American Eagle Savings Hack: American Eagle RealRewards Credit Card

By: Mary Elizabeth Hammond

American Eagle store credit card

When you think of American Eagle, two things probably come to mind: trendy jeans and really good sales. But no need to wait for the next sale to score a good deal; you can use the American Eagle RealRewards Credit Card and the American Eagle RealRewards Visa Credit Card to get free shipping and earn points every time you shop. Read on for everything you need to know about these cards and don’t forget to combine your savings with Groupon Coupons’ collection of American Eagle coupons.

American Eagle rewards program benefits

American Eagle RealRewards Program

American Eagle offers two types of credit cards—American Eagle RealRewards Credit Card and American Eagle RealRewards Visa—both of which are part of the American Eagle RealRewards Program. This three-tiered loyalty program is free to sign up for and starts off at Level 1 for non-cardholders. You can graduate to higher tiers (and better rewards) by spending a certain amount each year. The higher your tier, the more points you’ll earn with every purchase to unlock $5 rewards. But, if you sign up for either of American Eagle’s credit cards, you’ll automatically start in the second tier of this program to earn rewards faster.

Everything you buy at American Eagle (and Aerie) gets you points, and once you hit 1,250 points you get $5 off a purchase at American Eagle or Aerie. (This reward can’t be used on gift card purchases.) Once you earn a reward, you will receive it within 30 days via email, text, or on the AEO mobile app. If you return something used to get points after a reward has been issued, you will get a negative points balance on your account. 

Outside of the points and rewards, there are other benefits to the American Eagle RealRewards Program as well—see the chart below for a breakdown of each rewards level:

American Eagle Real Rewards Program

Additional rewards for American Eagle credit card holders only:

  • 20% off your first purchase
  • Double points on every purchase (so 4x points on jeans!)
  • Free shipping and returns on everything (does not apply to gift cards)
  • Exclusive cardholder sales 
  • For Visa credit cards, get 5 points for every $1 spent (can be used anywhere that accepts Visa) 

American Eagle store credit cards

American Eagle Credit Card & American Eagle Visa Credit Card: What’s the Difference? 

The American Eagle Visa Credit Card can be used anywhere Visa is accepted, whereas the American Eagle Credit Card can only be used at American Eagle Outfitters stores. With the Visa card, you can also earn 5 points for every $1 spent outside of American Eagle stores—making it a much more useful card for both spending and saving. 

Both American Eagle credit cards have:

  • No annual fee
  • 25.99% APR

American Eagle Credit Cards: FAQ

How do you sign up for an American Eagle Credit Card?

Apply for the American Eagle credit card here. You will be subject to credit approval. There is technically no required credit score, but most credit cards require a score of at least 640 for approval. 

Can you cancel an American Eagle Credit Card?

Yes, you can cancel any time. Call the number on the back of the card to close the account. Keep in mind that any existing rewards or points will be forfeited if you cancel. 

Where can you use the American Eagle Credit Card?

The American Eagle RealRewards Credit Card can only be used at American Eagle Outfitters stores (this includes Aerie). However, the American Eagle RealRewards Visa Credit Card can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. 

Is the American Eagle Credit Card worth it?

In short, it depends. If you are a regular American Eagle shopper, you can save a decent amount of money. But occasional shoppers may be better off with credit cards that have better terms and rewards.