Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card review: Full details
Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card overview
The Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card comes with a decent earnings rate at Victoria’s Secret and Pink stores, and it also offers some bonus categories outside the retailers. However, the card’s rewards are limited to low-value redemptions, which make it a generally poor option unless you are an extremely loyal Victoria’s Secret shopper. Card rating*: ⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
With Victoria’s Secret credit cards, it’s important to note a distinction between the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card and the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card. The Victoria’s Secret Credit Card is a closed-loop card, meaning you can only use the card (and, thus, earn rewards) on purchases with Victoria’s Secret and Pink stores. Meanwhile, the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard can be used to earn rewards anywhere Mastercard is accepted, which widely broadens your ability to collect points to redeem for Victoria’s Secret or Pink purchases.
Since the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard is more similar to the cards we typically cover at TPG, this will be the version of the card discussed in this review.
The Victoria’s Secret Mastercard is issued by Comenity Bank and has no annual fee and a recommended credit score of at least 670. Let’s learn more about the card and see if it could be a good fit for you.
The information for the Victoria’s Secret Credit Card and the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card pros and cons
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Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card welcome offer
The Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card comes with a small welcome offer of up to $55 in rewards that can be used toward purchases at Victoria’s Secret or Pink.
First, you will automatically receive $25 off your first purchase once you’re approved for the card. This isn’t a particularly lucrative offer, as other store cards give you a percentage-based discount that can be redeemed at a higher value if you make a larger first purchase on your card. With this option offered by the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard, you’re strictly limited to $25 off in the form of a single-use offer code.
Additionally, you can earn a $30 reward by spending more than $500 on purchases outside of Victoria’s Secret and Pink stores with your Victoria’s Secret Mastercard within 90 days of account opening.
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Frankly, this isn’t particularly valuable either, but it could be worth pursuing if you’re a frequent Victoria’s Secret or Pink shopper and could use the discount. Plus, there’s no reason to leave rewards on the table if you choose to get the card.
Related: The best credit card welcome offers currently available
Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card benefits
The Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card comes with minimal benefits. However, it automatically offers a higher status within the Victoria’s Secret & Pink Rewards program.
As a cardholder, you’ll get the middle tier of status — Silver — automatically. You can reach this tier without having the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard, but you must spend $300 in a program year to get there.
With Silver status, you’ll earn 20 points per dollar spent with the card at Victoria’s Secret and Pink, which is double the earnings rate for the basic rewards program member tier (10 points per dollar). Silver members also get two days per year to earn double points, a 15% off anniversary gift, a $10 birthday reward and 30 points per dollar spent on bras purchased at Victoria’s Secret or Pink.
You’ll also receive related Mastercard benefits with this card, which include zero fraud liability.
While these perks are limited and certainly not as vast as those of many cash-back and travel rewards cards, they are decent offerings for a store credit card.
Related: How to choose the best credit card for you
Earning and redeeming rewards on the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card
Since the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard comes with automatic Silver status, you’ll earn 20 points per dollar spent at Victoria’s Secret and Pink.
On top of elevated earnings at Victoria’s Secret and Pink stores, you’ll also earn 4 points per dollar spent on dining, travel and streaming services and 2 points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
While it is easier to accumulate points than it is with many other store credit card offerings, you’re still limited in terms of redeeming them. You’ll get a $10 reward for every 2,000 points accumulated within the rewards program — meaning points are effectively worth 0.5 cents apiece.
This yields a 10% return on Victoria’s Secret and Pink purchases, but there are some drawbacks. Rewards are only redeemable as discounts on purchases at Victoria’s Secret and Pink and expire 90 days from when they’re issued.
While earning 20 points per dollar spent on Victoria’s Secret and Pink purchases and 4 points per dollar spent on a wide range of other purchases might seem enticing, these points are restrictive and not particularly valuable. Plus, they expire relatively quickly, meaning you must use them when you get them or risk losing your hard-earned rewards. And since they’re only worth 0.5 cents apiece, the highest return you’ll get on your bonus purchases outside of Victoria’s Secret is a 2% return — which you can get on all purchases with several cash-back cards.
However, if you frequent Victoria’s Secret and Pink and are looking for a way to earn money on those frequent purchases, this could be a decent option if that is truly where a sizable chunk of your spending goes.
Related: Are cash-back credit cards worth it?
Which cards compete with the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card?
If you’re seeking out a card that earns flexible rewards for your purchases, here are some other options:
- If you’re looking to earn flat-rate cash back: The Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) gets an easy 2% cash back on every purchase (1% as you buy and 1% when you pay) for no annual fee. It is a solid option to earn more on every purchase, including those at Victoria’s Secret and Pink. To learn more, check out our full review of the Citi Double Cash.
- If you want to maximize spending in popular categories: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns cash-back rewards at an elevated rate across multiple everyday spending categories, including 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail purchases and gas at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%). Plus, the card comes with no annual fee (see rates and fees). To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday.
- If you’re interested in rotating bonus categories: The Chase Freedom Flex® earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in rotating categories each quarter you activate, so you’ll be earning more across a variety of your expenses without an annual fee. Plus, you’ll always get 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases. To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
For additional options, see our full list of the best cash-back credit cards.
Related: Why I got the Chase Freedom Flex and how I’m getting max cash back this quarter
Is the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card worth it?
While you can use your Victoria’s Secret Mastercard anywhere to earn points that add up to rewards, you’re almost certainly better off with a card that earns more flexible rewards at a better rate. Rewards earned with the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard are highly restrictive and offer little value. Still, it offers a high return on Victoria’s Secret and Pink purchases, so it could be worth getting if you are extremely loyal to the brands.
Bottom line
Unless you are fiercely devoted to Victoria’s Secret and Pink, the Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card issued by Comenity Bank isn’t the best card to add to your wallet. While it is enticing to earn points toward rewards at an especially elevated rate within the stores, you’re almost certainly better off with a general-use card since the rewards are more flexible and more valuable.
Related: Store vs. cash-back credit cards: Which one should I get?
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday, click here.
