<?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>0001869941</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Beberman Perry S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5 HILLMAN DRIVE, SUITE 103</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHADDS FORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19317</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Chief Financial Officer</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>8826</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23834</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>13239</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37073</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The new grant is for 8,826 shares of common stock represented by time-based restricted stock units. The restrictions will lapse on 2,912 units on 2/15/23, on 2,913 units on 2/15/24 and on 3,001 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 13,239 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">The total number of securities beneficially owned includes:  (a) 11,385 unvested time-based restricted stock units granted 7/15/21; (b) 3,623 unvested performance-based restricted stock units granted 7/15/21; (c) the new grant for 8,826 time-based restricted stock units; and (d) the new grant for 13,239 performance-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

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