Thomas Barwick/Getty Images
Comenity Bank — now Bread Financial — 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.
Top Comenity and Bread Financial credit cards
-
American Express and Bread Financial have teamed up to offer a no-annual-fee cash back card with a straightforward rewards structure and a few worthwhile perks. With the Bread Cashback® American Express® card, you’ll earn unlimited 2 percent cashback on all purchases. You’ll also be able to take advantage of Amex benefits, like purchase protection and ID theft insurance. The only downside is that, currently, the Bread Cashback card is only available to those with a pre-approved offer.
-
The AAA Daily Advantage card is another 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.
-
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.
-
The Bread Rewards™ Card prioritizes gas stations, groceries, dining, and utilities in their top rewards categories — you’ll earn 3X points on those purchases and 1X points per $1 spent on everything else. Plus, you can get 25% extra points every billing cycle you make 20 or more purchases. Depending on your habits, that boost could be easy to attain if you use the card to put gas in your car, pay your utility bills, and cover your takeout.
Note that, like the Bread Cashback® card, this card is only available to applicants who have received a pre-approval offer.
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.
| Card Name | Annual fee | Best for | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bread Cashback® American Express® Credit Card* | $0 | Everyday spending |
|
| AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card* | $0 | Groceries |
|
| Big Lots Credit Card* | $0 | Discount shopping |
|
| Bread Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card | $0 | Gas |
|
What to know about Comenity closed loop 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 restrict 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 store 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.
What to know about Bread Financial credit cards
On the other hand, the Bread Financial rewards credit cards – the Bread Cashback® card and the Bread Rewards™ card – are straightforward rewards cards with simple rewards structures. However, accessibility to these cards is limited because you must have received a pre-approval offer in order to apply.
Additional Comenity credit cards
There are other options beyond Comenity’s store cards and the two Bread rewards cards. Some co-branded 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:
Frequently asked questions
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 Bread Cashback® American Express® Credit Card, AAA Daily Advantage Visa Signature® Credit Card, Big Lots Credit Card, and the Bread Rewards™ American Express® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Read the full article here
