Amex Department Stores: What Counts for Amex Cards?

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American Express offers credit cards that provide you with bonus points for spend at select US department stores. A common question is what types of purchases count for Amex department stores? This article will provide some insight to that question.

Amex cards with bonuses on department stores

The most popular Amex credit cards for earning bonus categories on department stores are the Blue Cash cards. There is a no annual fee version known as the Blue Cash EveryDay and there’s also one version with an annual fee known as the Blue Cash Preferred.

Blue Cash EveryDay

The Blue Cash EveryDay with no annual fee earns 2% back on department stores. It also earns 3% back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases and 2% back at US gas stations.

Blue Cash Preferred

The Blue Cash Preferred earns 3% back on department stores and 6% back at US supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) and 3% back at US gas stations.

Both of these are very solid cash back options and depending on the amount of annual spend you put on your card, either card could make sense for you. I did a full write-up on the differences between these credit cards so make sure you read that before choosing which credit card to go with.

US Department stores

The first thing to be aware of is that only US Department stores located within the US will count for these bonus categories. So it doesn’t count if you shop at a US-based department store in a place like Dubai, for example.

Online purchases don’t count

One thing to know is that you must make these purchases in the store. Online purchases do not count for department stores!

Select major department stores

Final word on Amex department stores

American Express is pretty straightforward about what type of purchases count for department stores. If you’re thinking about going for one of the Blue Cash credit cards then make sure you are familiar with this list. And don’t forget to consider that these cards earn great rates on supermarkets so even if you don’t shop at these select department stores, it could still be worth getting one of these cards.

Daniel Gillaspia

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.