Comenity Bank credit cards | CreditCards.com (2024)

Think of a retail credit card.

You probably thought of a card branded with the name of a big retailer such as Ikea, Big Lots or BJ’s, right? But retailers typically aren’t the ones issuing their cards, even if their names are on them. Instead, banks that partner with these retailers are the ones that provide and manage these types of cards.

Some credit card issuers specialize in retail credit cards, and Comenity Bank is one of the biggest. The bank offers branded cards from several retailers, many that let you earn ongoing rewards.

Whether these retail cards are a good choice for you, though, depends on your spending habits. Retail cards are limited — usually offering perks only when you shop at a specific retailer — and often come with higher interest rates. If you aren’t a frequent shopper at a specific retailer, it probably doesn’t make sense to apply for a card from it.

Which stores partner with Comenity Bank?

With so many partnering stores, Comenity Bank offers a wide variety of retail credit cards, including online stores, clothing shops, furniture stores and more. Here are some of the better-known stores for which Comenity provides a retail credit card:

  • Loft Credit Card
  • Bed Bath & Beyond’s Welcome Rewards store Credit Card
  • Ikea Visa Credit Card
  • Ulta’s Ultamate Rewards Credit Card
  • Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card
  • Big Lots Credit Card
  • BJ’s Perks Plus Mastercard Credit Card
  • BJ’s Perks Elite Mastercard Credit Card

Other Comenity Bank credit cards

Comenity Bank is mostly known for its retail credit cards, but it also provides cards affiliated with other types of businesses. You can find travel rewards credit cards, auto cards, medical cards and even an insurance credit card that allows you to earn rewards while paying for your coverage.

Here’s a few non-retail Comenity card offerings:

  • Worldwide Vacation & Travel Mastercard Credit Card
  • Toyota Rewards Visa
  • Smile Generation Financial Credit Card
  • mycash Mastercard

Popular Comenity Bank cards

Comenity offers plenty of retail cards, but how do you choose the right one for you? That depends mostly on your shopping habits. If you rarely shop at a retailer, it doesn’t make sense to apply for the Comenity card connected to it — no matter how valuable that card’s rewards program might be.

But if Comenity does offer a card connected to one of your favorite stores, that card might make sense. Here’s a look at three of Comenity’s most popular rewards credit cards.

Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card

If you’re a frequent shopper at Victoria’s Secret, Comenity’s Victoria’s Secret Mastercard Credit Card might be a good choice. The card has a decent rewards program that can allow frequent shoppers to earn a steady stream of credits from the retailer. How much you earn, though, depends on what you buy.

To start, you’ll get $25 off the first purchase you make with your card at either Victoria’s Secret or Pink. As a basic cardmember, you’ll earn 5 percent back for purchases made at Victoria’s Secret and Pink, 2 percent back on dining, travel and streaming services and 1 percent on all other purchases. Plus, you’ll get free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

Built into this rewards structure is a points system in which every 2,000 points awards you $10:

  • $1 spent in the 5 percent category earns you 10 points
  • $1 spent in the 2 percent category earns you 4 points
  • $1 in the 1 percent category earns you 2 points
  • Plus, three times the points on bra purchases

After basic cardmember status, there’s Silver and Gold status, through which your rewards on Victoria’s Secret and Pink purchases can earn you up to 7.5 percent back (plus heightened perks). You’ll need to spend $250 at Victoria’s Secret per year to reach Silver status and $500 per year to reach Gold.

Ikea Visa credit card

If you can’t get enough of Ikea’s furniture — or its Swedish meatballs — you might consider applying for Comenity’s Ikea Visa credit card.

In terms of a rewards structure, you’ll earn 5 percent back on Ikea purchases, 3 percent back on dining, grocery stores and utility purchases and 1 percent back on everything else. There’s also a $25 Ikea reward dollars bonus when you spend $500 or more outside of Ikea, Traemand and TaskRabbit within the first 90 days of account opening. Plus, for every $15 in rewards you earn, you’ll receive a $15 Ikea reward certificate.

This retail card is quite interesting in that most retail-branded credit cards only reward you when you spend at their own stores, making it more difficult for consumers to earn as many points or cash back as they would with a standard rewards card. The card’s 3 percent category for dining, grocery store and utility purchases sets it apart from most other retail-branded cards.

BJ’s Perks Elite Mastercard Credit Card

Frequent shoppers at wholesale club BJ’s can earn cash back quickly with the BJ’s Perks Elite Mastercard Credit Card.

That’s because you’ll earn 5 percent cash back on most BJ’s purchases, in-store and online. You’ll also earn 2 percent back dining out and at non-BJ’s gas stations, plus 1 percent back everywhere else Mastercard is accepted. To sweeten the deal, cardholders also get 10 cents off every gallon of gas they charge at BJ’s Gas locations.

As with the Ikea-branded card, you aren’t limited to earning rewards only at BJ’s locations, which makes this card more valuable than many other retail-branded cards.

How to apply for a Comenity Bank card

The easiest way to apply for a credit card from Comenity Bank is to do so online. Search the card name, and find a link to the retailer site or Comenity’s website. From there, click “Apply Now” and provide the required information.

For instance, searching for “Victoria’s Secret Credit Card” brings up this page, where you can apply. Searching for “Ultamate Rewards Credit Card” brings up this application page.

You can also apply for most of these cards in-store. The cashier may ask if you’d like to sign up for the card when you’re checking out, or you can simply request to fill out the application.

Bottom line

A store credit card can be a way to build your credit. You’re more likely to qualify for a store card because you generally don’t need as high of a credit score as you’d need to qualify for a traditional rewards card. And if you then use the card and pay off your balance in full each month, you’ll slowly build a solid credit history — just don’t make your payments late or run up charges that you can’t pay off in full.

