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Comenity Bank is a lesser-known specialized bank that partners with merchants to offer store credit cards with rewards tailored toward frequent shoppers. While most of its card offerings only work with that particular merchant, it also provides a few niche cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks. However, these cards often don’t measure up to the top rewards cards due to weaker earning rates, smaller welcome offers, inflexible redemption options and other limitations.
Comparing the best Comenity credit cards
Comenity Bank offers more than a hundred credit cards with various retailers. Although many retailers are specific to certain regions, the bank also has co-branded cards for more popular national brands. Here are a few of our top choices.
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Card Name |
Best for |
Highlights |
|---|---|---|
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AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card* |
Everyday spending |
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Big Lots Credit Card* |
Discount shopping |
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Express Credit Card* |
Clothing |
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Ulta Beauty Rewards™ Credit Card* |
Cosmetics |
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Top Comenity credit cards
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The AAA Daily Advantage card is one of Comenity’s rare open-loop credit cards and offers surprisingly good value for a no-fee card. You can earn 5 percent cash back on groceries and 3 percent on numerous everyday purchases, including AAA purchases for when you have auto issues. While the cash back you can earn is capped at $500 combined for groceries, gas stations and wholesale clubs, that still gives you significant spending capacity and compares favorably to the best grocery cards.
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Pros
- If you focus on groceries, you can spend up to $10,000 per year to earn top cash back rates.
- This card earns one of the best rates available for wholesale club purchases.
Cons
- There’s no welcome bonus or intro APR offer with this card.
- Your cash back rewards are capped at $500 per year.
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Discount shoppers may find some decent value from the Big Lots Credit Card, especially if they can’t qualify for better cards. Earning $5 back in rewards after spending $100 amounts to a 5 percent return, which is a solid rate for a discount store. You’ll also be able to defer interest on larger initial purchases. Just make sure you can pay off that amount by the end of the interest-free period, or you’ll get hit with all the accrued interest.
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Pros
- The average rewards return is one of the better rates you can find for a discount store.
- This card can help you finance a larger purchase you might not otherwise be able to afford.
Cons
- You’ll pay a 2 percent promotional plan fee on purchases qualifying for the deferred interest plan.
- You must spend $100 to earn rewards back, which you can only use in-store.
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The Express Credit Card can be a solid choice for clothing purchases, especially if you shop frequently at Express. While it doesn’t have a welcome offer, you’ll get an annual $20 birthday gift, plus automatic Influencer status in the Express Insider program. You’ll earn 20 points per dollar spent and $5 in Express Cash for every 1,250 points earned. You can earn A-List status after earning 10,000 points, which boosts earnings and Express Cash received.
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Pros
- You can earn A-List status by spending $500 on the card.
- Express Insider sends regular coupons to save additional money on top of the points earned from the card.
Cons
- Points can only be redeemed at Express for merchandise and expire after 12 months.
- Rewards may have restrictions on what you can redeem them for, like excluding certain brands or having spending requirements.
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The Ulta Beauty Rewards card can give you a significant discount on your first purchase, so if you get it, make that purchase a large one. In addition, you can earn two points per dollar spent. You can redeem points starting at 100 points for $3, with the value of your points increasing if you redeem them in higher quantities. If you spend enough to earn status, you can earn higher base reward rates, discounts and access to exclusive events.
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Pros
- Your initial discount is only restricted by your credit limit, meaning you can stock up on cosmetics with significant savings.
- Points earned from the credit card stack with any points you may earn from having status.
Cons
- You’ll need to redeem your points in higher amounts to get the best value.
- You won’t get elevated earning rates from the card for having status with Ulta.
What to know about Comenity credit cards
Comenity Bank — now Bread Financial — offers various credit cards that can be useful if you frequently shop with specific brands. That said, store credit cards have unique features that conventional credit cards don’t have. For example, some of them earn high rewards rates for purchases at the retailer, so you can stockpile plenty of rewards points for your regular spending.
The drawback is that these cards typically have restrictions, whether they restruct you can use the card or how you can redeem rewards. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of Comenity credit cards before applying.
