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What Is Comenity Bank, and Are Its Credit Cards Right for You?

What Is Comenity Bank, and Are Its Credit Cards Right for You?
A subsidiary of Bread Financial, it issues a lot of retail credit cards that earn rewards at those brands.Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Updated · 3 min read Written by Senior Writer/Spokesperson + more + more Edited by Managing Editor + more + more SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATEDThis page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
Comenity Bank is a financial services company offering credit cards, personal loans, "buy now, pay later" plans, high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit. The bank is a subsidiary of Bread Financial, and you will see the Comenity name on credit cards issued by the bank. The Comenity/Bread Financial portfolio of credit cards is massive, including more than 170 co-branded cards for retailers and sports teams. But unlike many general rewards credit cards, Comenity-issued co-branded cards tend to come saddled with caveats, including poor reward values, reward expiration dates, clunky or inflexible redemption options, and other roadblocks. The issuer does have its own general rewards cards, which are more competitive: the Bread Cashback American Express Credit Card and the similar-sounding Bread Rewards American Express Credit Card. Here are a few examples of Comenity/Bread credit cards, at a glance. » MORE: NerdWallet's best store credit cards » MORE:For simple cash back: the Bread Cashback American Express Credit Card
The Bread Cashback American Express Credit Card earns 2% cash back on all purchases. The annual fee is $0, and there are no foreign transaction fees. Terms apply. You can redeem cash back as a statement credit or direct deposit into a checking or savings account. Redeem as little as 1 cent worth of rewards. The card lacks a sign-up bonus and 0% APR promotion, unlike some other 2% cash-back cards. But it includes a few American Express perks, such as 20% off of your bill or a free appetizer at participating restaurants. Terms apply. » MORE: Credit cards that earn 2% cash back on all purchases » MORE:For the beauty buff: the Ulta credit card
Comenity issues two Ulta credit cards, which allow you to earn rewards on top of what you’d earn as a member of the Ulta Beauty Rewards loyalty program: The Ulta Beauty Rewards Mastercard can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted. It earns 2 points per $1 spent at Ulta Beauty and 1 point for $3 spent anywhere else. Plus, as of this writing, get 500 bonus points when you spend $500 outside of Ulta Beauty in the first 90 days. The Ulta Beauty Rewards Mastercard The Ulta Beauty Rewards Mastercard The Ulta Beauty Rewards Credit Card can only be used at Ulta Beauty. It earns 2 points per $1 spent there. The Ulta Beauty Rewards Credit Card Ulta Beauty Rewards Credit Card As an Ulta Beauty Rewards program member, the more you spend at Ulta in a year, the more points and perks you get. Note that unless you attain Platinum status with Ulta Beauty Rewards (which requires spending $500 per year with the retailer), your points will expire at the end of the quarter one year after you earned them.For the home decorator: the IKEA Visa® Credit Card
IKEA Visa® Credit Card The cost of filling your Kallax shelves with Lustigkurre baskets can add up fast, but the $0-annual-fee IKEA Visa® Credit Card earns: $0 IKEA Visa® Credit Card 5% back in rewards on Ikea purchases, including Traemand kitchen installation and TaskRabbit assembly services. 3% back in rewards on dining, grocery stores and utility purchases. 1% back in rewards on all other purchases. Reward Dollars can be redeemed in $15 increments for Reward Certificates. Reward Dollars expire 36 months after you earn them, while Reward Certificates expire in just 90 days. » MORE: NerdWallet’s best credit cards for home improvement and new homeowners » MORE:For the pet parent: Petco Pay credit card
Comenity issues two Petco credit cards: The Petco Pay Credit Card, which earns 2 Vital Care points per $1 spent at Petco or on petco.com. The Petco Pay Credit Card, The Petco Pay Mastercard Credit Card, which can be used outside of Petco. It earns 2 Vital Care points per $1 spent at Petco or on petco.com, 2 points per $3 spent at grocery stores, and 1 point per $3 spent everywhere else. As of this writing, you can also earn $25 worth of points if you spend $500 outside of Petco in the first 90 days. The Petco Pay Mastercard Credit Card, Both cards have $0 annual fees. When you accumulate 167 points, you’ll earn $5 in Vital Care Rewards, which you can redeem toward a Petco purchase. Rewards expire a year after you earn them. » MORE: NerdWallet’s best credit cards for pet owners » MORE:For the human parent: The Children’s Place credit card
The My Place Rewards Credit Card is the co-branded card not just for The Children’s Place, but also for Gymboree, Sugar & Jade, and PJ Place. Together, those brands outfit kids from babies to tweens, in addition to selling pajamas for all ages. The card earns 2 points per $1 spent at any of these brands, and for every 100 you accrue, you'll snag a $5 reward certificate. Expressed another way, each time you spend $50 at Children’s Place or related brands, you get $5 in rewards. New cardholders also may be eligible for one-time discounts. Points expire a year after they’re earned. » MORE: NerdWallet’s best credit cards for new parents » MORE:Examples of other Comenity/Bread-issued co-branded cards
AAA credit cards. Academy credit card. Ann Taylor credit card. B&H Payboo credit card. Big Lots credit card (discontinued). Big O Tires credit card. Burlington credit card. Caesars Rewards credit card. Children's Place credit card. Crypto.com credit card. Express credit card. Ford credit card. Forever 21 credit card (discontinued). GameStop credit card. Good Sam credit card. Houzz credit card (discontinued). Kay Jewelers credit card. Lands' End credit card. Lane Bryant credit card. Lexus and Toyota credit cards. Maurices credit card. Michaels credit card. Midas credit card. New York Yankees credit card. NFL Extra Points Visa® Credit Card. NFL Extra Points Visa® Credit Card Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card (discontinued). Orbitz Rewards® Visa® Card PlayStation credit card. Saks credit card. Sephora credit card. Sony credit card (discontinued). Torrid credit card. Victoria's Secret credit card. Zales credit card.Is a Comenity/Bread credit card right for you?
Comenity issues so many co-branded cards that if you’re loyal to a store, you might be interested in one of the bank’s offerings. Typically, the more you shop at a particular store, the more appealing that store’s credit card can become. Just be aware that Comenity's co-branded products are susceptible to the same kinds of issues that typically plague store credit cards, including low credit limits and inflexibility — both in terms of where you can use the card and redeem the rewards you earn from it. Also, generally speaking, store credit cards tend to have higher-than-average annual percentage rates, making it that much more expensive to carry a balance. You may be better served by a cash-back card you can use anywhere, one that earns rewards you can redeem for a statement credit or direct deposit to a bank account. » MORE: Before you get a retail credit card, consider your options » MORE: Article sources NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines. About the author Sara Rathner Sara is a NerdWallet travel and credit cards expert. She has appeared on the “Today” show, Nasdaq and CNBC’s “Nightly Business Report.” See full bio. Limited Time Only: Earn $1,000 Toward Travel! Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Travel For a limited time, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is offering new cardholders an especially rich bonus: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel! Read full reviewFind the right credit card for you.
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