusiasts, there are better credit cards out there. Besides early access to the anniversary sale, you don't get anything special with a Nordstrom credit card. Even the rewards aren't much of a draw. You could get just as much back by simply being a member of The Nordy Club and using a rewards card at Nordstrom.

READ MORE: Expert Credit Card Reviews

Our credit card methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, 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 The Ascent rates credit cards.