Best Credit Card for Bath & Body Works in 2026
Bath & Body Works is classified under MCC 5977 (Cosmetic Stores). The best card for Bath & Body Works purchases is the Active Cash (no annual fee), earning 2x on cosmetic stores — an effective return of 2.00%.
Bath & Body Works is a great place for rewards enthusiasts because it falls under the cosmetic stores category. Many travel and cash-back cards offer elevated rates at these locations.
Sign up for Bath & Body Works' rewards program; it often doubles the points earned with select credit cards during special promotions.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 a month at Bath & Body Works with a card that gives 2% back, you'll earn $4 per month or $48 annually. Opt for a basic 1% card, and your reward drops to just $2 per month ($24 yearly).
Bath & Body Works purchases are classified under MCC 5977 (Cosmetic Stores).
MCC Details for Bath & Body Works
Best Credit Cards for Bath & Body Works (2026)
How Bath & Body Works Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Bath & Body Works at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5977 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a cosmetic stores merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "cosmetic stores" purchases, Bath & Body Works transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Bath & Body Works specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Bath & Body Works transaction by checking your card's mobile app or statement. Some issuers display the merchant category alongside the transaction details. For the most accurate information, contact your card issuer's customer service and ask whether MCC 5977 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Bath & Body Works
About MCC 5977: Cosmetic Stores
Merchant Category Code 5977 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Cosmetic Stores industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5977, all qualifying card programs that include cosmetic stores as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Retail industry group encompasses several related MCCs. Not all merchants in a similar business will share the same MCC — for example, a grocery store inside a warehouse club may code as wholesale ({"5300"}) rather than grocery ({"5411"}). Always verify with your issuer if you're unsure whether a specific merchant qualifies for bonus rewards on your card.
Other Cosmetic Stores merchants: MAC Cosmetics, Sally Beauty, Sephora.
What You Could Earn at Bath & Body Works
Spending $200/month at Bath & Body Works with the Active Cash (2x on cosmetic stores) earns approximately $48/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $24 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Signify Business Cash earns 2x at Bath & Body Works merchants, earning $48/year with no annual fee.