As mentioned previously the Citi Sears card now offers bonus categories that earn up to 5% back in Shop Your Way Rewards Points. The Citi Sears card is one of our top store credit cards, but that’s because of the targeted spending bonuses so let’s hope that continue to offer those for new cardholders (please share your datapoints in the comments below). Let’s take a look at this card in more depth.
Contents
Card Basics
- Card earns at the following rates until December 31st, 2017:
- 5% back in points on eligible purchases made at gas stations*
- 3% back in points on eligible purchases at grocery stores and restaurants*
- 2% back in points on eligible purchases made at Sears & Kmart
- 1% back on all other purchases
- No annual fee
*These categories have a combined limit of $10,000 in spend, after that they will earn 1% back in points
Our Verdict
The bonus categories aren’t actually that interesting as there are other cards that earn at higher rates:
- Best gas credit cards
- Best grocery store credit cards
- Best restaurant credit cards
- Best credit cards for everywhere else
The points you earn on this card are worth 0.1¢ each when redeeming your Sears merchandise. But this card actually gives you 5%/3%/2%/1% back in points, so it actually earns at 50/30/20/10. Personally I’d much prefer a card that earns cash back than these points, especially how easily they have been giving out these points via their point.
If the card continues to offer targeted spending bonuses in addition to these bonus categories, it might be worth considering otherwise I’d give it a miss and sign up for one of the better credit card sign up bonuses.
Is the bonus taxable?
I absolutely love this card. The targeted cash back statement credits on top of the 5/3/1% back in points you get while reaching those target spends, plus the separate SYW missions and extra points, makes this my most lucrative card. Sometimes targeted offers overlap and spending works toward both targets. Amazing.
I have the best buy,shell and macys card from citibank and never been aproved for the sears card,dont understand why
I’ve been once again targeted for their generous cash back offer:
10% in statement credits** on eligible purchases at:
• Gas Stations
• Grocery Stores
• Restaurants
For total eligible purchases of $500 or more each month 01/01/17 – 03/31/17 up to a total statement credit of $80 each
Another prediction this year should be that sears will file for bankruptcy and close all stores.
Given Sears’ precarious state, this probably isn’t a card for the long term. Sears and Kmart are desperate to get customers either in store of online. They’ve had some fantastic SYW deals lately, but to me it indicates desperation.
I’ve been pretty much target for great cash credit back bonuses for the last 15 months so so. Nothing on the latest one. :'( It sits in my sock drawer until I get targeted again as I’m not getting TYP (or SYW points-which I have no interest in) regularly.
Is this the card that also has a cashback and a TYP version, in addition to the SYW points? Is there a way to sign up for those?
Yes it does have a CB & TYP version.
I got interested in CB & TYP versions, so I searched a little. Nothing I found…but I found 5-3-2-1 is promotional….
Q. How long does this 5-3-2-1 promotion last?
A. The promotion runs on a complimentary basis from November 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017.
Q. I already have a Sears MasterCard. How do I get into the 5-3-2-1 program?
A. A Shop Your Way member may contact Citibank at the Customer Service number on the back of your Sears MasterCard to see if you were included.
http://www.shopyourway.com/card
Is it really correct that 1 Shop Your Way Point is only worth 0.1 cents??? That seems too low.
1 mil SYW = $1000, I can’t do the math 😛
Yes it’s true
I was last targeted for something on this card in December 2015. But then my card number was compromised and the replacement card hasn’t had a single offer. Anyone know if there is a way to opt-in?
Have you put any spend on the card since that incident?
Yes I actually just bought a mattress with it on Black Friday to take advantage of a bonus in store promo. Maybe it’s targeted toward dormant accounts.