Best Credit Card for Carson's in 2026
Carson's is classified under MCC 5311 (Department Stores). The best card for Carson's purchases is the Shopper Cash Rewards ($95/yr annual fee), earning 3x on department stores — an effective return of 3.00%.
Department stores like Carson's are great for high rewards if you frequently shop there, especially with cash-back credit cards that offer elevated rates.
Maximize your rewards by timing purchases around promotional periods and using the same card for all transactions.
Carson's purchases are classified under MCC 5311 (Department Stores).
MCC Details for Carson's
Best Credit Cards for Carson's (2026)
How Carson's Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Carson's at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5311 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a department 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 "department stores" purchases, Carson's transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Carson's specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Carson's 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 5311 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Carson's
About MCC 5311: Department Stores
Merchant Category Code 5311 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Department Stores industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5311, all qualifying card programs that include department 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 Department Stores merchants: Bealls, Belk, Bloomingdale's.
What You Could Earn at Carson's
Spending $200/month at Carson's with the Shopper Cash Rewards (3x on department stores) earns approximately $72/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. After the $95 annual fee, that is $-23 more per year.