UPDATE: As of March 2022, Comenity Bank has undergone a rebranding and is now known as Bread Financial. Additionally, Comenity Direct is now Bread Savings. With Bread Savings, you can take advantage of competitive market rates through high-yield savings accounts and certificates of deposit.
Comenity Bank: A Brief Overview
Comenity Bank is a major credit card issuer that offers credit cards through national retail chains to consumers around the country.
In fact, Comenity Bank, founded in 1989, boasts over 50 million card members through its various credit card programs. So, what sets Comenity and its store credit cards apart from the competition?
Some of these credit cards allow people with bad credit to gain access to new credit without a hard pull on their credit report by using the “shopping cart trick.” Furthermore, Comenity Bank’s credit cards are generally easy to get approved for, even with a lower-than-average credit score.
This can be very attractive if you’re attempting to build credit. You can also benefit from store-specific perks with a retail card regardless of your credit score.
However, some Comenity credit cards are better than others, particularly regarding the quality of their rewards program. Plus, whether you should open up one or more new credit cards depends on your financial situation.
Keep reading to learn about Comenity Bank credit cards and which may be best for you.
Comenity Bank Retail Store Credit Cards
From mall shops to online stores and many others in between, Comenity credit cards run the gamut when it comes to variety.
You’ll need to apply separately for each specific credit card you want. So, it’s good to know all of your options upfront. Then, research the benefits you get from each one.
Comenity Bank offers over 130 retail store-branded credit cards, including:
- Abercrombie & Fitch
- Alon
- American
- American Signature Furniture
- Annie Sez
- Ann Taylor
- Appliances Connection
- Arhaus Archarge
- Ashley Stewart
- Avenue
- Barney’s New York
- Bealls Florida
- Bed Bath & Beyond
- Bedford Fair
- Big Lots
- BJ’s
- Blue Nile
- Bon-Ton
- Boscovs
- BrylaneHome
- Buckle
- Burkes Outlet
- Caesars Rewards
- Camping World/Good Sam
- Carson’s
- Carter Lumber
- Catherines
- Children’s Place
- Coldwater Creek
- Crate & Barrel
- Crescent Jewelers Inc.
- David’s Bridal
- Domestications
- Dressbarn
- Eddie Bauer
- El Dorado Furniture
- Express
- Fashion Bug
- Forever21
- Fuel Rewards
- Friedman’s Jewelers
- FullBeauty
- GameStop
- Gander Mtn
- GEM ACCOUNT
- Giant Eagle
- Gordmans
- Goody’s
- Herberger’s
- Home & Garden Showplace
- Hot Topic
- HSN
- iComfort
- Iddeal
- IKEA Projeckt
- J. Crew
- Jessica London
- JD Williams
- J.Jill
- Kane Furniture
- KingSize
- Lane Bryant
- Lenovo
- Levin Furniture
- Linen Source
- Little Switzerland Jewels
- LOFT
- Mandee
- Maurices
- Meijer
- M.E.S.A.
- Modell’s
- Motorola
- MyPoints
- My World
- Newport News
- New York & Company
- Orchard Supply Hardware
- Overton’s
- PacSun
- Palais Royale
- Peebles
- Piercing Pagoda
- Pier 1 Imports
- Preferred Client
- Reeds Jewelers
- Roaman’s
- RoomPlace
- Restoration Hardware
- Samuels Diamonds
- Saturday Night Live
- Sephora
- Smile Generation Financial
- Spiegel
- Sportman’s Guide
- Stage Stores
- The Company Store
- Tile Shop
- Tog Shop
- Torrid
- True Value
- UBG
- Value City Furniture
- Venue
- Venus
- Victoria’s Secret
- Vintage Kind Audio
- Winter Silks
- Woman Within
- Ulta Beauty
- Younkers
- Zales
- Z Gallerie
Comenity Bank’s Specialty Credit Cards
In addition to retail credit cards, Comenity provides consumers with specialty credit cards of other types. For example, you can choose from a selection of medical-related cards for medical purchases. In addition, some purchases can be eligible for deferred interest, while other cards can help finance elective health-related procedures.
Your Tuition Solution credit card helps pay for private school and other educational costs. Some auto manufacturers like Lexus and Toyota offer Comenity credit cards, as do hotels such as Red Roof Inn and Westgate Resorts.
Here’s the complete list:
What makes Comenity Bank cards stand out?
