3 credit card benefits to use for last-minute holiday shopping

Some offers mentioned below are longer available.

Bank of America cards are currently not available on CNBC Select and links have been redirected to our credit card marketplace where you can review offers from other issuers like American Express or Chase. You can also check out our list of best credit cards for alternative options.

The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students is no longer available for new applicants.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

If there's one thing I'm guilty of, along with millions of other Americans, it's waiting until the last minute to shop for holiday gifts. According to a study conducted by OnePoll during the 2020 holiday season, half of the respondents bought a gift on Christmas Eve and 39% even made purchases on Christmas Day.

If you've found yourself in this same pickle, don't fret. There are several credit card benefits you can use to ensure the presents you order will arrive in time.

Select details the perks you can take advantage of to make sure your last minute Christmas shopping goes smoothly.

Shoprunner

ShopRunner* is a shipping service that gives free two-day shipping when you shop with one of their partner brands, ranging from Saks Fifth Avenue to MLBShop and Cole Haan. Normally, an annual membership costs $79, but there are several rewards credit cards that give a complimentary membership to the service.

The full list of stores that ShopRunner partners with is here, and while there are dozens of cards giving a complimentary membership, a few of our favorites are:

• American Express® Gold Card*
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express*
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express*
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees)
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card*
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card*
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card*
• Mastercard World cards or World Elite cards

*Enrollment required

If you don't have a credit card that offers ShopRunner as a benefit, you can sign up for a three-month free trial of the service. (Enrollment required)

Credit cards with instant numbers when approved

If you're interested in adding a new credit card to your wallet, whether it be to increase your purchasing power or to earn a valuable welcome bonus, but you want to be able to start spending immediately, consider applying for a card with 'instant number access.' This means once you're approved you can immediately request the card details be sent to you instead of having to wait for your new card to show up in the mail.

This is convenient if you're shopping online, but what about if you plan on making purchases in-person? In lieu of a physical credit card, you can input the details of your new account into your smartphone's digital wallet, such as Apple Pay®, and pay using your phone.

Here are a few credit cards that offer instant access numbers:

• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
• Prime Visa (see rates and fees)
• SoFi Credit Card

Amazon Prime or Walmart Plus

There are a few credit cards that offer complimentary memberships to Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus. Each of these programs offer free, expedited shipping on your orders. In some areas having an Amazon Prime or Walmart+ membership allows you to get orders to your door in just a few hours.

One would assume that the Walmart Rewards™ Card or the Amazon Visa comes with their respective subscription service free as part of being a cardmember. However, that's not the case.

If you're looking for Walmart+ benefits, consider applying for the American Express Platinum Card®. Upon enrollment, you can receive a $155 Walmart+ Credit. Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee. The card comes with a long list of other benefits for luxury travel, shopping and more. Plus Ups are excluded. Subject to auto-renewal.

If you're a current college student, you can qualify for a variety of student credit cards, including the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students — which reimburses you up to a life-time total of $59 after signing up for an Amazon Prime Student subscription and spending $500 in eligible purchases in the first three billing cycles.

If you're still scrambling to get holiday gifts, you may want to consider one of the credit card perks mentioned above to expedite your last minute purchases.

However, before making any financial decisions, especially around the holidays, be sure to refer back to your budget. The holidays can be joyous, but starting the new year off with credit card debt is not a great feeling.

Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

Information about the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students, SoFi Credit Card, Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, and Walmart Rewards™ Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.

We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through Amazon links.