Which Bank Does Macy's Credit Card Use?

Dena Standley | March 20, 2023

Dena Standley
Legal Expert, Paralegal
Dena Standley, BA

Dena Standley is a seasoned paralegal with more than 20 years of experience in legal research and writing, having received a certification as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal from Southern Technical College.

Edited by Hannah Locklear

Hannah Locklear
Editor at SoloSuit
Hannah Locklear, BA

Hannah Locklear is SoloSuit’s Marketing and Impact Manager. With an educational background in Linguistics, Spanish, and International Development from Brigham Young University, Hannah has also worked as a legal support specialist for several years.

Summary: Macy's credit card uses Department Store National Bank (DSNB). So if you have either Macy's Credit Card or the Macy's American Express® Card, you are automatically in contract with DSNB, a subsidiary of Citibank. If you've been sued for a Macy's credit card debt, SoloSuit can help you respond and defend yourself in court.

Credit cards are a lifeline to most American consumers. With them, you can perform safe cashless transactions, buy on credit, receive cashback offers on purchases, and build your credit.

Consumers can shop at Macy's and Macys.com using their credit cards. Macy's is not a bank, so someone else has to power these transactions. Enter Department Store National Bank (DSNB), an offshoot of Citigroup. But how does this relationship work?

Keep reading to find out. And if you've been sued for a debt with Macy's credit card, use SoloSettle to settle the debt before going to court.

Settle with SoloSettle

Make an Offer

How does Macy's credit card work?

Macy's has two versions of its credit card. The first one—Macy's Credit Card—is closed-loop, meaning you can only use it at Macy's and Macys.com. The other—Macy's American Express Card—is open-loop, which means you can use it wherever American Express is accepted.

Like other credit cards, you'll follow these steps to apply for and use these cards.

  1. Fill in and submit your application.
  2. The creditor checks your credit.
  3. You get approved.
  4. When it is time to pay for purchases, give your card instead of cash.
  5. The merchant then confirms that your credit provider agrees to the purchase.
  6. The bank pays and then sends you the bill.
  7. You pay the bank their money and interest at the end of your billing period.

It sounds simple. And it can be for consumers with good credit. In fact, if Macy's instantly approves your application, you can get up to a $100 discount within the first two days of approval.

However, at step two, the hard inquiry negatively affects your credit and can remain on your report for up to two years. Macy's requires a credit score of 650 and over.

DSNB reports your account to the major reporting bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Macy's credit card holders can expect to see the entry on their report at the end of every billing period.

At step six above, the bank that pays your bills is DSNB, a subsidiary of Citibank. And the entry on your credit report is not Macy's, but Department Store National Bank.

You may wonder how to remove a negative DSNB entry from your credit report. The procedure is different, depending on why it's there in the first place. If it's a mistake and you have no dealings with Macy's, you can launch a dispute with the company and the bureau that mistakenly reported the account. In the case of Identity theft, go to IdentityTheft.gov to submit a complaint immediately.

The following section shows you how to react if you are late on your account and DSNB either reports you to the credit bureaus or sues you.

Respond to a debt collection lawsuit.

What happens if I don't keep up with Macy's credit card repayments?

Failing to keep up with your repayments may result in late fees, a higher interest rate, and other penalties–driving you deeper into debt. You may also start receiving calls and other reminders of your pending bills.

The delinquent account will also reach the credit bureaus and affect your credit score.

Can I be sued for failing to pay my Macy’s credit card?

If Macy's feels you are refusing to pay when you can afford to do so, they may sue you to recover their money.

You can halt the calls and letters by asking DSNB to validate your debt. That's the same as asking them to prove you owe the amount. The letter also notifies them that you are disputing the debt and stops them from collecting until they can supply documentation to support their claims.

Here's an easy-to-use Debt Validation Letter.

If DSNB takes you to court, follow these three steps to respond.

  1. Respond to the lawsuit.
  2. Assert your affirmative defenses.
  3. File the Answer with the court and Macy's attorney.

Below, we discuss the steps you need to take right away if you are served with a lawsuit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQAKQ0G2KhE

Respond to the lawsuit

Your court Summons will come with a Complaint document. Please do not ignore the lawsuit. Read all of Macy's claims (the reasons why they are suing you) carefully.

For each complaint, indicate whether you:

  • Deny (ask Macy's to prove you are guilty)
  • Agree (accept guilt)
  • Deny for lack of knowledge (you do not understand the claim, so you do not know whether you are guilty)

Assert your affirmative defenses

Clearly express why you are innocent of the accusations. For example, if you don't have a contract with Macy's or DSNB in any way, you can state that the debt is not yours. The burden of proof lies with the DNSB; they must prove that you truly owe the debt.

File your Answer

You need two copies of your Answer document. File one with the court and send one to the attorney representing Macy's or its affiliates.

Use SoloSuit to generate and file your Answer fast.