Many people like store-specific credit cards because of perks such as a discount on your first purchase, a statement credit, or a gift card on your birthday. As a result, they apply for credit cards at their favorite stores.
Credit lines start small, around $500. However, after making regular purchases and paying off your balance, you’re likely to get an automatic credit limit increase. These credit limit increases can happen at regular intervals. However, if you are unable to pay off your balance in full, you shouldn’t buy things simply because you can.
Still, that extra line of credit paired with regular on-time payments can help rebuild your credit score. Plus, it’s easy to get qualified regardless of what your credit looks like. This is another reason why Comenity Bank cards are so popular — you can use the shopping cart trick to get a pop-up offer online for a new credit card.
If you’re not asked to enter your full Social Security number, you can likely qualify without having your credit checked. But, for many people, it’s a simple way to get started on the way to better credit.
Top Picks: The Best Comenity Bank Store Credit Cards
Each Comenity Bank credit card typically comes with some sort of incentive. Most frequently, you’ll be given a discount on your first purchase, usually ranging between 10% and 20%. Thereafter, you may be sent certain offers and discounts throughout the year.
Some may have better features than others, depending on the store credit card. After all, not all participating stores are owned by the same company. So, they’ll each have a different strategy for their card member perks.
Do your research in advance to find out which store credit cards offer the best rewards. Here are a few of our favorite Comenity Bank cards in terms of the most significant benefits offered to cardholders.
IKEA Visa Credit Card
The IKEA Visa credit card is an excellent choice for both home improvement enthusiasts and savvy spenders. The card offers a generous 5% back in rewards on all IKEA purchases, including Traemand installation and TaskRabbit assembly services. This benefit extends to IKEA Family members, who enjoy an additional 5% in-store discount on furniture and decor.
But the rewards don’t stop at IKEA. The card also gives you 3% back on dining, groceries, and utilities, which makes it a useful card for everyday expenses. All other purchases earn a flat 1% back, providing a consistent way to accumulate rewards.
New cardholders can earn a $25 bonus in IKEA Reward Dollars by spending $500 outside of IKEA-related services within the first 90 days of account opening. In summary, the IKEA Visa credit card is not just for the store loyalist; its rewards and perks make it a practical choice for various spending habits.
BJ’s Credit Card
My BJ’s Perks MasterCard is a fee-free Comenity credit card available for BJ’s Wholesale Club members. Most locations are on the East Coast. So, if you live near one, consider taking advantage of their cash back program, especially if you shop often and like to buy in bulk. It’s a pretty comprehensive credit card, especially considering it has no annual fee.
You’ll earn cashback on different types of purchases, which can then be used towards future BJ’s purchases. For instance, depending on which membership level you choose, you get either 3% or 5% cashback on any of your BJ’s purchases.
Furthermore, all cardmembers get 10-cents off each gallon at BJ’s gas stations. You’ll also get 2% cashback from dining out just about anywhere, as well as from gas purchases made at any other gas station.
When you shop anywhere else with your BJ’s MasterCard, you’ll get a cool 1% in cashback. So again, as long as you stay on top of your monthly balances, you can quickly see some savings with this store credit card.
Victoria’s Secret Credit Card
If you’re a fan of Victoria’s Secret or PINK, their credit card offers some alluring benefits that are hard to resist. Upon becoming a cardmember, you’re automatically elevated to All-Access status. Spending $750 each program year boosts you to VIP status, unlocking even more exclusive perks.
One of the key highlights is the accelerated reward earning rate. All-Access members rack up 10 points for every $1 spent, while VIPs earn an even higher rate of 15 points per dollar. Both membership levels also get triple points on bra purchases—30 points for All-Access and 45 for VIP.
Alongside the point system, you’ll receive a $10 birthday gift as an All-Access member and $15 as a VIP. On your card’s anniversary, All-Access cardholders get 15% off, while VIPs get an impressive 20% off. Best of all, all these benefits come without an annual fee.
Farmers Insurance Visa Card
This is another fee-free credit card with substantial advantages, and it doesn’t matter where you live. You earn points on each purchase you make. You can then redeem the points for statement credits, travel, gift cards, and more. Another major benefit of this Comenity card is the 0% APR for the first 12 months. Thereafter, the rates range from 13.99% to 20.99%.
