Can a Best Buy Credit Card Help You Build Credit?

Is a mortgage or car loan in your future? If so, there are a few things you should know before you try to make that dream a reality. Buying a home or a car is a huge financial responsibility, one that requires a lot of time, discipline, and money. Most of us don't have enough cash to put down for the full purchase, which means having to turn to a bank for a loan to finance the purchase.

In order to qualify, you'll need good credit. But what do you do if you're just starting out or have a bad credit score? There are a few ways you can work on getting your credit established or back on track. One way to do that is by applying for a store credit card like the one offered by Best Buy. Learn more about your credit score and how a Best Buy (BBY) card can help your bottom line.

Key Takeaways

  • You can improve your credit score or establish your credit history by getting a store credit card like the one offered by Best Buy.
  • Best Buy offers an in-store credit card and a Best Buy Visa that can be used anywhere Visa is accepted.
  • Both cards offer consumers rewards that can be used toward future Best Buy purchases.
  • Best Buy cardholders can also take advantage of flexible financing on certain purchases.
  • Paying your Best Buy credit card on time can give your credit history a boost.

Understanding Your Credit Score

Before you apply for credit through Best Buy (or any other creditor for that matter), you need to understand how your credit score works. Your FICO score helps lenders decide whether they'll extend any credit to you. FICO stands for the Fair Isaac Corporation. This score is a three-digit number that is derived from your credit reports from the three major credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union.

The FICO score is calculated using five different factors, each with its own weighting based on importance:

  • Payment history: 35%
  • Balances owed: 30%
  • Length of credit history: 15%
  • New Credit: 10%
  • Credit Mix: 10%

More than two-thirds of the overall credit score is based on how well you pay off your balances in full and on time. The Best Buy card allows you to pay your bill in-store, online, by mail, and by phone.

The remainder of the credit score looks at information such as the length of your credit history and the frequency with which you open new lines of credit.

Keep in mind that a FICO score is a credit score, but not all credit scores are FICO scores. The way they're calculated, how they're used, and by whom are all differences between the two. Roughly 90% of lenders use FICO scores to make their credit decisions.

Be sure to check your credit report regularly for any errors and dispute any inconsistencies that may drag your credit score down.

How Store Credit Cards Work

You're probably aware that almost every retail store has a credit card. After all, almost every cashier you'll come across will ask whether you'd like to apply for their card. Most of these credit cards are financed through different banks or financial companies. Some of the most notable are those available through Target, Amazon, Walmart, Costco, the Gap family (Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy), and Best Buy.

Getting approved for a card from many retailers can be fairly easy, especially since the application can be done online or right at the cash register. That's because these lenders have looser restrictions than traditional credit card companies.

The majority of store credit cards have no annual fees and often come with a very manageable credit limit so, hopefully, you won't be overspending. If you're a frequent shopper at that retailer—say at Best Buy—you can even earn points or other rewards. Best Buy offers two different credit card options—the My Best Buy Credit Card and the Best Buy Visa.

Best Buy Store Card vs. Best Buy Visa

The Best Buy Credit Card can only be used at Best Buy. You can earn 5% back in rewards and another 1% if you're an elite plus cardholder. You also get flexible financing options if you're making larger purchases and have a credit limit that fits.

The Visa card, on the other hand, can also be used anywhere Visa is accepted. Not only do you get the same perks as the in-store credit card, but you also get 3% back in rewards on gas purchases, 2% on dining, and 1% back on other purchases. Rewards can be used toward future Best Buy purchases.

But there is a catch. Expect to pay higher-than-average interest on the card—the same way you would with any other store credit card. The annual percentage rate (APR) for both cards is 25.24% on regular purchases and both charge $40 for late payments. The Visa card charges 27.99% for cash advances plus a fee of $10 or 5% of the cash advance—whichever is greater.

Make sure you apply for a store credit card where you shop frequently and, once approved, keep up with payments to protect the integrity of your credit score.

How the Best Buy Credit Card Can Help

If you use a Best Buy credit card but pay off the balance within the terms of the agreement, you will likely see an improvement in your credit score. Timely payments of any outstanding credit balances help you build a strong credit history and avoid paying any unnecessary interest and late fees.

The financing Best Buy offers on certain purchases means you may not have to pay interest, provided you pay off the full balance of the purchase on time. Doing so will likely result in a higher credit score, as it demonstrates to lenders that you can use the card responsibly and have the means to pay for what you have borrowed.

The Bottom Line

Before you apply for any form of credit, it's always a great idea to understand how your credit score works and to do a regular review of your credit score. If your score is down in the dumps, don't fret because you may be able to give it a push in the right direction by applying for a store credit card. Many retailers like Best Buy offer customers an in-store card and a Visa option. These are great options to establish, maintain, and improve your credit score while offering special financing options and rewards. Once you're approved, smart usage of the card will boost your score and put you on the right financial path.

Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.
  1. myFico. "What is a FICO® Score?"

  2. myFICO. "What's in my FICO® Scores?"

  3. myFICO. "What's the Difference Between FICO® Scores and Non-FICO Credit Scores?"

  4. Best Buy. "Best Buy Credit Cards."

  5. Best Buy. "Best Buy Citi: Terms and Conditions of Offer."

Open a New Bank Account
×
The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Investopedia receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where listings appear. Investopedia does not include all offers available in the marketplace.
Sponsor
Name
Description