If you're struggling to make payments on a Comenity Bank or Comenity Capital Bank credit card, you may have more than one way to get help.
Comenity issues and services private-label and co-branded cards for many well-known retail brands. Depending on your account and financial circumstances, you can contact Comenity directly to ask about payment assistance or consider a nonprofit Debt Management Program if you need a longer-term strategy for paying off your credit card debt.
DebtWave's free tools can also help you estimate what your Comenity monthly payment and APR might look like on a Debt Management Program before you decide what to do next.
What Is Comenity Bank?
Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank are part of Bread Financial, a financial services company that provides private-label and co-branded credit cards for numerous national retailers.
You may therefore have a Comenity account without seeing the Comenity name prominently displayed on the front of your card. The retailer's name may be much more recognizable than the bank issuing the credit.
Current credit card agreements filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau show a wide variety of active cards issued by Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank.
Does Comenity Bank Have a Hardship Program?
Consumers experiencing financial difficulty should contact Comenity and ask what payment-assistance or hardship options may be available for their specific account.
Unlike a single publicly advertised program with one guaranteed APR or payment reduction, available assistance can vary based on the credit card program, account status and individual circumstances.
Contact information can differ from one retail card to another. For that reason, use the customer-service number shown on the back of your card or on your most recent billing statement.
Important: Do not assume that every Comenity cardholder will receive the same payment, APR reduction, fee waiver or program duration.
Ask for the exact terms available on your account before agreeing to any payment arrangement.
How to Ask Comenity for Credit Card Hardship Assistance
Prepare before contacting the customer-service department. Having a clear picture of your income, expenses and account balance can make the conversation more productive.
Explain what changed financially and why your normal minimum payment has become difficult to afford. A reduction in income, job loss, increased household expenses or another financial setback may be relevant to the discussion.
Then ask specifically whether Comenity has a payment-assistance, hardship or account-repayment option available for your card.
Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Comenity Payment Plan
- What will my new required monthly payment be?
- Will the interest rate on my account change?
- How long will the payment arrangement remain in effect?
- Are late fees or other account fees being reduced or waived?
- Does participation restrict future purchases on the card?
- Could my credit limit be reduced or my account be closed?
- What happens if I cannot make one of the agreed payments?
- How will the account be reported to the credit bureaus?
Estimate Your Comenity Debt Management Plan Payment & APR
Want to see how your current Comenity payment and interest rate might compare with estimated Debt Management Program terms?
Use the calculator below. Select Comenity Bank from the creditor list, then enter your current balance, APR and minimum payment.
What If Comenity's Hardship Option Isn't Enough?
An internal hardship arrangement may be useful when your financial difficulty is temporary and the payment offered by Comenity fits comfortably within your budget.
A different approach may be worth considering when Comenity is only one of several credit cards causing financial stress. Managing separate arrangements with five or six creditors can still leave you with multiple due dates, high interest costs and an unaffordable total monthly payment.
Nonprofit credit counseling allows you to review your entire debt picture rather than focusing on only one account.
Can a Comenity Credit Card Be Included in a Debt Management Program?
Comenity accounts may be eligible for inclusion in a Debt Management Program, depending on the specific account and creditor terms available at the time of enrollment.
A Debt Management Program is not a new loan. Instead, participating creditors may provide repayment concessions such as reduced interest rates or monthly payments while you repay the balance through a structured plan.
DebtWave receives your scheduled program payment and distributes funds to the eligible creditors included in your plan. Enrolled revolving credit cards are generally closed or restricted from additional purchases.
DebtWave's Historical Results With Comenity Accounts
DebtWave reviewed Comenity accounts enrolled in its Debt Management Program from 2010 through 2024. The study included 9,676 Comenity accounts and approximately $12.2 million in starting credit card balances.
Historical averages showed a reduction in both monthly payments and interest rates for the accounts reviewed. Those results should not be interpreted as a guarantee of the terms currently available to any individual cardholder.
Historical results are not guaranteed. Creditor policies, account eligibility, interest rates, payments and Debt Management Program terms can change.
Your individual estimate should be based on the creditor terms currently available for your specific account.
What Stores Use Comenity Bank? 10 Major Retail Brands
Comenity is especially well known for issuing retail credit cards. Consumers sometimes refer to all of these as "department store cards," although several of the brands are technically specialty, beauty, discount or sporting-goods retailers rather than traditional department stores.
As of 2026, ten of the most recognizable retail brands with credit card programs issued by Comenity Bank or Comenity Capital Bank include the following:
Saks Credit Card and eligible Saks Mastercard accounts are issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
The Boscov's Credit Card is issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
Burlington's retail credit card program is issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
Ross offers Comenity Capital Bank-issued store card and Mastercard products.
Comenity Bank issues credit card programs associated with Bealls brands.
The Big Lots Credit Card is issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
Ulta Beauty Rewards credit card products are issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
Sephora credit card products are issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
Victoria's Secret credit card products are issued by Comenity Bank.
