Best Credit Card for Cato Fashions in 2026
Cato Fashions is classified under MCC 5311 (Department Stores). The best card for Cato Fashions purchases is the Shopper Cash Rewards ($95/yr annual fee), earning 3x on department stores — an effective return of 3.00%.
Does Cato Fashions accept Mastercard? Yes — Cato Fashions accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover at all locations, including in-store and mobile app payments.
Department stores like Cato Fashions are gold for credit card rewards, especially if you shop frequently for clothes and accessories. Shopper Cash Rewards cards excel here with their higher earning rates.
To supercharge your rewards, sign up for any promotions or loyalty programs that Cato Fashions offers and pair it with your Shopper Cash Rewards card.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 a month at Cato Fashions, a Shopper Cash Rewards card earns you an extra $72 per year compared to a basic 1% cash back card. That's like getting one free outfit each year!
Cato Fashions purchases are classified under MCC 5311 (Department Stores).
MCC Details for Cato Fashions
Best Credit Cards for Cato Fashions (2026)
How Cato Fashions Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Cato Fashions 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, Cato Fashions transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Cato Fashions specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Cato Fashions 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 — Cato Fashions
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 Cato Fashions
Spending $200/month at Cato Fashions 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.