The Children’s Place credit card, known as the My Place Rewards Credit Card, can add value to your purchases if you frequently shop at Children’s Place, Gymboree, Sugar and Jade, and PJ Place. You’ll be able to use the card only with these brands.
The card — issued by Comenity Bank, under Bread Financial — earns generous rewards compared with other store credit cards. With every $50 spent at eligible Children’s Place brands, you’ll essentially earn $5 off toward future purchases with the brand.
Here’s what you need to know about the Children’s Place credit card.
1. It has valuable introductory offers
As a new cardholder, you’ll get two introductory offers. There’s a welcome offer of 20% off when you get the card and 30% off your first purchase with it. These offers cannot be combined, according to Lindsey LeBerth, a spokesperson for Bread Financial. Still, it’s a substantial deal compared with other store-branded credit cards.
2. Rewards are generous, but you’re on a timetable
The Children’s Place Credit Card comes with solid rewards. You’ll earn 2 points per $1 spent with the card at Children’s Place brands, and those points are worth 5 cents each — an abundant rate compared with other credit cards. You automatically earn a $5 reward certificate for every 100 points earned. In other words, you’ll get $5 in rewards every time you spend $50 at Children’s Place or related brands.
But you’ll need a plan for your rewards to avoid losing them. Rewards certificates typically expire after 45 days and points expire after one year, according to LeBerth. You’ll have to stay on top of the expiration window to make the most of them.
If you prefer more flexibility with rewards, a credit card like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card can offer a straightforward 2% cash-back rate on all purchases. You can redeem at any time, and rewards won’t expire as long as the account remains open.
3. Rewards certificates can be applied in different ways
Rewards certificates are issued to your valid email address or mobile number in increments of $5, up to a maximum of $200 per day. You have the option to print the reward certificate, show it from a mobile device in a store, or apply it to an online purchase using the certificate web code.
If you’ve collected more than one reward certificate from your My Place Rewards account, it’s possible to combine them. You may also use rewards certificates to purchase items on sale or clearance. If a purchase falls short of redeeming for the full certificate amount, any amount left over from the certificate will be lost.
🤓Nerdy Tip
If you don’t want to worry about expiration dates, you can consider a credit card that earns a healthy rewards rate on online purchases. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, for instance, earns 3% cash back in a category of your choice (including “online purchases”), and 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on the first $2,500 spent per quarter combined across all bonus categories. All other purchases earn 1% back. The rewards rate is lower compared with the Children’s Place credit card, but your rewards will have a longer shelf life.
4. Perks can offer additional value
Upon opening the Children’s Place credit card, you’re automatically enrolled in the My Place Rewards program. Through the program, you can receive 25% off on the kiddos’ birthdays when you register at least four weeks before their birth dates. You can register up to four birthdays for kids up to 16 years old. To qualify, you must opt in to marketing emails and have a valid email and U.S. mailing address on file.
You’ll also have chances to earn occasional elevated rewards with the card. During bonus events, for instance, you can earn 3x points. You may have to register to qualify for these offers, so keep your contact information updated to get notifications.
5. The interest rate is higher than average
As of this writing, the ongoing variable interest rate on the Children’s Place credit card topped 32%. For comparison, as of May 2023, the average APR for credit cards assessed interest was 22.16%, according to Federal Reserve data.
If you’re in the habit of carrying a balance, you’ll save more money with a credit card that offers a low ongoing interest rate — even if it doesn’t earn rewards. A likely place to find one is at a federal credit union because these institutions cap interest rates at 18%.
The $0-annual-fee PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card, for example, earns either 1.5% or 2% cash back on all purchases, depending on eligibility. And in terms of APR, it offers the following: a 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 90 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. A few additional steps will be required to apply. For instance, you must be a member of a credit union to qualify, although anyone can join PenFed Credit Union by opening a PenFed savings account and making a $5 deposit to establish membership.
