Alliance Data to Issue Credit Cards for Williams-Sonoma

Alliance Data Systems in Plano, Texas, has reached an agreement to provide credit card programs for Williams-Sonoma, the high-end kitchenware retailer.

The multiyear deal will cover both private-label credit cards and cobranded cards, the companies said in a press release Thursday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Leveraging Alliance Data's loyalty and marketing expertise, paired with our high standard of customer service, we're confident our new credit card program will provide a value proposition that is unparalleled in the home and lifestyle category," Janet Hayes, president of Williams-Sonoma, said in the press release.

Alliance Data will acquire the existing Williams-Sonoma cobrand credit card portfolio, the two companies said. That acquisition is expected to close by the end of the third quarter.

Williams-Sonoma credit cards were previously issued by Barclaycard, a division of U.K.-based Barclays PLC.

Williams-Sonoma is owned by San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma Inc., which also operates West Elm and Pottery Barn, two chains that sell home furnishings. Both of those retailers also offer store-branded credit cards through Alliance Data.

Williams-Sonoma Inc. had $4.6 billion in U.S retail sales in 2014, according to the National Retail Federation, and was the country's 88th-largest retailer.

Alliance Data issues credit cards through its Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank subsidiaries.

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