Back to GetFilings.com



Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)
[X]   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended January 31, 2003

OR

     
[  ]   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from      to     

Commission file number 0-12994

Nordstrom Credit, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Colorado
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  91-1181301
(IRS employer
Identification No.)
     
13531 East Caley, Englewood, Colorado
(Address of principal executive offices)
  80111
(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 303-397-4700

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, $.50 par value
(Title of each class)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   YES  [X]   NO  [  ]

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [  ]

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act 12b-2).   YES  [  ]   NO  [X]

     On March 31, 2003 we had 10,000 shares of common stock ($.50 par value) outstanding; all such shares are owned by our parent, Nordstrom, Inc.

     We meet the conditions set forth in General Instruction I(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and are therefore filing this Form with the reduced disclosure format.

1 of 26


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
Item 1. Business
Item 2. Properties
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Item 14. Controls and Procedures
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K
SIGNATURES
CERTIFICATIONS
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT 3.2
EXHIBIT 10.6
EXHIBIT 10.7
EXHIBIT 10.25
EXHIBIT 10.26
EXHIBIT 10.30
EXHIBIT 10.31
EXHIBIT 12.1
EXHIBIT 23.1
EXHIBIT 99.1
EXHIBIT 99.2


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

                     
            Page        
           
       
PART I        
    Item 1.   Business.   3
    Item 2.   Properties.   3
    Item 3.   Legal Proceedings.   3
    Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.   3
PART II        
    Item 5.   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.   3
    Item 6.   Selected Financial Data.   3
    Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.   3
    Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.   4
    Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.   5
    Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.   5
PART III        
    Item 10.   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.   5
    Item 11.   Executive Compensation.   5
    Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.   5
    Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.   5
    Item 14.   Controls and Procedures.   5
PART IV        
    Item 15.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K.   6
SIGNATURES       10
CERTIFICATIONS       11
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   15

2 of 26


Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1. Business.

The information required under this item is included in Note 1 to the Financial Statements on page 19 of this report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2. Properties.

We lease an office building in Englewood, Colorado where our principal offices are located.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

We are not a party to any material legal proceedings.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Not required under reduced disclosure format.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.

The class of securities registered is our common stock, $.50 par value per share. There are 100,000 shares of authorized common stock, of which 10,000 shares were issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2003. Our common stock is owned entirely by our parent, Nordstrom, Inc. (“Nordstrom”). The stock has not been traded and, accordingly, no market value has been established. No dividends were paid in the fiscal years ended January 31, 2003 and 2002.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

Not required under reduced disclosure format.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.

We earn service charge income on our accounts receivable. Service charge income was essentially flat in 2002, as compared to 2001, due to a slight decrease in average accounts receivable balances offset by a slight increase in the weighted average service charge rate.

Other fees and charges consist primarily of late fees. In the fourth quarter of 2001, we entered into a securitization of our private label receivables. Other fees and charges increased in 2002 as compared to 2001 primarily due to the late fee income earned on these receivables. Late fees are charged based on the dollar balance of the delinquent accounts. Late fee income was $8.8 and $3.0 million in 2002 and 2001.

Net interest expense decreased in 2002 as compared to 2001 as a result of a decrease in short-term debt outstanding and a decrease in interest rates, partially offset by an increase in long-term debt outstanding.

3 of 26


Table of Contents

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation (Cont.)

Servicing and marketing fees paid to Nordstrom fsb (“the Bank”) for servicing our receivables decreased in 2002 as compared to 2001 due to a change in the servicing fee structure charged by the Bank. This change was effective in the fourth quarter of 2001 and was made to reflect the competitive market rate for portfolio servicing.

Effective at the start of fiscal 2002, we no longer expense charges related to purchase incentives for Nordstrom credit cards, bad debt expense related to returned checks, and gift card expenses. These charges are now expensed by Nordstrom. As a result, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased in 2002 as compared to 2001. Selling, general and administrative expenses would have been $33.2 million for the year ended January 31, 2003 if the expenses had not been transferred to Nordstrom.

Certain other information required under this item is included in Notes 1, 2 and 6 to the Financial Statements on pages 19, 20 and 22 of this report, which is incorporated by reference.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates. In seeking to minimize risk, we manage exposure through our regular operating and financing activities. We do not use financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes and are not party to any leveraged financial instruments.

