Target Credit Card

Unless there has been a recent change it's my understanding this card can only be used at Target Stores and the Target website. So it would be useless in Europe.

Well, I am about to test it. Tomorrow I will try to use it for a non-Target purchase. From a logistics standpoint, I would think that all of their cards would function similarly. It could be very handy if it functioned as a true chip and pin.

Usually if the 16 digit number starts with a "4" it's Visa, with a "5" it's Mastercard. I'm surprised it doesn't have any branding on it. I believe Amex is "3" and Discover may be "6".

I am aware of that convention and the number does start with a "5" consistent with Mastercard. That is why I was searching the website for more details. On the web site the reference to MC is only showing up in footnotes. Wonder if this could be a sleeper.

Target Credit Card can only be used at Target stores and on Target.com

https://www.target.com/redcard/credit-card-application?ref=legacyredirect

I have used my Target redcard at lots of different places (restaurants, online shopping, gas, etc!). I have not tried it internationally though.

That was interesting. Experience may trump what you read. Tomorrow I will see if I can use it.

There are two different Target cards: One is for store use only, the other is a true MasterCard.

If your card does not have the MasterCard logo on it it will NOT work anywhere except at Target.

The Target MasterCard is no longer offered for new customers. Ones who already had it can keep it and it does work anywhere you can use a MasterCard. And it requires the PIN on ALL in person transactions no matter what amount. I have one of the actual MasterCard ones and it works fine.

Target RedCards is simply a debit card tied to your checking account for a POS transaction at Target only. They may use a MasterCard switch to process the transaction, but it is not a MasterCard product. You also get 5%off your in store purchase. At least this is how my red card works. It was never advertised to me as anything else. I use it instead of my bank debit card for the discount.

If it's a debit card why does it charge 24.40% APR interest?

https://tinyurl.com/yb6ereqh

Simple answer, the Target Red Card is a credit card, not a debit card. And when we do go to Target, we get a normal monthly credit card bill.

But the better question is why use it at all for anything other than Target purchases? There are all kinds of mainstream cards with at least 1% cashback on regular purchases, often more. The target card only has cashback on Target purchases. Moreover, i can immediately name three mainstream cards with no foreign transaction fee and cashback - CapitalOne, Amazon Visa through Chase, and TD - and the TD gets 3% on restaurants, even foreign. True, they are only chip and not Pin, but having a chip and pin debit card from somewhere like Schwab to cover ticket machines and such is an easy fix.

We are losing track of the original question or point of inquiry. It appears that the Redcard is a true chip and pin card since a pin number is always required when using it at Target. And it is a true credit card and not a debit card as someone suggested earlier. If it is a chip and pin card THAT can be used at other vendors other than Target, could it be used in the chip and pin environment in Europe??? That is the question. And the answer is pending.

Target Redcard can only be used at Target. There are no Targets outside the USA. There is a chain in Australia with the same name but it is not related to the US company. Yes the Redcard is true chip and PIN, due to the Target hacking several years ago. But it can't be used at any vendor except Target.

I have no reason to doubt Mark's reply about a Target Mastercard product that is no longer offered. Too bad if it is true chip and PIN, I would have gotten one if I'd known. Looks like they stopped offering it to new customers in 2010, https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/04/29/target-mastercard-emv-partnership/8453783/

Here's the link explaining the debit vs credit Redcards, you can choose the type you want.

https://www.target.com/c/redcard/-/N-4tfyn

I thought I clearly answered that in my earlier post:

The current Target RED CARD that does NOT have a MasterCard emblem on it is for use ONLY AT TARGET. That's it, no where else. End of story.

If you have any credit card that works only at a specific retailer and no where else in the US it absolutely positively will not work in Europe or anywhere else in the world either.

If you apply now for a new Target Red Card and receive it, it will only be the one you can use only at the Target stores. Previously there were multiple Target credit and debit cards that you could use any and every where like any other credit/debit cards. IF you were lucky enough to have one, whatever type it was, it still works just like it always did. BUT Target is not issuing any more of those to anyone for any reason.

The Target MasterCard I have is a RED CARD in that it gives me everything the current Target use only Red Card does including the 5% discount. It even says Red Card on the card. :-)

Here is a picture:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=%2bnJWUw5r&id=445B107BE43A7D8262CF5AAC51A4104576CFBC70&thid=OIP.-nJWUw5r2VyhuwT0WqhzXwHaEn&mediaurl=http%3a%2f%2fi2.cdn.turner.com%2fmoney%2fdam%2fassets%2f140430122306-target-credit-card-620xa.jpg&exph=387&expw=620&q=target+red+card+mastercard&simid=608035739389987409&selectedIndex=44&ajaxhist=0

I can confirm that I used my Target Mastercard REDcard in London last year. It is a true chip + PIN card with no foreign transaction fees. As others have mentioned, it appears the Mastercard REDcard is no longer available to new customers.

I primarily used the card for making purchases at the automated checkouts at grocery stores. Using any other card required an employee to come over and manually approve the transaction. There are no rewards on this card, so I used it only for small purchases. I bring it on all my trips in the event my chip + signature cards won't work for a transaction.

Using any other card required an employee to come over and manually approve the transaction

At the supermarket near my Airbnb in Stockholm last month, chip and sign credit cards were treated like a personal check: must show ID with lots of numbers (including my age) and words handwritten by the cashier on the signed receipt. Almost went to using a debit card (which I think can always be substituted in Europe for a chip and sign credit card?) to avoid the ado.

Also, most have forgotten Target's aborted (2004) rollout of chip-enabled credit cards and chip terminal readers in 2001.

https://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2004/09/01/379524/

Target offers 2 different cards, a debit card and a credit card for Target store purchases only. I know that there is also a Target Mastercard, but unsure if it is still available.

You can currently obtain a debit or credit REDcard at https://www.target.com/c/redcard/-/N-4tfyn (see the "Apply for Credit Line" option). This credit card is NOT a Mastercard and it can only be used at Target stores or Target website.

In 2015 Target converted my older Target credit card into a Mastercard with chip and pin. Target has increased my credit limit greatly each year because I use it for routine store purchases. This REDcard Mastercard will give me the 5% discount at Target except for pharmacy items.

It has no foreign transaction fees and worked perfectly in Paris. It's nice to have a certain amount of redundancy in case a preferred credit card fails.

It's a very high interest card so it's wise to pay the entire balance monthly!

As far as cash advances I always use my Capital One 360 checking but one could use the Target REDcard Mastercard for an emergency cash advance if you don't mind the outrageous fee ($10 or 3%, whichever is higher!).

Tomorrow I will try to use it for a non-Target purchase.

What was the result of the experiment, Frank?

Well, so far - not as good as I had hoped. At a couple of locations the card has been rejected. Assuming now that the comments that the red card can only be used at a Target location are accurate. Too bad as it would have been nice if it had turned out to be a true chip and pin card. May try it one or two more times but think it is a dead issue.