Macy's cardholders may be shocked to find unfamiliar entries on their credit reports. But there's usually no need for alarm because Macy's uses DSNB, a Citibank subsidiary, to give consumers credit.

What is Solo?

Solo makes it easy to resolve debt with debt collectors.

You can use SoloSuit to respond to a debt lawsuit, to send letters to collectors, and even to settle a debt. SoloSuit's Answer service is a step-by-step web-app that asks you all the necessary questions to complete your Answer. Upon completion, we'll have an attorney review your document and we'll file it for you.

SoloSettle can help you contact your debt collector or creditor and negotiate the debt to settle for less, all online. It simplifies and streamlines the process to settling your debt.

No matter where you find yourself in the debt collection process, Solo is here to help you resolve your debt.

>>Read the FastCompany article: Debt Lawsuits Are Complicated: This Website Makes Them Simpler To Navigate

>>Read the NPR story on SoloSuit. (We can help you in all 50 states.)

How to Answer a Summons for debt collection in all 50 states

Here's a list of guides on how to respond to a debt collection lawsuit in each state:

The Ultimate 50 State Guide

Debt collector guides

Are you being contacted by a debt collector? We’re making guides on how to resolve debt with each one.

Arbitration

If the thought of going to court stresses you out, you’re not alone. Many Americans who are sued for credit card debt utilize a Motion to Compel Arbitration to push their case out of court and into arbitration.

Below are some resources on how to use an arbitration clause to your advantage and win a debt lawsuit.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a great way to legally resolve debt, but it's usually best to consider it as a last resort. Here are some bankruptcy guides to help you decide which debt resolution option is best for you.

Check your case status

Don’t have time to go to your local courthouse to check the status of your case? We’ve created state guides on how to check the status of your case throughout the US, complete with online search tools and court directories.

Credit

Debt has a big impact on your credit. Below is a list of guides on how to repair and improve your credit, even while managing major debt, along with other credit-related resources.

Debt collection FAQs

Find answers to some of our the most commonly-asked questions about debt collection below.

Debt collection documents and templates

If you're dealing with debt, these documents and templates will help you respond, protect your rights, negotiate, and resolve your debts.

Debt relief

We’ve created a specialized guide on how to find debt relief in all 50 states, complete with steps to take to find relief, state-specific resources, and more.

Debt settlement

Debt settlement is one of the most effective ways to resolve a debt and save money. We’ve created state guides on debt settlement. Find out how to settle in your state with a simple click and explore other debt settlement resources below.

Eviction

Facing an eviction? The following guides will help you navigate your situation with confidence.

Federal debt collection laws

Knowing your rights makes it easier to stand up for your rights. Below, we’ve compiled all our articles on federal debt collection laws that protect you from unfair practices.

Legal aid

Helping people find access to justice is at the heart of Solo's misison. If you're dealing with a legal debt issue, the following guides will help you through it.

Medical debt

Having a health challenge is stressful, but dealing with medical debt on top of it is overwhelming. Here are some resources on how to manage medical debt.

Personal finance

Learn how to manage your finances and overcome crushing debt. Check out our personal finance guides below.

State debt collection laws

Debt collection laws vary by state, so we have compiled a guide to each state’s debt collection laws to make it easier for you to stand up for your rights—no matter where you live.

Statute of limitations on debt

Like all debt collection laws, the statute of limitations on debt varies by state. So, we wrote guides on each state’s statutes and more.

Stop collection calls

Do you keep getting calls from an unknown number, only to realize that it’s a debt collector on the other line? If you’ve been called by any of the following numbers, chances are you have collectors coming after you, and we’ll tell you how to stop them.

Wage garnishment

Forgot to respond to your debt lawsuit? The judge may have ordered a default judgment against you, and with a default judgment, debt collectors can garnish your wages. Here are our guides on how to stop wage garnishment in your state, plus other wage garnishment resources.

The Debt Hotline

Hosted by Team Solo, The Debt Hotline breaks down debt and personal finance topics with help from attorneys, financial experts, and industry pros. We respond to real questions to help you navigate debt with knowledge and courage.

Other debt resources


It only takes 15 minutes.

And 50% of our customers' cases have been dismissed in the past.


"Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law unexpectedly is kinda scary. I started researching on YouTube and found SoloSuit's channel. The videos were so helpful, easy to understand and encouraging. When I reached out to SoloSuit they were on it. Very professional, impeccably prompt. Thanks for the service!" - Heather



Get Started

Contents

Affordable Legal Help
Trustpilot

Respond to Your Debt Lawsuit

Get your professionally reviewed Answer in minutes. No expensive lawyers needed.

loading...
Get My Answer
Affordable Legal Help
Trustpilot

Respond to Your Debt Lawsuit

Get your professionally reviewed Answer in minutes. No expensive lawyers needed.

loading...
Get My Answer
loading...
Get My Answer