Sears Citi Mastercard Credit Card Fees Interest and Financing Options

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The Sears Citi Mastercard credit card is a great option for those who want to earn rewards on their purchases. The card offers a 5% cash back reward on gas purchases, which can be a huge help for those who drive frequently.

The annual fee for this card is $0 for the first year, and $0 for the second year, but it increases to $79 after that. This is a relatively low annual fee compared to other credit cards on the market.

One of the best features of the Sears Citi Mastercard is its long introductory APR period of 26.99% (Variable) for 25 months, which can provide some much-needed breathing room for those who need to make a large purchase.

Readers also liked: Sears Credit Card Review

Benefits and Rewards

The Sears Citi Mastercard credit card offers a range of benefits and rewards that make it a great option for those who shop at Sears and Kmart. You'll get access to Sears coupons, discounts, and cash back, as well as some basic insurance protection.

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The card has no annual fee, which is a big plus. You'll also get a 25-day grace period on new purchases, and you can make payments in stores or online. Additionally, you can earn statement credit bonuses for new accounts, which can be hundreds of dollars.

Here's a breakdown of the earning structure and rewards:

You can earn up to $225 in statement credits for spending $1,125 on utilities within three months, or $75 per month by spending at least $375 on utilities.

$225 Sign-Up Bonus

The $225 Sign-Up Bonus is a great incentive to apply for this card, and here's how it works: you'll earn a $75 statement credit for every $500 you spend in the first 90 days.

To qualify, you need to apply during the current promotional period and make purchases within the first 90 days. The spending limit for earning the bonus is $500, and you can earn up to $225 in statement credits.

Here's a breakdown of how to reach the $225 bonus:

You can earn the $225 bonus by spending $1,500 in the first 90 days, which will give you a total of $225 in statement credits.

Earning Points & Rewards

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You'll earn 5% back in points on eligible purchases at gas stations, 3% back in points on eligible purchases at grocery stores and restaurants, and 2% back in points on eligible purchases at Sears and Kmart, with 1% back on all other eligible purchases.

The earning structure is very good on this card, especially on gas station purchases where you'll get 5% back in points on the first $10,000 of purchases per calendar year.

You'll earn 50 points (5% back) on eligible purchases at gas stations, 30 points (3% back) on eligible purchases at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $10,000 of combined gas, grocery and restaurants purchases per calendar year and 10 points (1%) thereafter.

The points are valid for twelve months from the date they are awarded and can be redeemed to save in-store or online at Sears or Kmart and at shopyourway.com.

Here's a breakdown of the earning rates:

  • 5% back in points on gas stations
  • 3% back in points on grocery stores and restaurants
  • 2% back in points on Sears and Kmart
  • 1% back in points on all other eligible purchases

Note that these categories will earn at the stated rates only on the first $10,000 of purchases per calendar year, after which they will earn 1% back in points until the next calendar year.

Financing and Loans

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The Sears Citibank Mastercard credit card offers special financing options for home improvements, including 18-month zero-interest financing on items like heating and air conditioning equipment.

You can use this card to finance purchases with the Sears Home Services division, which also assists with installing and maintaining these large purchases.

Sears Home Services can help with everything from installing new windows to setting up home generators, and the card can be used to finance both the materials and the installation.

Keep in mind that the Sears Credit Card requires good credit, which means you need a 700+ credit score for high approval odds.

Applying for the card triggers a hard inquiry, which may temporarily hurt your credit score.

Home Services Financing

Sears Home Services Financing offers special financing deals for home improvements, including 18-month zero-interest financing on items like heating and air conditioning equipment.

Cardholders can use this card to finance purchases with the Sears Home Services division, which also assists with installing and maintaining these large purchases.

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You can get both the material and installation completed with the Sears Home Services group, making it a convenient option for home upgrades.

Sears Home Services Financing is generally easier to get than other credit cards due to its relatively low credit limit and high interest rate for carrying a balance forward.

