May 2026 credit metrics for Bread Financial (NYSE: BFH) show lower losses
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. released a May 2026 credit performance update showing modest portfolio growth with improved loss and delinquency metrics versus May 2025.
End-of-period credit card and other loans were $18,363 million, with average loans of $18,169 million, a 2.6% year-over-year increase in average balances. Net principal losses were $108 million with a 6.98% net principal loss rate, compared with $120 million and a 7.97% rate a year earlier. The 30-days-plus delinquency rate was 5.24% on $853 million of delinquent principal, versus 5.71% on $926 million in May 2025. The company notes prior hurricane-related delinquency freezes in late 2024 affected loss patterns in 2024 and 2025.
Positive
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Negative
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8-K Event Classification
2 items: 7.01, 9.01
2 items
Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
End-of-period loans: $18,363 million
Average loans: $18,169 million
YoY change in average loans: 2.6%
+5 more
8 metrics
End-of-period loans
$18,363 million
Credit card and other loans as of May 31, 2026
Average loans
$18,169 million
Average credit card and other loans, month ended May 31, 2026
YoY change in average loans
2.6%
Year-over-year change in average credit card and other loans for May
Net principal losses
$108 million
Month ended May 31, 2026
Net principal loss rate
6.98%
Month ended May 31, 2026
30+ day delinquencies
$853 million
Principal 30+ days delinquent as of May 31, 2026
Delinquency rate
5.24%
30+ day delinquency rate as of May 31, 2026
Prior-year net loss rate
7.97%
Net principal loss rate for month ended May 31, 2025
Key Terms
Net principal loss rate, Delinquency rate, 30 days + delinquencies – principal, Forward-Looking Statements, +2 more
6 terms
Net principal loss rate financial
"The following tables present the Company’s Net principal loss rate and Delinquency rate"
Net principal loss rate measures the percentage of original loan or investment principal that investors actually lose after accounting for recoveries, collections, or collateral sales. It matters because it shows the real hit to capital from defaults — like knowing how much of the original bill you never get back after trying to collect — and helps investors judge credit risk and expected losses across a portfolio.
Delinquency rate financial
"The following tables present the Company’s Net principal loss rate and Delinquency rate"
The delinquency rate measures the share of loans or credit accounts with payments past their due date, usually expressed as a percentage of the total loan balance or number of accounts. It matters to investors because rising delinquency rates are an early warning that borrowers are struggling, which can lead to higher losses, tighter lending and weaker profits for banks, lenders and investors in loan-backed securities — like seeing more people miss car payments in a town.
30 days + delinquencies – principal financial
"30 days + delinquencies – principal | $ | 853"
30 days + delinquencies – principal measures the amount of loan principal that is overdue by 30 days or more. For investors, it’s a snapshot of borrowers falling behind on repayments and signals higher risk of future losses or slower cash flow; think of it as the portion of a landlord’s rent that hasn’t been paid for a month, indicating potential trouble collecting full payments later.
Forward-Looking Statements regulatory
"This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A"
Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.
Allowance for credit losses financial
"including our credit risk management models and the amount of our Allowance for credit losses"
Allowance for credit losses is a reserve set aside by a financial institution to cover potential losses from borrowers who may not repay their loans. It acts like a safety net, helping the institution prepare for loans that might turn sour. For investors, it signals how cautious the institution is about the quality of its loans and potential risks to its financial health.
Regulation FD Disclosure regulatory
"Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure. On June 10, 2026, Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. issued a press release"
Regulation FD disclosure requires public companies to share important, market-moving information with everyone at the same time instead of tipping off analysts or large investors first. Think of it as making sure all players on a field hear the same announcement simultaneously; that fairness helps investors trust that stock prices reflect the same information and reduces the risk of sudden, unfair trading advantages or regulatory penalties for selective leaks.
FAQ
What performance metrics did Bread Financial (BFH) report for May 2026?
Bread Financial reported May 2026 credit metrics including end-of-period credit card and other loans of $18,363 million, average loans of $18,169 million, a 6.98% net principal loss rate, and a 5.24% delinquency rate on 30+ day balances.
How did Bread Financial’s May 2026 net principal losses compare to May 2025?
Net principal losses were $108 million in May 2026, compared with $120 million in May 2025. The related net principal loss rate declined from 7.97% to 6.98%, indicating lower charge-offs relative to average credit card and other loan balances year over year.
What delinquency trends did Bread Financial (BFH) highlight for May 2026?
As of May 31, 2026, 30+ day delinquencies on principal were $853 million, producing a 5.24% delinquency rate. A year earlier, delinquencies were $926 million with a 5.71% rate, reflecting slightly improved credit performance in the latest month.
How large is Bread Financial’s credit card and other loan portfolio in May 2026?
End-of-period credit card and other loans totaled $18,363 million at May 31, 2026, with average loans of $18,169 million for the month. Average balances increased 2.6% year over year from $17,714 million, indicating modest portfolio growth over the prior-year period.
How did hurricanes Helene and Milton affect Bread Financial’s reported credit losses?
Bread Financial froze delinquency progression for one billing cycle in late 2024 for cardholders in FEMA-identified impact zones. This led to modestly lower net principal losses and net loss rates in fourth-quarter 2024, and consequently higher reported net principal losses and loss rates in second-quarter 2025.
What type of filing did Bread Financial use to release its May 2026 update?
Bread Financial used a Form 8-K with a Regulation FD disclosure to furnish its May 2026 performance update. The detailed credit metrics and explanatory footnote were provided in an accompanying press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 to the filing.

