What Retail Store Credit Cards Actually Want: Your FICO Score Breakdown

Planning to apply for a retail store credit card? The biggest question isn’t which brand to choose—it’s whether your credit score will even get you in the door. The truth is, these cards used to be the easiest path to building credit history, but requirements have shifted significantly in recent years.

Understanding FICO Score Ratings and What They Mean

Before you hit that “apply” button, let’s be clear on what lenders are actually looking at. According to Experian, FICO scores fall into these categories:

• Exceptional: 800-850
• Very Good: 740-799
• Good: 670-739
• Fair: 580-669
• Poor: 300-579

The lower your number, the harder it becomes to qualify. And even if you do get approved, those with lower scores typically face higher interest rates and lower credit limits. Multiple credit applications within a short timeframe can also hurt your score through hard inquiries, so knowing your actual score before applying isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

The Real Impact of a Lower Credit Score

What happens if you’re sitting in the “fair” or “poor” range? You’ll face more rejections, lower approval amounts, and significantly higher interest charges. Some retailers will require you to put money down upfront (secured cards) before they’ll approve you. But here’s the good news: this doesn’t have to be permanent.

Store-by-Store Requirements: Where Can You Actually Get Approved?

The eligibility thresholds vary dramatically depending on which retailer you’re targeting. Here’s what each major chain actually requires:

Easiest Path: 580+ Score Home Depot doesn’t ask for much—just hit 580 and you’re likely in. Their store card carries no annual fee and includes deferred interest on select purchases. Best Buy’s store card option also sits at 580+, as does Target’s credit card tier.

Middle Ground: 640+ Score Walmart, Kohl’s, and Lowe’s all want to see 640 or higher. The Lowe’s Advantage Card rewards frequent shoppers with benefits, while Kohl’s allows pre-qualification checks that won’t damage your score with hard inquiries.

Stricter Standards: 670+ Score If you’re aiming for Amazon’s Prime Visa or their regular Amazon Visa, you’ll need 670+. Best Buy’s premium credit card also requires this threshold. Target Mastercard applicants need 670 as well.

Special Cases: Amazon also offers a store-only card at 580+, giving you flexibility if you don’t meet their Visa requirements. Best Buy automatically considers you for their store card if the premium card rejects you—a smart safety net.

The Strategy That Actually Works

Here’s what successful applicants do: Start with retailers that have the lowest thresholds (580-640 range), get approved, use the cards responsibly, and watch your score climb. Once you hit 670+, you unlock better rewards and terms. Don’t spray applications across multiple retailers in one week—that triggers too many hard inquiries and tanks your score temporarily.

Know your exact score before applying. Understand that a pre-qualification check is just that—a soft inquiry that doesn’t affect your rating. Then pick one card where you’re most likely to win approval first.

The retail credit card landscape has definitely tightened compared to years past, but pathways still exist. The key is matching your current FICO score to retailers with realistic requirements, then building upward strategically.