Best Credit Card for Cold Stone Creamery in 2026
Cold Stone Creamery is classified under MCC 5812 (Eating places and Restaurants). The best card for Cold Stone Creamery purchases is the Ink Business Cash (no annual fee), earning 5x on eating places and restaurants — an effective return of 10.25%.
Does Cold Stone Creamery accept Mastercard? Yes — Cold Stone Creamery accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover at all locations, including in-store and mobile app payments.
Cold Stone Creamery falls under the 'Eating Places' category, which is perfect for maximizing rewards with cards like the Hilton Honors Aspire Card that offers high earning rates at restaurants.
To maximize rewards, use your high-earning credit cards specifically for larger dessert indulgences like special occasion ice cream treats at Cold Stone.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 a month at Cold Stone Creamery, the Hilton Honors Aspire card with its 7x points would net you $168 in value annually compared to just $24 from a basic 1% cash-back card.
Cold Stone Creamery purchases are classified under MCC 5812 (Eating places and Restaurants).
MCC Details for Cold Stone Creamery
Best Credit Cards for Cold Stone Creamery (2026)
How Cold Stone Creamery Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Cold Stone Creamery at their locations, your card issuer sees MCC 5812 in the transaction data. This code tells your bank that the purchase was made at a eating places and restaurants merchant. Bonus reward rates on your card apply based on this MCC — not the merchant name itself.
If your card earns bonus points on "eating places and restaurants" purchases, Cold Stone Creamery transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Cold Stone Creamery specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Cold Stone Creamery 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 5812 qualifies for bonus rewards.
Bonus Category Match — Cold Stone Creamery
About MCC 5812: Eating places and Restaurants
Merchant Category Code 5812 is assigned by card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover) to classify businesses in the Eating places and Restaurants industry. Issuers use MCCs to determine which transactions qualify for bonus reward rates. When a merchant is assigned MCC 5812, all qualifying card programs that include eating places and restaurants as a bonus category will apply the elevated earn rate.
The Dining 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 Eating places and Restaurants merchants: Acapulco Restaurant, Another Broken Egg, Applebee's.
What You Could Earn at Cold Stone Creamery
Spending $200/month at Cold Stone Creamery with the Ink Business Cash (5x on eating places and restaurants) earns approximately $120/year in rewards. A basic 1% card earns $24 on the same spending. That is $96 more per year with no annual fee.
Prefer no annual fee? The Custom Cash earns 5x at Cold Stone Creamery merchants, earning $120/year with no annual fee.