Dive Brief:

• Nordstrom is looking for a buyer for its private credit card business and a bank to handle those services.

• Retailers like Macy’s and Target have made similar moves in recent years because the financial benefits were not enough to make up for tying up resources to operate the services.

• Nordstrom has kept its credit card services within the company this long to ensure top customer service, which is a large part of its reputation and emphasis as a retailer, experts said.

Dive Insight:

Nordstrom, which enjoys one of the most stellar customer service reputations in retail history, runs a bit of a risk by handing over its credit card services to another vendor. The company is reportedly taking at least a year to find the right company to buy its private-label card business, a sign that they want to ensure the level of customer-service is maintained, experts say.