A non-volatile memory device that includes N planes of non-volatile memory cells (where N is an integer greater than 1). Each plane of non-volatile memory cells includes a plurality of memory cells configured in rows and columns. Each of the N planes includes gate lines that extend across the rows of the memory cells therein but do not extend to others of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells. A controller is configured to divide each of a plurality of words of data into N fractional-words, and program each of the N fractional-words of each word of data into a different one of the N planes of non-volatile memory cells. The controller uses a programming current and a program time period for the programming, and can be configured to vary the programming current by a factor and inversely vary the program time period by the factor.