Pros and cons of Comenity credit cards
Pros
- Earn boosted rewards from your favorite brands: If you regularly shop at a particular store, a Comenity-issued store card may offer additional cash back or points that frequent shoppers can take advantage of.
- Receive an intro bonus or discount: While usually not on the level of many standard credit cards, plenty of Comenity credit cards offer introductory benefits for new cardholders. These bonuses may come as a statement credit, discount or free merchandise.
- Build credit: Retail credit cards are typically easier to get approved for than the top rewards credit cards, which usually require good credit. A store credit card can be a great option if you’re looking for a card that will help you earn rewards while building your credit.
Cons
- Inflexible rewards programs: Many retail cards earn rewards and perks you can only use with that merchant. You might also see additional limitations like spending requirements or blackout periods for redeeming rewards.
- Closed-loop cards: Many Comenity credit cards only work at the co-branded merchant’s stores and websites. These closed-loop cards are only beneficial if you know you’ll frequently shop with that merchant. Otherwise, consider typical open-loop credit cards that will work practically anywhere.
- Higher-than-average interest rates: Store credit cards are notorious for charging high interest rates. If you need to carry a balance, consider using a low-interest credit card instead or open a card with an intro APR offer to give you some breathing room.
Additional Comenity credit cards
Comenity Bank offers more than just store credit cards. Some cards are included in the Visa and Mastercard networks, meaning you can use them practically anywhere. Here are some examples of open-loop Comenity credit cards, which cover a variety of categories outside of stores:
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- AAA Travel Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card
- Ann Taylor Mastercard® Credit Card
- Bed Bath & Beyond® Mastercard® Credit Card
- Bread Cashback™ American Express® Credit Card
- Bread Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card
- buybuy BABY® Mastercard® Credit Card
- Caesars Rewards® Visa® Credit Card
- Coast to Coast Visa® Credit Card
- Farmers® Rewards Visa® Credit Card
- Forever 21 Visa® Credit Card
- GasBuddy™ Mastercard® Credit Card
- Good Sam Rewards Visa® Credit Card
- Green Bay Packers Extra Points Mastercard® Credit Card
- Harmon® Face Values® Mastercard® Credit Card
- Houzz Mastercard Credit Card
- IKEA® Visa® Credit Card
- Interval World Mastercard® Credit Card
- Legendary Pine Mastercard® Credit Card
- Lexus Pursuits Visa® Credit Card
- LOFT Mastercard® Credit Card
- My BJ’s Perks® Mastercard® Credit Card
- My BJ’s Perks® World for Business Credit Card
- My World Mastercard® Credit Card
- New York Yankees Mastercard® Credit Card
- NFL Extra Points Visa® Credit Card (all teams except Green Bay Packers)
- PENN Entertainment Mastercard® Credit Card
- Petco Pay Mastercard® Credit Card
- PlayStation® Visa® Credit Card
- Points Power Mastercard® Credit Card
- Sephora Visa® Credit Card
- Sony Visa® Credit Card
- Sportsman’s Warehouse Explorewards Visa® Credit Card
- Sportsman’s Guide Buyer’s Club® Rewards Visa®
- Toyota Rewards Visa® Credit Card
- Worldwide Vacation & Travel Mastercard® Credit Card
Frequently asked questions
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Unlike other issuers, Comenity Bank does not have any physical locations. If you need to contact them, you can do so on its website or mobile app. Your best bet is to call the number on the back of your card for help with your specific card. You can also reach Comenity customer service through its app or website or by calling 855-823-1001.
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No. You’ll need a separate login for each Comenity card you have, as they all have a unique website.
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While it may differ based on which card you’re applying for, you’ll generally need at least fair credit for some store cards, while others require you to have at least good credit. Check your credit score and see if you’ll be eligible for the cards you want.
What’s next?
Check out these Bankrate tools to match your next card.
The bottom line
If you’re interested in a card that earns rewards for frequently shopping with a specific retailer, you may want to look at Comenity Bank’s credit card options if one is available. They offer numerous options, so you’re likely to find one that may fit your needs. Otherwise, stay with traditional credit cards and consider our list of the best credit cards on the market today to find a better fit.
*The information about the AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card, Big Lots Credit Card, Express Credit Card and Ulta Beauty Rewards™ Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
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