We manage interest rate exposure through our mix of fixed and variable rate borrowings which finance customer accounts receivable. Short-term borrowings generally bear interest at variable rates but, because they have maturities of three months or less, we believe that the risk of material loss is low.

The table below presents principal amounts and related weighted average interest rates by year of maturity. All items described in the table are non-trading and are stated in U.S. dollars.

                                                                   
                                                      Total at   Fair value
                                                      January 31,   January 31,
Dollars in thousands   2003   2004   2005   2006   2007   Thereafter   2003   2003

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Rate Risk
                                                               
Assets
                                                               
Customer accounts receivable
  $ 616,835                                             $ 616,835     $ 616,835  
 
Variable interest rate*
    19.1 %                                             19.1 %        
Note receivable from Nordstrom fsb
  $ 84,395                                             $ 84,395     $ 84,395  
 
Year end Interest rate
    1.3 %                                             1.3 %        
Liabilities
                                                               
 
Note payable to
Nordstrom, Inc.
  $ 74,460                                             $ 74,460     $ 74,460  
 
Year end Interest rate
    1.3 %                                             1.3 %        
Long-term debt
              $ 100,000     $ 300,000                 $ 400,000     $ 435,100  
 
Fixed average interest rate
                6.7 %     4.8 %                 5.3 %        

*     This is our weighted average interest rate on customer accounts receivable, which is a combination of fixed rates and floating rates based on prime. The actual effective interest rate is lower due to accounts which are paid off within 30 days and defaults.

4 of 26


Table of Contents

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
  (a) Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
 
  The consolidated financial statements and notes to the consolidated financial statements listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule on page 13 of this report are incorporated herein by reference.
 
  The ratio of earnings available for fixed charges to fixed charges is 4.17, 1.94 and 1.52 for 2002, 2001 and 2000.
 
  (b) Other Financial Statements and Schedule
 
  The schedule required under Regulation S-X is filed pursuant to Item 15 of this report.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

  None

PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.

Not required under reduced disclosure format.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

Not required under reduced disclosure format.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

Not required under reduced disclosure format.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

Not required under reduced disclosure format.

Item 14. Controls and Procedures.

“Disclosure controls” are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our President and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. “Internal controls” are procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that our transactions are properly authorized, our assets are safeguarded against unauthorized or improper use and our transactions are properly recorded and reported, all to permit the preparation of our financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

5 of 26


Table of Contents

Item 14. Controls and Procedures (Cont.)

Within the 90-day period prior to the filing of this report, we performed an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our President and Chief Financial Officer, of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the President and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in the timely recording, processing, summarizing and reporting of material financial and non-financial information.

We reviewed our internal controls for effectiveness periodically during the period covered by this report. No significant changes were made in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect our internal controls subsequent to the date of their last evaluation.

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K.

     
(a)1. Financial Statements    
 
The following consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Independent Auditors’ Report are incorporated by reference in Part II, Item 8:
 
Independent Auditors’ Report
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Investment of Nordstrom, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
     
(a)2. Financial Statement Schedules    
 
The financial statement schedule listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule on page 13 of this report is incorporated herein by reference.
     
(a)3. Exhibits    
     
(3.1)   Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant are hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 1991, Exhibit 3.1.
     
(3.2)   By-laws of the Registrant, as amended and restated on May 19, 1998 are filed herein as an Exhibit.
     
(10.1)   Investment Agreement dated October 8, 1984 between Registrant and Nordstrom, Inc. is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10, Exhibit 10.1.
     
(10.2)   Operating Agreement dated August 30, 1991 between Registrant and Nordstrom National Credit Bank is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 1991, Exhibit 10.1, as amended.
     
(10.3)   First Amendment to the Operating Agreement dated August 30, 1991 between Registrant and Nordstrom National Credit Bank, dated March 1, 2000 is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2001, Exhibit 10.3.

6 of 26


Table of Contents

     
(a)3. Exhibits (Continued)    
     
(10.4)   Second Amendment to the Operating Agreement dated August 30, 1991 between Registrant and Nordstrom National Credit Bank, dated October 1, 2001 is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.4.
     
(10.5)   Corporate Services Agreement dated February 1, 2001 between Registrant and Nordstrom federal savings bank (fsb) is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2001, Exhibit 10.4.
     
(10.6)   First Amendment to the Corporate Services Agreement dated February 1, 2001 between Registrant and Nordstrom fsb, dated February 1, 2001 is filed herein as an Exhibit.
     
