Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Review: Is Signing Up Worth It?

Here's how to save with Victoria's Secret Angel credit cards.

By Cynthia Bowman December 19, 2019 Retail Credit Cards 101

The Victoria’s Secret credit card is designed specifically for loyal Victoria’s Secret shoppers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Victoria’s Secret was founded in 1977 and is now part of the Bath & Body Works and Henri Bendel retail brands.

The retailer started as a lingerie store but now also sells makeup, skin care, perfume, clothes, handbags and swimwear both online and through more than 1,000 stores. The company’s Pink brand, geared toward college students and other younger consumers, offers all the above plus activewear, leisure clothing and pajamas that are unique to the Pink label.

The Victoria’s Secret credit card by Comenity Bank comes in three loyalty levels, depending on how often you shop at U.S. Victoria’s Secret and Pink stores and on the website. The three levels are called Angel, Angel VIP and Angel Forever.

The Victoria’s Secret card is a closed-loop card that can only be used at Victoria’s Secret and Pink stores and victoriassecret.com. Learn more about the three Victoria’s Secret loyalty credit cards and find out if this store credit card is right for you:

Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Review
- How the Angel Credit Card Tiers Work
Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Advantages and Disadvantages
How the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Compares To Other Retail Cards
Who Should Consider the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card?
Who Should Pass On the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card?
How To Apply For the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card
Is the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Worth It?

Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Review

Store credit cards tend to carry higher interest rates, which you should consider carefully before signing up. For loyal Victoria’s Secret shoppers who are disciplined enough to pay balances in full and by the due date every month, the Victoria’s Secret Angel Credit Card could be a great card to have, thanks to the perks you can earn toward future purchases.

Annual Fee: $0

Rewards:

Earn one point for every $1 spent.
For every 250 points you earn, you’ll receive a $10 or $15 Angel Reward certificate, depending on your tier, that can be used on a purchase within 90 days.
Earn three times reward points on bra purchases.

Sign-Up Bonus: $25 savings on your first purchase after opening the card

APR: A variable annual percentage rate of 26.74%

Late Fees/Penalties:

Late fee of up to $39
Returned payment fee of up to $25
A fee of up to $15 for expedited payments over the phone

Foreign Transaction Fee: This card can only be used at Victoria’s Secret, so foreign transaction fees aren’t applicable.

Retail Protections: Fraud liability coverage of up to $50

Travel Protections: This credit card can’t be used outside of Victoria’s Secret, so no travel protections are available except for theft protection.

Credit Score Needed: Not disclosed

Other Benefits:

Free shipping on purchases over $50
Monthly exclusive offers and invites
Early access to sales and other Angel-only perks
A $10 or $15 birthday and half-birthday treat, depending on the tier
Get 15%-20% off on your card’s anniversary date for the two higher loyalty levels

How the Angel Credit Card Tiers Work

The Victoria’s Secret credit card comes in three different card tiers with varying rewards, depending on how much you spend. All cardholders automatically begin at the Angel credit card level. Upgrades to the other levels happen once you spend a certain amount over 12 months.

Angel Credit Card Tier

All new cardholders start here. This hot pink card will get you:

One point for every $1 spent at all Victoria’s Secret and Pink stores in the U.S. and victoriassecret.com
A $10 Angel Reward certificate for every 250 points earned
Triple points earned on bra purchases
Free shipping on orders over $50
A $10 birthday treat to apply to your purchase

Angel VIP Credit Card Tier

Once you spend $250 in a 12-month period, your card will be automatically upgraded to the Angel VIP tier level. Besides the rewards above, Angel VIP cardholders receive a silver card and extra perks:

An additional half-birthday treat of $10
Savings of 15% on your card’s anniversary date

Angel Forever Credit Card

When you spend $500 in a 12-month period with your Angel or Angel VIP credit card, Victoria’s Secret will automatically upgrade you to the Angel Forever credit card. At this level, you receive a black card and get all of the perks from the other levels, in addition to:

A $15 Angel Reward certificate for every 250 points earned, instead of $10
Birthday and half-birthday treats of $15 each
Savings of 20% on your card’s anniversary date

For anyone who likes to shop at Victoria’s Secret and regularly spends more than $250 per year, the Angel VIP or Angel Forever credit card provide savings bonuses to use toward future Victoria’s Secret and Pink purchases. But unless you spend enough to reach those levels, you might be better off with more traditional rewards credit cards.

Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Advantages and Disadvantages

To understand the pros and cons of store credit cards like the Victoria’s Secret credit card, you’ll need to analyze all of the features, terms and conditions that come with the card.

Advantages

Frequent shoppers at Victoria’s Secret can use the store credit card to save money on their purchases.

1. Rewards Can Be Used Toward Future Purchases

Earning a $10 or $15 reward after 250 points means you’re getting a bonus of $10 or $15 after spending $250. You can use your rewards certificate toward an online purchase or at Victoria’s Secret and Pink stores in the U.S. within 90 days of receiving it.

You get triple reward points for bras, meaning you’ll be eligible for a $10 or $15 reward after spending a little more than $80 on bras. Bras average about $50 each, so you’re likely to receive a $10 or $15 rewards certificate after buying just two or three full-price bras.

2. The Higher Tiers Provide Greater Savings

If you shop at Victoria’s Secret and Pink often enough to spend at least $250 per year, Angel VIP and Angel Forever offer the most benefits. The higher levels reward you with more savings opportunities, like $15 birthday and half-birthday treats — instead of just $10 on your birthday — at the Angel Forever tier and 15%-20% off your purchases on your store credit card’s anniversary date.

However, spending more on items you don’t need isn’t recommended, especially if it’s simply to get additional rewards on a store credit card. The point of signing up for store credit cards is to take advantage of the discounts, not get into debt.

