The store credit cards with the highest and lowest rates – Chicago Tribune

Store credit cards typically carry higher interest rates than general-purpose, use-anywhere plastic, but some are more costly than others for shoppers who carry balances.

Retailers that charge the highest annual percentage rates include jewelry chain Zales, which charges up to 28.99 percent, and office supply superstore Staples, at 27.99 percent, according to a survey released Thursday by CreditCards.com.

The national average for store-branded credit cards is 23.4 percent, compared with 15 percent for all credit cards, says the online credit card marketplace.