(10.7)   Second Amendment to the Corporate Services Agreement dated February 1, 2001 between Registrant and Nordstrom fsb, dated February 1, 2002 is filed herein as an Exhibit.
     
(10.8)   Series 1996-A Supplement to Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated August 14, 1996 between Registrant, Nordstrom National Credit Bank, and Norwest Bank Colorado, N.A., as trustee, is incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 1996, Exhibit 10.3.
     
(10.9)   Amendment to the Series 1996-A Supplement to Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated August 14, 1996 between Registrant, Nordstrom National Credit Bank and Norwest Bank Colorado, N.A., as trustee, dated December 10, 1997, is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 1998, Exhibit 10.13.
     
(10.10)   Second Amendment to the Series 1996-A Supplement to Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated August 14, 1996 between Registrant, Nordstrom National Credit Bank and Norwest Bank Colorado, N.A., as trustee, dated February 28, 1999, is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 1999, Exhibit 10.1.
     
(10.11)   Third Amendment to the Series 1996-A Supplement to Master Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated August 14, 1996 between Registrant, Nordstrom National Credit Bank and Norwest Bank Colorado, N.A., as trustee, dated October 1, 2001 is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.11.
     
(10.12)   Receivables Purchase Agreement dated August 14, 1996 between Registrant and Nordstrom, Inc. is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 1997, Exhibit 10.10.
     
(10.13)   Participation Agreement dated August 14, 1996 between Registrant and Nordstrom National Credit Bank is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 1997, Exhibit 10.11.
     
(10.14)   Business Account Operating Agreement dated February 1, 1997 between Registrant and Nordstrom, Inc. is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.16.

7 of 26


Table of Contents

     
(a)3. Exhibits (Continued)    
     
(10.15)   Amendment to the Business Account Operating Agreement dated February 1, 1997 between Registrant and Nordstrom, Inc., dated October 1, 2001 is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.17.
     
(10.16)   Second Amendment to the Business Account Operating Agreement dated February 1, 1997 between Registrant and Nordstrom, Inc., dated November 30, 2001 is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.18.
     
(10.17)   Recourse Agreement dated March 1, 2001 between Registrant and Nordstrom, Inc. is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.19.
     
(10.18)   Amendment to the Recourse Agreement dated March 1, 2001 between Registrant and Nordstrom, Inc., dated October 1, 2001 is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.20.
     
(10.19)   Receivables Purchase Agreement dated October 1, 2001 between Registrant and Nordstrom Private Label Receivables, LLC is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.21.
     
(10.20)   Transfer and Servicing Agreement dated October 1, 2001 between Nordstrom Private Label Receivables, LLC, Nordstrom fsb, Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., and Nordstrom Private Label Credit Card Master Note Trust is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.22.
     
(10.21)   Master Indenture dated October 1, 2001 between Nordstrom Private Label Credit Card Master Note Trust and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., as trustee, is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.23.
     
(10.22)   Series 2001-1 Indenture Supplement dated October 1, 2001 between Nordstrom Private Label Credit Card Master Note Trust and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., as trustee, is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.24.
     
(10.23)   Series 2001-2 Indenture Supplement dated December 4, 2001 between Nordstrom Private Label Credit Card Master Note Trust and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., as trustee, is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.25.
     
(10.24)   Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated October 1, 2001 between Nordstrom Private Label Receivables, LLC, and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.26.
     
(10.25)   Note Purchase Agreement dated December 4, 2001 between Nordstrom Private Label Receivables, LLC, Nordstrom fsb, Falcon Asset Securitization Corporation, and Bank One, NA, as agent, is filed herein as an Exhibit.

8 of 26


Table of Contents

     
(a)3. Exhibits (Continued)    
     
(10.26)   First Amendment to the Note Purchase Agreement dated December 4, 2001 between Nordstrom Private Label Receivables, LLC, Nordstrom fsb, Falcon Asset Securitization Corporation, and Bank One, NA, as agent, dated December 2, 2002 is filed herein as an Exhibit.
     
(10.27)   Loan agreement dated February 1, 2002 between Nordstrom, Inc. and Registrant is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2002, Exhibit 10.1.
     
(10.28)   Loan agreement dated February 1, 2002, between Registrant and Nordstrom, Inc. is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 30, 2002, Exhibit 10.2.
     
