Best Credit Card for Elder-Beerman in 2026
Elder-Beerman is classified under MCC 5311 (Department Stores). The best card for Elder-Beerman purchases is the Shopper Cash Rewards ($95/yr annual fee), earning 3x on department stores — an effective return of 3.00%.
Does Elder-Beerman accept Mastercard? Yes — Elder-Beerman accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover at all locations, including in-store and mobile app payments.
Department stores like Elder-Beerman are great for rewards because they often offer high earning rates on purchases, especially with cards that cater to shopping categories.
To boost your rewards, use your high-earning credit card exclusively for bigger purchases at Elder-Beerman like seasonal sales or clearance items.
Spending Math
If you spend $200 a month at Elder-Beerman, the Shopper Cash Rewards card gives you $6.00 in extra earnings each month versus a basic 1% cash back card, which adds up to an extra $48.00 a year.
Elder-Beerman purchases are classified under MCC 5311 (Department Stores).
MCC Details for Elder-Beerman
Best Credit Cards for Elder-Beerman (2026)
How Elder-Beerman Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Elder-Beerman 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, Elder-Beerman transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Elder-Beerman specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Elder-Beerman 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 — Elder-Beerman
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 Elder-Beerman
Spending $200/month at Elder-Beerman 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.