Academy Sports + Outdoors credit card products are issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
Other current Comenity-related retail cards include brands such as Ann Taylor, LOFT, J.Crew, Express, Lane Bryant, Torrid, Talbots, Kay Jewelers, Zales, Michaels, IKEA and many others.
Retail credit-card partnerships can change over time. Check the back of your card or your latest statement if you are unsure whether your account is currently issued by Comenity Bank or Comenity Capital Bank.
Can You Pay Off Comenity Credit Card Debt on Your Own?
Absolutely. A Debt Management Program is only one possible solution, and some consumers can successfully repay their balances without enrolling in any formal program.
The first step is to understand how much of your monthly payment is going toward interest. High APRs can significantly slow progress when most of your payment is absorbed by finance charges.
Next, create a realistic repayment plan that includes a fixed monthly amount above the required minimum whenever your budget allows. Reducing new card purchases at the same time prevents the balance from growing while you are trying to pay it down.
List Every Credit Card
Write down each balance, APR, minimum payment and due date so you know exactly what you owe.
Build a Monthly Budget
Compare your take-home income with housing, food, transportation, insurance and other essential expenses.
Choose a Repayment Strategy
Consider paying the highest-interest balance first or targeting the smallest balance if quick wins will help you stay motivated.
Stop Adding New Debt
Limit new credit card purchases while you are working to reduce existing balances.
Ask for Help When Necessary
If the numbers still do not work, contact the creditor or complete a free nonprofit credit counseling session before falling further behind.
Comenity Hardship Program vs. Debt Management Program
| Feature | Comenity Payment Assistance | Debt Management Program |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides it? | Comenity Bank or Comenity Capital Bank | Nonprofit credit counseling organization |
| Accounts covered | Your applicable Comenity account | Multiple eligible unsecured creditors may be included |
| New loan required? | No | No |
| Payment reduction | Depends on the assistance offered | Depends on creditor participation and current terms |
| Interest-rate reduction | Depends on your account-specific offer | Participating creditors may provide reduced APRs |
| Repayment approach | Arrangement directly with Comenity | Structured repayment of participating debts |
| Best fit | Potentially useful when Comenity is your primary problem | Potentially useful when several unsecured debts need attention |
See What Your Comenity Payment Could Be
Enter your Comenity balance, current APR and monthly payment into DebtWave's free Debt Management Plan Calculator to see an estimated payment and interest rate.
No new loan. Free estimate. No obligation to enroll.
Get Help With Comenity and Your Other Credit Cards
Looking at only one account may not solve the problem if you also owe money to other credit card companies.
A free DebtWave credit counseling session can review your Comenity balance along with your other credit cards, monthly expenses and household income. The goal is to determine which repayment strategy fits your financial situation rather than automatically enrolling you in a program.
If a Debt Management Program appears appropriate, your counselor can explain estimated creditor terms, payments, fees and a projected payoff timeline before you decide whether to enroll.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Comenity Bank Hardship Program
Does Comenity Bank offer hardship assistance?
Consumers who are having difficulty making payments should contact the customer-service department for their specific Comenity card and ask what hardship or payment-assistance options are available. Terms can vary by account and retail credit program.
How do I apply for a Comenity hardship program?
Call the customer-service number on the back of your card or monthly statement. Explain your financial situation, provide information about your income and essential expenses, and ask which payment-assistance options may be available.
Will Comenity lower my credit card interest rate?
A lower rate may be one possible form of creditor assistance, but you should not assume that a particular APR will be offered. Ask the representative for the exact interest rate, monthly payment and duration of any proposed arrangement.
Can a Comenity credit card be included in a Debt Management Program?
Comenity accounts may be eligible for inclusion depending on the account and current creditor participation terms. DebtWave can review your account and provide an estimate of the payment and APR that may be available through a DMP.
What stores have credit cards issued by Comenity Bank?
Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank issue cards for numerous retail brands. Current examples include Saks Fifth Avenue, Boscov's, Burlington, Ross, Bealls, Big Lots, Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Victoria's Secret and Academy Sports + Outdoors, among many others.
Is Comenity Bank the same as Bread Financial?
Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank are Bread Financial companies. Consumers may therefore see both the Comenity and Bread Financial names in account communications or online servicing materials.
Does checking the Debt Management Plan Calculator affect my credit score?
No credit check is required simply to use DebtWave's calculator. You manually enter the balance, APR and payment information needed to generate the estimate.
What if I have several Comenity store cards?
A credit counselor can review multiple eligible Comenity accounts along with debts from other creditors. Looking at everything together can provide a clearer picture of the monthly payment needed to repay your unsecured debt.
Is DebtWave affiliated with Comenity Bank?
No. DebtWave Credit Counseling, Inc. is an independent nonprofit credit counseling organization and is not affiliated with or sponsored by Comenity Bank, Comenity Capital Bank, Bread Financial or the retail brands discussed on this page.
Compare Your Comenity Debt Repayment Options
You don't need to wait until your account becomes seriously delinquent to understand your options. Compare Comenity's available payment assistance with a Debt Management Program estimate and determine which approach fits your budget.
Free nonprofit credit counseling. No new loan. No obligation to enroll.