So, how do you earn points? You get 3 points for each $1 spent on Farmers products, gas, or home improvement. Plus, you get 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Points never expire, and there’s no maximum to how much you can earn.
The first year is interest-free, so it’s a viable option if you carry a small balance from time to time. Just be sure to pay off your debt in its entirety before your introductory period is up. Otherwise, your balance will be subject to a potentially high interest rate.
Ann Taylor Mastercard
The Ann Taylor Mastercard is a credit card designed for shoppers at Ann Taylor, a women’s retail store that falls under the Ann Inc. family of stores, which also includes LOFT, Ann Taylor Factory Store, LOFT Outlet, and Lou & Grey.
With this card, you can earn 5 rewards points for every dollar spent at any Ann Inc. store. When you reach 2,000 rewards points or spend $400 either online or in-store, you’ll receive a $20 rewards card, which is equivalent to 5% cashback.
In addition, your first purchase made outside the family of stores will qualify you for a $20 rewards card, and you can earn 2 rewards points per dollar spent at grocery stores and gas stations with this card.
As a bonus, you can get 15% off your initial purchase when you open an account in-store or online at any Ann Taylor or LOFT store. You can also get 15% off purchases made on the first Tuesday of every month at these locations. And to celebrate your birthday, you’ll receive a $15 gift.
Is a Comenity Bank card the right choice for you?
There are countless options available for getting a credit card from Comenity. Whether one (or more) is right for you depends on your credit history and financial goals. If you’re primarily motivated by lucrative rewards, explore all of your options before settling on one.
If you intend to make an expensive one-time purchase, you may benefit from opening a Comenity Bank store card to get that big discount. But don’t do it just because a sales associate is pressuring you in the checkout line.
Comenity Bank Pre-Approval with No Credit Check
If you have less than perfect credit, you may want to get a Comenity credit card because it’s possible to get pre-approved without a credit check. Before you do, though, think about what you hope to get out of the card.
Are you trying to rebuild your credit by lowering your credit utilization ratio and making on-time payments?
If so, opening a new account may be helpful to your financial situation. But, if you struggle with debt and aren’t paying off your credit cards each month, then it may be best to hold off on getting a Comenity Bank card.
The Impact of New Credit Accounts
You also may want to avoid opening a new credit card if you’re gearing up for a major loan application like a mortgage. Too many credit inquiries might make it look like you’re tight on cash. Furthermore, never feel like you need to get a credit card before you’re ready simply because of a “time-sensitive” promotion.
Comenity and other credit card companies regularly offer perks, bonuses, and other benefits for new cardmembers. But, you can always either wait or try a different card to find the best deals available when you’re ready.
Comenity Bank Customer Service
Compared to other companies in the credit card industry, Comenity is known to be lacking in customer support. Some people have reported that their payments were received late or not at all, leading to late fees and damage to their credit scores.
Most Comenity credit cards do not offer an auto-pay as an option. So, it’s wise to make your payments well ahead of the due date to make sure they’ve been received. It’s also been reported that their customer service agents aren’t very helpful.
Bottom Line
Comenity Bank is in the business of attracting consumers to very specific store credit cards. The key takeaway is to maximize your rewards by consistently paying off your balances.
By doing so, you get to take advantage of your perks and rewards while simultaneously building your credit. It’s a great way to get back into the world of credit cards by creating good financial habits.
Once you’ve established a repayment routine, you can upgrade to a credit card with a broader range of features. You may qualify for better rates since you’ve strengthened your credit with a Comenity credit card.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get approved for a Comenity Bank card?
To be eligible for most Comenity Bank credit cards, you should have a credit score of at least 640, which falls into the category of fair credit. However, some cards may have higher requirements, needing a credit score of 700 or above for approval.
How hard is it to get a Comenity credit card?
Comenity credit cards are generally considered easy to obtain. The majority of these cards are store-specific and can only be used at the associated retailer. The good news is that most of these cards typically require only a fair credit score for approval.
How many Comenity cards can you have?
There’s no official limit on the number of Comenity Bank credit cards you can own, but each new application could affect your credit score. Keep in mind that having multiple cards increases the risk of accumulating debt and could make managing your finances more complex.
What credit score do you need for a Comenity Bank credit card?
As mentioned, to be eligible for most Comenity credit cards, you typically need a credit score of at least 640, which is considered to be fair credit. However, some cards may have higher requirements.
