A method of operating a memory system includes a first programming loop, which includes applying a first programming voltage to a control gate of a selected word line and applying a first bitline voltage to a bitline coupled to a first memory cell that is being programmed to a first data state and to a different bitline coupled to a second memory cell that is being programmed to a second data state. In a second programming loop, a second bitline voltage is applied to the bitline coupled to the first memory cell, and a third bitline voltage is applied to the bitline coupled to the second memory cell. The second bitline voltage is greater than the first bitline voltage to reduce a programming speed of the first bitline voltage to increase a programming speed of the second memory cell.