<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2022-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001101215</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001801850</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Andretta Ralph J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3095 LOYALTY CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLUMBUS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43219</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>26737</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>193284</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40105</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>233389</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9847</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>72.48</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>223542</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The new grant is for 26,737 shares of common stock represented by time-based restricted stock units. The restrictions will lapse on 8,823 units on each of 2/15/23 and 2/15/24 and on 9,091 units on 2/18/25, subject to continued employment by the Reporting Person on the vesting dates.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The new grant is for 40,105 shares of common stock represented by performance-based restricted stock units, which may be adjusted up or down at the time the performance restriction lapses. The restriction may lapse with respect to 100% of such shares on 2/18/25 contingent on meeting predetermined performance measures and subject to continued employment by the Reporting Person on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares withheld by the Company to satisfy the Reporting Person's tax withholding obligation upon the vesting of restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The total number of securities beneficially owned includes:  (a) 22,423 unrestricted shares; (b) 5,311 unvested units from an award of 7,563 time-based restricted stock units granted 2/18/20; (c) 4,795 unvested units from an award of 6,829 time-based restricted stock units granted 2/18/20; (d) 8,827 unvested units from an award of 16,430 time-based restricted stock units granted 2/18/20; (e) 14,263 unvested performance-based restricted stock units granted 2/18/20; (f) 3,186 unvested units from an award of 4,538 performance-based restricted stock units granted 2/18/20; (g) 14,336 unvested units from an award of 20,419 performance-based restricted stock units granted 2/18/20; (h) 44,083 unvested units from an award of 65,795 time-based restricted stock units granted 2/16/21; (i) 39,476 unvested performance-based restricted stock units granted 2/16/21; (j) the new grant for 26,737 time-based restricted stock units; and (k) the new grant for 40,105 performance-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Benjamin L. Morgan, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