(10.29)   Loan agreement dated May 1, 2002 between Nordstrom fsb and Registrant is hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2002, Exhibit 10.1.
     
(10.30)   Purchase and Sale Agreement dated December 16, 2002 between Registrant and Nudo-Weiner Associates, LLC is filed herein as an Exhibit.
     
(10.31)   First Amendment to the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated December 16, 2002 between Registrant and Nudo-Weiner Associates, LLC, dated December 19, 2002 is filed herein as an Exhibit.
     
(12.1)   Computation of Ratio of Earnings Available for Fixed Charges to Fixed Charges is filed herein as an Exhibit.
     
(23.1)   Independent Auditors’ Consent is filed herein as an Exhibit.
     
(99.1)   Certification of Chief Executive Officer regarding periodic report containing financial statements is filed herein as an Exhibit.
     
(99.2)   Certification of Chief Financial Officer regarding periodic report containing financial statements is filed herein as an Exhibit.
 
All other exhibits are omitted because they are not applicable, or not required, or because the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K
 
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of the period for which this report is filed.

9 of 26


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

         
    NORDSTROM CREDIT, INC.
    (Registrant)
         
Date: April 17, 2003   /s/   Michael G. Koppel
   
        Michael G. Koppel
        Vice President and Treasurer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

             
/s/   Kevin T. Knight   /s/   Blake W. Nordstrom

 
    Kevin T. Knight       Blake W. Nordstrom
    Director and President       Director
    (Principal Executive Officer)        
             
/s/   Michael G. Koppel   /s/   Marc A. Anacker

 
    Michael G. Koppel       Marc A. Anacker
    Vice President and Treasurer       Director
    (Principal Accounting and        
    Financial Officer)        

Date: April 17, 2003

10 of 26


Table of Contents

CERTIFICATIONS

Certification required by Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Kevin T. Knight, certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Nordstrom Credit, Inc.;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

a)     designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

b)     evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

c)     presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)     all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)     any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

         
Date: April 17, 2003     /s/ Kevin T. Knight
     
        Kevin T. Knight
        President

11 of 26


Table of Contents

Certification required by Section 302(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Michael G. Koppel, certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Nordstrom Credit, Inc.;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

a)     designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

b)     evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

c)     presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)     all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b)     any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

         
Date: April 17, 2003   /s/   Michael G. Koppel
   
        Michael G. Koppel
        Vice President and Treasurer

12 of 26


Table of Contents

Nordstrom Credit, Inc. and Subsidiary
Index To Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule

           
      Page
      Number
     
Independent Auditors’ Report
    14  
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
    15  
Consolidated Balance Sheets
    16  
Consolidated Statements of Investment of Nordstrom, Inc.
    17  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    18  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
    19  
Additional financial information required to be furnished -
       
 
Financial Statement Schedule:
       
 
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
    26  

All other schedules have been omitted because they are inapplicable, not required or the information is included elsewhere in the financial statements or notes thereto.

13 of 26


Table of Contents

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

Board of Directors
Nordstrom Credit, Inc.
Englewood, Colorado

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Nordstrom Credit, Inc. and subsidiary (the “Company”) as of January 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, investment of Nordstrom, Inc. and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2003. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule. These financial statements and the financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Nordstrom Credit, Inc. and subsidiary as of January 31, 2003 and 2002, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Seattle, Washington
April 17, 2003

14 of 26


Table of Contents

Nordstrom Credit, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
(Dollars in thousands)

                             
Year Ended January 31,   2003   2002   2001

 
 
 
Revenue:
                       
   
Service charge income
  $ 101,331     $ 101,742     $ 103,556  
   
Other fees and charges
    10,985       4,355       2,884  
   
Rental income from affiliates
    1,700       2,041       1,346  
   
 
   
     
     
 
 
Total revenue
    114,016       108,138       107,786  
Expenses:
                       
   
Interest, net
    22,691       24,707       29,322  
   
Servicing and marketing fees paid to Nordstrom fsb
    14,684       32,496       42,452  
   
Selling, general and administrative
    1,335       27,506       20,747  
   
 
   
     
     
 
 
Total expenses
    38,710       84,709       92,521  
   
 
   
     
     
 
Earnings before income taxes
    75,306       23,429       15,265  
Income taxes
    27,487       8,700       5,700  
   
 
   
     
     
 
Net earnings
  $ 47,819     $ 14,729     $ 9,565