Female with Home Depot here. I preferred Lowe's stores for a long time, partly because of those wacko ads that Home Depot used to have. But after DH and I stood around for 20-30 minutes at Lowe's last fall, waiting for someone in flooring, we went to HD, were pounced on, had great service, great installation, they got $9K of my HELOC money, and 3 months later, I got a card ($4K.) Everyone was happy. (And I paid for it with a USAA AmEx, so I doubt that they know that I was a serious customer.)
I still like Lowe's, but in our area, HD has much better service. And I'm so wary of GEMB that I will think long and hard before getting a Lowe's card. Even though I absent-mindedly went to the Lowe's store to activate my HD card. (They were very gracious and good-natured.) I did tell them that if and when Lowe's switches to a decent bank to handle their card, I'll be there in a flash.
And btw, in terms of contractors, a Lowe's employee told me that contractors have so much trouble with the service on the Lowe's card that they'd rather not fool with it. Maybe that's why they're all over at HD now? I still kinda like Lowe's, though...
I guess I have to follow Tony Stewart now.
* Credit is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. * Who's the boss --you or your credit?
FICO's: EQ 781 - TU 793 - EX 779 (from PSECU) - Done credit hunting; having fun with credit gardening. - EQ 590 on 5/14/2007