Disadvantages

The perks for loyal Victoria’s Secret and Pink shoppers are enticing, but the credit card does have its drawbacks.

1. It’s a Closed-Loop Card

The Victoria’s Secret credit card can only be used in store and online at Victoria’s Secret and Pink. Additionally, it’s only good at U.S. stores, which limits your opportunity to earn rewards and save money.

2. The Card Charges a High Interest Rate

GOBankingRates has provided a comparison chart below of some of the most popular store credit cards. You’ll notice that the Victoria’s Secret credit card has one of the highest APRs — 26.74%. Any savings and rewards you’re hoping to earn can be negated if you carry a balance on your card from month to month. To avoid forking over steep interest or expensive late fees, pay your credit card bill in full and by the due date every month.

How the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Compares To Other Retail Cards

Are you wondering how the Victoria’s Secret credit card measures up to the best store credit cards? Unlike some other store credit cards, the Victoria’s Secret card provides shoppers with greater opportunities to save money and earn rewards when they spend more. As previously noted, everyone starts with the Angel credit card but can move up to the Angel VIP tier after spending $250 or to the Angel Forever tier after spending $500 over 12 months.

Take a look at the following comparison of popular retail store cards:

Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Review and Comparison
Card	Perks	APR	Fees and Penalties
Victoria’s Secret Angel Credit Card	Rewards can be earned at Victoria’s Secret and Pink stores and at victoriassecret.com Earn 1 point for every $1 spent Receive a $10 or $15 Angel Reward certificate, depending on your tier level, with every 250 points earned Earn triple points on bra purchases Savings of $25 on your first purchase after opening the card Free shipping on purchases over $50 Monthly exclusive offers and invites Early access to sales and other Angel-only perks	Variable 26.74% APR	Annual fee: $0 Late payment fee: Up to $39 Returned payment fee: Up to $25
Capital One Walmart Rewards Card	Earn 5% back at Walmart stores in the first 12 months Earn 2% back after the first 12 months Earn 5% back on Walmart.com and select Walmart app purchases Earn 2% back on gas from Walmart and Murphy USA fuel stations Get 2% back on restaurants and travel Earn 1% back on all other Mastercard purchases	Variable APR of 17.99%, 23.24% or 26.99% based on credit	Annual fee: $0 Late payment fee: Up to $39
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card	Get a $100 gift card upon approval Get 5% back at Amazon and Whole Foods Get 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores Get 1% back on all other purchases Travel, emergency and lost luggage assistance Travel accident insurance	15.74%-23.74%, based on credit	Annual fee: $0, but an annual Prime membership of $119 (or $59 for students) is required Balance transfer fee: $5 or 5%, whichever is greater Late payment fee: $39 Returned payment fee: $39
Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi	Get 4% cash back on gas up to $7,000 and 1% thereafter All Costco purchases get 2% cash back All other purchases earn 1% back Damage and theft purchase protection Extended warranty on purchased items	Variable 16.74% APR	Annual fee: $0, but an annual Costco membership of $60 or $120 is required Late payment fee: Up to $39 Returned payment fee: Up to $39
Macy’s American Express	Get rewards like free shipping, additional savings and cash back depending on your membership level (Silver, Gold or Platinum) Earn 3% back at restaurants Earn 2% back in gas and grocery purchases Earn 1% on all other purchases	Variable 26.74% APR	Annual fee: $0 Late payment fee: Up to $39 Returned payment fee: Up to $39
Target RedCard	Get 5% off on all Target purchases Free two-day shipping An additional 30 days for returns and exchanges Exclusive RedCard discounts and offers	Variable 24.65% APR	Annual fee: $0 Late payment fee: Up to $39 Returned payment fee: Up to $28

Who Should Consider the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card?

If you shop at Victoria’s Secret and Pink often enough to spend at least $250 per year, you can reach the higher tiers of Angel VIP and Angel Forever and receive the biggest benefits, like $15 birthday and half-birthday treats at the Angel Forever tier and 15%-20% off your purchases on your store credit card’s anniversary date.

The retailer triples rewards points on bra purchases, so the card can be a good choice for frequent bra buyers. Victoria’s Secret bras average about $50 each, so purchasing just over $80 worth per year makes you eligible for the higher tiers and a $10 or $15 reward certificate toward future purchases.

Who Should Pass On the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card?

Consumers who aren’t regular Victoria’s Secret or Pink shoppers won’t benefit as much from the card’s rewards. The Victoria’s Secret credit card also has one of the highest APRs at 26.74% — plus expensive late fees — so carrying a balance or occasionally forgetting to make your payments on time can negate any savings and rewards you’re hoping to earn. Avoid the high interest and expensive late fees by paying your credit card bill in full — and on time — every month, or skip this store card altogether.

How To Apply For the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card

You can apply online for a Victoria’s Secret credit card. The first thing you’ll be asked to do is select a design for your credit card. The two available are the Victoria’s Secret Angel Credit Card in hot pink with script and a heart logo or the Pink Angel credit card featuring the silhouette of a dog. Once you’ve chosen the card’s look, enter the following information:

Name
Date of birth
Social Security number
Residential address
Phone number
An authorized user, if you wish

Learn More: How To Get Your Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Approved

Is the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Worth It?

For anyone who shops regularly at Victoria’s Secret and Pink stores, the Victoria’s Secret credit card is worth it. You’ll save some money thanks to the rewards you can earn toward future purchases and the bonus savings on your card anniversary at the Angel VIP and Angel Forever tiers.

The one deal breaker is how you pay your credit card bills. Any potential savings and rewards will be offset by expensive interest and late fees if you don’t pay off your full balance by the due date every month.

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Editorial Note: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone and have not been endorsed by American Express.