Best Credit Card for Kohl's in 2026
Kohl's is classified under MCC 5311 (Department Stores). The best card for Kohl'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 Kohl's are gold for cash-back enthusiasts, especially if you're a fan of rotating bonus categories on popular cards.
Maximize your rewards by timing your purchases during Kohl's bonus category periods when popular cards offer extra cash back.
Kohl's purchases are classified under MCC 5311 (Department Stores).
MCC Details for Kohl's
Best Credit Cards for Kohl's (2026)
How Kohl's Codes on Your Statement
When you pay at Kohl'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, Kohl's transactions will qualify — even if your card terms only mention a category name and not Kohl's specifically. The key is that the MCC matches your card's bonus category definition.
You can verify the MCC on any Kohl'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 — Kohl'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 Kohl's
Spending $200/month at Kohl'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.