This makes it a non-risky and lucrative option for the issuer, but may not be the best choice for everyone.

To take advantage of these financing offers, you'll need good credit, which means a 700+ credit score for high approval odds.

Balance Transfer

A balance transfer is when you move an existing credit card balance to a new credit card with a lower interest rate. This can save you money on interest charges and help you pay off your debt faster.

Typically, credit card companies offer 0% introductory APRs for balance transfers, which can last from 6 to 21 months. This means you won't pay any interest on the transferred balance during this period.

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To qualify for a balance transfer, you usually need a good credit score, typically 660 or higher. This is because balance transfer offers are often reserved for customers with excellent credit.

Balance transfer fees can range from 3% to 5% of the transferred amount, which can add up quickly. For example, if you transfer $10,000, the fee could be $300 to $500.

Payment and Account

To access your Sears Citi Mastercard credit card account online, you'll need to register your card and create a username and password. You can do this by clicking "Register Your Card" on the login page and following the prompts to enter your card number, birthdate, and last 4 digits of your Social Security number or Tax ID number.

Your username must be between 5 and 50 characters, including special characters, but no spaces, and your password must contain at least one letter and one number, with a maximum of two consecutive identical characters. The password is not case-sensitive and may contain special characters.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Citi Temporary Credit Card Number

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After you've signed up and logged in, you can manage your account online, including paying your credit card bill, viewing statements, and monitoring account activity. If you forget your login information, you can click "Retrieve User ID" on the login page to reset or retrieve your username or password.

You can pay your Sears Citi Mastercard credit card bill by mail, but this is the slowest option available, so be sure to send your payment well before your due date to give it time to arrive.

To pay your bill by mail, send it to Sears Consumer Payments at P.O. Box 9001055, Louisville, KY 40290-1055, or Sears Consumer Express Payments at Attn: Consumer Payment Dept., 6716 Grade Lane, Building 9, Suite 910, Louisville, KY 40213.

How to Pay

To make a payment online, you'll need to log in to your account and choose how much to pay, when to pay it, and where the payment is coming from. Citibank also allows cardholders to set up automatic payments, which can save you time and effort.

If this caught your attention, see: Citi Bank Credit Card Minimum Payment

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You can pay your Sears Credit Card bill by mail by sending a check to the address listed below.

The Sears Credit Card payment address is:

Sears Consumer Payments

P.O. Box 9001055

Louisville, KY 40290-1055

Alternatively, you can pay your bill in person at a Citibank branch. If you're not sure where your nearest branch is, you can use Citibank's branch locator tool to find one near you.

If you're experiencing any issues with your account or need to report a lost or stolen card, you can call Citibank's customer service number at 1 (800) 917-7700.

Online Account Login

To log in to your Sears Credit Card account online, you'll need to register your card first. This involves clicking "Register Your Card" on the Sears Credit Card website or mobile app and entering your card number, birthdate, and the last 4 digits of your Social Security number or Tax ID number.

The registration process requires you to choose a username and password that meet specific requirements. Your username must be between 5 and 50 characters, including special characters, but no spaces. Your password must contain at least one letter and one number, and no more than two consecutive identical characters.

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You can log in with your new credentials by filling out the User ID and Password fields on the login page and clicking "Sign On". If you forget your login information, you can click "Retrieve User ID" on the login page to reset or retrieve your username or password.

Here's a quick rundown of the registration process:

After you've signed up and logged in, you'll be able to manage your Sears Credit Card account online, including paying your credit card bill, seeing credit card statements, monitoring account activity, and changing account information.

Fees and Interest

The Sears Citi Mastercard credit card has a range of fees associated with it.

The annual fee for the card is $0 for the first year, and then it's $79 per year after that.

You'll also be charged a late payment fee of up to $38 if you miss a payment.

The return payment fee is $29, which is charged when you return a purchase.

