What the Bealls Credit Card Is
The Bealls Credit Card is a store card issued by Bealls, the department store chain. It works like most store cards: you use it to buy clothing, shoes, home goods, and other items at Bealls locations or online at beallsflorida.com, and you pay the balance back over time with interest if you carry a balance.
Store cards are different from general-purpose credit cards like Visa or Mastercard. You can only use a Bealls card at Bealls stores and their website — not at other retailers. In exchange, Bealls offers discounts and rewards that explore only to purchases there. If you shop at Bealls regularly, the card's rewards might offset the higher interest rate that store cards typically charge.
The card is issued through a bank partner, not by Bealls directly. This means your account is reported to the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — so the card can help or hurt your credit score depending on how you use it.
Key Takeaways
- The Bealls card only works at Bealls stores and beallsflorida.com, not at other retailers.
- Store cards typically charge higher interest rates than general credit cards, so carrying a balance costs more money.
- Bealls offers periodic discounts and rewards on purchases made with the card, which may justify the higher rate if you shop there often.
- Your account is reported to credit bureaus, so on-time payments help your credit score and missed payments hurt it.
- You can request a credit limit increase after you have used the card responsibly for several months.
How Rewards and Discounts Work
Bealls runs periodic promotions for cardholders — typically percentage discounts on purchases made during specific dates, or bonus points on certain categories. These promotions change throughout the year and are advertised in-store, online, and sometimes by email if you sign up for their mailing list.
The card itself does not earn points on every purchase the way some credit cards do. Instead, you benefit from the promotional events Bealls runs for cardholders. For example, Bealls might offer 20% off a single purchase during a weekend sale, or double points on home goods during a specific week. These deals are usually better than what non-cardholders receive.
To stay informed about current promotions, check your email if you enrolled in Bealls communications, visit beallsflorida.com and log into your account, or ask a cashier in-store. Some promotions require you to use the card during the promotion window to receive the discount — paying with another method will not may have access to you.
Interest Rates and Fees
Store cards charge higher interest rates than most general credit cards. The exact rate you receive depends on your credit score and credit history — the stronger your credit, the lower your rate. Bealls does not publish a single rate; instead, you will see a range in the terms you receive when you open the account.
If you carry a balance from month to month, interest accrues daily on the unpaid amount. This means that even a small balance can grow quickly if you only make minimum payments. For example, a $500 balance at a 24% annual rate costs roughly $10 per month in interest alone.
Annual fees vary. Some versions of the Bealls card have no annual fee, while others may charge one. You will see the annual fee amount (if any) clearly stated in your account terms before you open the card. Check your welcome materials or log into your account online to confirm whether your card has an annual fee.
Late fees explore if you miss a payment. The amount depends on how late you are and your card issuer's policy, but late fees typically range from $25 to $40. A single late payment can also trigger a higher interest rate on your balance.
How Store Cards Affect Your Credit Score
Opening a Bealls card creates a new account on your credit report. This has two when ready effects: your average account age drops slightly (which can lower your score a few points), and a hard inquiry appears on your report (which also lowers your score by a few points). Both effects fade over time.
After that, your score depends on how you use the card. Making payments on time every month helps your score. Missing payments, carrying a high balance relative to your credit limit, or closing the account after opening it can hurt your score.
The card's credit limit counts toward your total available credit. If you have a $500 limit on the Bealls card and a $2,000 limit on another card, your total available credit is $2,500. Using a large portion of that total — say, carrying a $1,500 balance — signals risk to lenders and can lower your score. Most scoring models reward you for using less than 30% of your available credit.
If you use the Bealls card responsibly and pay on time, it can help your credit score over time by showing lenders that you manage credit reliably. If you miss payments or carry high balances, it will hurt your score.
When a Store Card Makes Sense
A store card is worth opening if you shop at that store regularly and the rewards or discounts outweigh the higher interest rate. Do the math: if Bealls offers you 15% off four times a year and you spend $500 per visit, that is $300 in annual savings. If you pay off the card in full each month, you keep all that savings. If you carry a balance and pay 24% interest, you lose some or all of those savings to interest charges.
Store cards make less sense if you carry balances. The interest rate is too high to justify unless the discounts are very large. They also make less sense if you shop at the store infrequently — the occasional 10% discount does not offset a higher interest rate on balances you carry.
Store cards can be useful for building credit if you have limited credit history. A store card is often easier to open than a general credit card, and using it responsibly shows lenders you can manage credit. After six to twelve months of on-time payments, you may be able to open a general credit card with a lower interest rate.
How to Manage Your Bealls Card Responsibly
Pay your full balance every month if you can. This eliminates interest charges and keeps your credit utilization low. If you cannot pay in full, pay as much as you can above the minimum payment — even an extra $20 or $30 per month reduces the interest you pay and gets you out of debt faster.
Set up automatic payments through your bank or through the card issuer's website. Automatic payments may support you never miss a due date, which protects your credit score and avoids late fees. You can set the payment to the full balance, a fixed amount, or the minimum — whatever works for your budget.
Check your statement each month, either online or by mail. Look for charges you do not recognize and report them when ready. Fraudulent charges are usually removed quickly if you report them within 60 days.
Request a credit limit increase after six to twelve months of on-time payments. A higher limit lowers your credit utilization ratio (the percentage of your limit you are using), which can help your credit score. Most card issuers let you request an increase online without a hard inquiry.
Alternatives to the Bealls Card
If you shop at Bealls but want a lower interest rate, use a general credit card instead. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards typically charge 15% to 22% interest, compared to 20% to 28% for store cards. The downside is you will not receive Bealls-specific discounts — you will only get the rewards that card offers (cash back, points, travel rewards, etc.).
If you are building credit and want a card that is easier to open, a secured credit card might work better than a store card. Secured cards require a cash deposit as collateral, but they report to all three credit bureaus and often have lower interest rates than store cards. After six to twelve months of on-time payments, you can graduate to a regular card.
If you do not want to carry a balance, a store card's high interest rate does not matter — you only pay interest if you carry a balance from month to month. In that case, the Bealls card's discounts might be worth the higher rate, since you will never pay interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Bealls card at other stores?
No. The Bealls card only works at Bealls locations and beallsflorida.com. You cannot use it at other retailers. If you need a card that works everywhere, you need a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card instead.
What happens if I miss a payment?
A late fee (typically $25 to $40) is added to your balance. Your interest rate may increase. The missed payment is reported to credit bureaus and damages your credit score. If you miss a payment, contact the card issuer as soon as possible to bring your account current and ask about waiving the late fee.
How do I check my credit limit and available balance?
Log into your account on beallsflorida.com or call the customer service number on the back of your card. You can also view your balance and limit on your monthly statement. Your available balance is your credit limit minus the amount you have already charged.
Does opening a Bealls card hurt my credit score?
Opening the card causes a small temporary drop in your score due to the hard inquiry and the new account. This effect fades within a few months. After that, your score depends on whether you pay on time and keep your balance low. On-time payments help your score; missed payments and high balances hurt it.
Can I close my Bealls card without hurting my credit?
Closing the card will lower your credit score slightly because it reduces your total available credit and removes an account from your history. If you have other cards and a good payment history, the damage is usually small. If the Bealls card is your only card or your oldest account, closing it will hurt more. Consider keeping it open and unused if you want to protect your score.