Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Review: Is Signing Up Worth It?
Here's how to save with Victoria's Secret Angel credit cards.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
- 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.
Related: How To Make a Victoria’s Secret Credit Card Payment
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 |
|
Variable 26.74% APR |
|
Capital One Walmart Rewards Card |
|
Variable APR of 17.99%, 23.24% or 26.99% based on credit |
|
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card |
|
15.74%-23.74%, based on credit |
|
Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi |
|
Variable 16.74% APR |
|
Macy’s American Express |
|
Variable 26.74% APR |
|
Target RedCard |
|
Variable 24.65% APR |
|
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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Update: Some offers mentioned below may have changed or are no longer available. View current credit card offerings from our partners at CardCritics here or on the issuer’s website.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. American Express credit card products are not available through GOBankingRates.com.