Before you apply for a Comenity Bank credit card, though, be sure it’s a good option for you. Store credit cards charge some of the highest interest rates, and credit limits are typically on the lower side.

At the end of the day, such cards may only be a good choice for brand enthusiasts. Those interested in rewards might be better off with a general rewards credit card. Even if your credit isn’t in the best shape, you still may find other options.

Editorial Disclaimer

The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.

Ana Staples is a staff reporter and young credit expert reporter for CreditCards.com and covers product news and credit advice. She loves sharing financial expertise with her reader and believes that the right financial advice at the right time can make a real difference. In her free time, Anastasiia writes romance stories and plans a trip to the French Riviera she'll take one day—when she has enough points, that is.

Dan Rafter has covered personal finance for more than 15 years for publications ranging from The Washington Post and Chicago Tribune to Wise Bread, HSH.com and MoneyRates.com. His work has also appeared online at the Motley Fool, Fox Business, Huffington Post, Christian Science Monitor and Time.

Comenity Bank credit cards | CreditCards.com (2024)

FAQs

What credit score is needed for Comenity Bank? ›

The Comenity Bank credit cards that are easy to get are the ones that require fair credit for approval. That means you'll need a score of about 640 or higher. And since the average person's credit score is about 40 points above that, these cards are well within reach for most of us.

Why is Comenity closing accounts? ›

Your Comenity Bank credit card could have been closed for various reasons, including the following: Inactivity. Your account was in default. Missed payments.

How do I log into my Comenity credit card online? ›

To log in to your Comenity Bank credit card account, go to the login page on the Comenity Bank website and enter your username and password in the appropriate fields. Then, click the “Sign In” to access your online account.

What is happening to Comenity Bank? ›

Comenity Bank recently underwent a brand change. It's now Bread Financial, a financial services company offering payment, lending and savings products, among others. That means if you're already a Comenity cardholder, you'll eventually see Bread Financial and its new logo replace the Comenity Bank name and logo.

Is Comenity Bank hard to get approved? ›

It is not hard to get approved by Comenity Bank because most of the credit cards issued by Comenity Bank are available to applicants with fair credit or better. You should have good odds of approval for a Comenity credit card if you have a 640+ credit score and consistent income.

What store card is easiest to get approved for? ›

Here's a Summary of the Best Instant Approval Store Credit Cards
  • Prime Visa.
  • Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi *
  • Gap Good Rewards Mastercard® *
  • Key Rewards Visa *
  • Target Circle™ Credit Card *
  • MyLowe's Rewards Credit Card *
  • Kohl's Card *
Sep 3, 2024

What bank owns Comenity Bank? ›

Our opinions are our own. 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.

Is there a lawsuit against Comenity Bank? ›

A TCPA class action lawsuit was filed against Comenity Bank—which owns a number of popular store credit cards like Abercrombie and Fitch, Crate & Barrel, Ann Taylor, and Victoria's Secret just to name a few—alleging the bank placed call to consumers' cell phones using an automatic telephone dialing system and/or a ...

Is it bad to close a credit card with zero balance? ›

Your credit utilization ratio goes up

By closing a credit card account with zero balance, you're removing all of that card's available balance from the ratio, in turn, increasing your utilization percentage. The higher your balance-to-limit ratio, the more it can hurt your credit.

What credit card company uses Comenity Bank? ›

Stores that offer retail credit cards through Comenity Bank

Ann Taylor Credit Card* Welcome Rewards™ Store Credit Card (Bed Bath & Beyond)* Big Lots Credit Card* Eddie Bauer Credit Card*

Is Victoria's Secret a Comenity Bank? ›

Mastercard® or Victoria's Secret Credit Card are issued and credit is extended by Comenity Bank, Wilmington, Delaware.

Is Comenity Capital Bank the same as Capital One? ›

No, Comenity Bank is not owned by Capital One, it is a Bread Financial company that mostly issues store credit cards. Capital One, on the other hand, is one of the biggest banks in the U.S., offering a range of financial products and services, including credit cards, auto loans, and savings accounts.

How do I speak to someone at Comenity Bank? ›

If you think your Account is being used by someone else or has been compromised, call Customer Care now at 1-855-823-1001 (TDD/TYY: 1-800-695-1788). While we're helping protect you from unauthorized charges, here's what you can do to help keep your Account safer: Sign your credit card and store it in a safe place.

Has Comenity Bank been breached? ›

Was Comenity Bank hacked? A. No, we did not experience a cyber attack of any kind. The servicing issues we are experiencing are the result of a planned system update.

Is Kohl's part of Comenity Bank? ›

The Kohl's store credit card is no longer issued by CapitalOne Bank! The Kohl's card is now issued by Comenity Bank.

What credit bureau does Comenity pull from? ›

Bogdan Roberts, Credit Cards Moderator

Comenity Bank uses all three major credit card bureaus (TransUnion, Experian, Equifax) for credit card approval. So, if any of your credit reports are frozen, you should unfreeze them before submitting an application for one of Comenity's credit cards.

Is Comenity a hard pull? ›

Yes, Comenity Bank does a hard inquiry on your credit report whenever you apply for one of its credit cards. A hard inquiry usually results in a slight decrease in an applicant's credit score, but the effect only lasts for a short period of time.

How do you qualify for Comenity Capital Bank? ›

You need a credit score of 640 or higher to get a Comenity Bank credit card in most cases. That means you need at least fair credit to get approved. However, there are some Comenity credit cards that require a credit score of 700 or better (good credit).

What credit card is associated with Comenity Bank? ›

Stores that offer retail credit cards through Comenity Bank

Ann Taylor Credit Card* Welcome Rewards™ Store Credit Card (Bed Bath & Beyond)* Big Lots Credit Card* Eddie Bauer Credit Card*

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