Interest rates on the card can be quite high, with a regular APR of 25.24% and a cash advance APR of 29.99%.

If you have a balance on your card, you'll be charged interest on that balance from the date of purchase.

Application and Approval

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To apply for the Sears Citi Mastercard credit card, you'll need to visit the Sears website or call the customer service number.

The application process typically takes around 5-10 minutes to complete.

Once you've submitted your application, you'll need to wait for approval.

Approval is usually granted within a few minutes, but in some cases, it may take up to 30 days.

Broaden your view: Citicards Application Status

Required Score

To get approved, you'll need a credit score of around 580 to 669, which falls within the "fair" range.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, unless you live in Puerto Rico, in which case you must be at least 21 years old.

This means that credit scores below 580 might not be approved, so it's essential to know where you stand before applying.

The good news is that having a credit score in the fair range is still achievable, and it's a great starting point for getting approved.

When Does the Report Bureau Open?

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The Sears Credit Card reports to the credit bureaus once each month, within days after the end of your monthly billing period. This means you can expect your account information to be updated on your credit report shortly after the report is sent.

It may take a few days for the updates to appear on your credit report after the Sears Credit Card reports your account information to a credit bureau each month.

Top 5 Routes

If you're looking to apply for a Sears credit card, there are several routes you can take. The most direct option is to head to CitigroupInc.com, where you can apply for the Sears card and Sears Mastercard directly.

The Citigroup website also allows you to manage your Sears credit account once it's been approved. For a more in-depth look at the Sears credit card, WalletHub.com is a great resource. They provide a list of frequently asked questions and answers to help you make an informed decision.

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NerdWalletInc.com offers an in-depth evaluation of the Sears credit card, including a detailed explanation of how the no-interest financing works. They also discuss the Shop Your Way Reward Points and other credit card options.

You can also check out Investopedia.co, which describes the three types of Sears credit cards and lists several financing offers for large purchases, such as discounts or free delivery on appliances. Additionally, they note the benefits of applying for Sears credit with the discount offered on the first billing statement.

If you want to review the Sears card disclosure statement, which includes current interest rates and financing terms, you can download the PDF file from Citicards.com.

Compare Alternatives

If you're considering the Sears Credit Card, you might want to explore some alternatives. The Prime Visa card, for example, has a higher WalletHub rating of 4.3, compared to the Sears Credit Card's 3.9.

The Prime Visa card also offers a rewards rate of 1 - 5% Cash Rewards, which is a significant advantage over the Sears Credit Card's rewards rate of 10 - 50 points / $1.

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If you're looking for a card with no annual fee, both the Sears Credit Card and the Prime Visa card are good options. However, the Prime Visa card has a lower regular APR, ranging from 19.49% - 28.24% (V), compared to the Sears Credit Card's 33.24% (V).

Here's a brief comparison of the three cards:

The Costco Anywhere Visa card is another option to consider, with a rewards rate of 1 - 5% Cash Back and a regular APR ranging from 19.49% - 27.49% (V). However, it has a slightly lower WalletHub rating of 3.6.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Sears Mastercard still exist?

The Sears Mastercard was replaced by the Shop Your Way Mastercard in 2023, which can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. No, the original Sears Mastercard is no longer in use.

Can I use my Sears Citi Mastercard anywhere?

Yes, you can use your Sears Citi Mastercard anywhere MasterCard credit cards are accepted, both in-store and online. Earn Cash Rewards quickly by using your card for eligible purchases everywhere.

Is a Sears credit card a Citibank credit card?

Yes, Sears credit cards are issued by Citibank, N.A. This means you can expect similar benefits and terms as a standard Citibank credit card.

Matthew McKenzie

Lead Writer

Matthew McKenzie is a seasoned writer with a passion for finance and technology. He has honed his skills in crafting engaging content that educates and informs readers on various topics related to the stock market. Matthew's expertise lies in breaking down complex concepts into easily digestible information, making him a sought-after writer in the finance niche.

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