List Of Credit Card Companies

The proper bank card in your pockets could make your common spending go a great distance.

Bank cards are handy monetary instruments, providing higher shopper protections than debit playing cards whereas serving to cardholders earn money again or journey rewards on purchases in addition to different invaluable advantages.

When choosing the proper card, you’ll most frequently examine these advantages. However there’s one other a part of the equation typically neglected. The financial institution that points your card and the community it’s a part of also can have a big influence in your rewards, advantages, charges and different card particulars.

Profiting from any card in your pockets requires totally understanding what it presents, together with the advantages you would possibly get with playing cards from totally different issuers or networks. Right here’s an outline of main bank card corporations within the U.S. immediately, what typical perks you may get with them and the bank cards they provide.

Bank card corporations: Issuers vs. networks

Every bank card has each a community and an issuer related to it. In some instances, the community and the cardboard issuer may be the identical. Whereas a community and an issuer carry out totally different roles relating to bank cards, each may very well be thought of bank card corporations.

Bank card networks

The bank card community is the corporate that helps course of every of your transactions. Once you make a purchase order along with your bank card, the community handles all communications between the service provider and the financial institution to facilitate the transaction.

There are 4 main bank card networks within the U.S. These embody:

• American Specific. This bank card community presents the world’s largest international cost community. American Specific additionally doubles as a card issuer.
• Uncover. The Uncover International Community operates in over 200 nations and territories with a attain of greater than 345 million cardholders. Uncover can be a bank card issuer.
• Mastercard. This card community operates in additional than 210 nations and territories worldwide, making Mastercard bank cards a few of the most generally accepted and used.
• Visa. Visa bank cards are accepted in additional than 200 nations and territories world wide, with greater than 4.4 billion Visa playing cards presently in use worldwide.

Whereas Visa and Mastercard have lengthy been probably the most broadly accepted bank card networks worldwide, American Specific and Uncover have been engaged on increasing their footprints within the U.S. and overseas.

American Specific and Uncover are additionally the one two of those networks to problem their very own playing cards, as an alternative of working with different banks to supply card merchandise. That’s why you received’t see Amex or Uncover playing cards provided by card issuers like Financial institution of America, Capital One or Chase.

Bank card issuers

The cardboard issuer, then again, is the financial institution that extends you the road of credit score. In different phrases, the cardboard issuer is the monetary establishment that may approve you (or problem a denial) while you apply for a brand new bank card.

Bank card issuers additionally handle and oversee your bank card account, they usually’re the corporate you take care of if in case you have a customer support inquiry or if in case you have bother repaying your bank card steadiness.

So, what are the primary card issuers? Ten standard monetary establishments that problem bank cards within the U.S. are as follows:

American Specific

American Specific was initially based in 1850 as a freight forwarding firm, nevertheless it has dramatically modified course since these early days. As of early 2022, Amex was the second-largest U.S. card issuer by buy quantity, in accordance with Nilson Report knowledge offered to Bankrate. The corporate’s choices embody bank cards and Pay Over Time-eligible playing cards, which work extra like conventional cost playing cards for people and companies, in addition to varied banking merchandise like their high-yield financial savings account.

American Specific is each a bank card community and a card issuer.

Fashionable American Specific bank cards embody:

Benefits of this card issuer: American Specific stands out because of the sheer variety of bank cards provided by the corporate. And whereas some Amex playing cards solely allow you to earn money again, many others earn Amex Membership Rewards factors, that are extremely versatile and invaluable. For instance, you should use Membership Rewards factors for merchandise, present playing cards, journey by the Amex journey portal or transfers to Amex airline and lodge companions.

J.D. Energy 2023 U.S. Credit score Card Satisfaction rating: #1

Financial institution of America

Financial institution of America’s roots stretch again over 240 years, though the financial institution didn’t start providing bank cards till 1958. Today, Financial institution of America presents a variety of standard private and enterprise bank cards, in addition to dwelling loans, auto loans, checking and financial savings accounts and different monetary merchandise. Financial institution of America additionally presents secured bank cards for low credit.

Fashionable Financial institution of America bank cards embody:

Benefits of this card issuer: Financial institution of America presents a variety of standard rewards playing cards for individuals with each sort of credit score profile. This vary features a few secured bank cards that we discover extremely invaluable, particularly the Financial institution of America® Limitless Money Rewards Secured bank card*.

Because of the Most well-liked Rewards program, a Financial institution of America bank card may be particularly advantageous if you have already got a relationship with the financial institution. Once you attain sure balances in qualifying accounts, you’ll be eligible for boosted bank card rewards (amongst different perks, like decrease rates of interest on loans and better rates of interest on financial savings accounts).

J.D. Energy 2023 U.S. Credit score Card Satisfaction rating: #2 (Tie)

Barclays

Barclays (previously often called “Barclaycard”) was initially based in London within the late seventeenth century, and the financial institution has grown by leaps and bounds since then. Whereas nonetheless primarily based within the U.Okay., Barclays presents a variety of banking merchandise in america, together with bank cards for customers, high-yield financial savings accounts and extra.

Fashionable bank cards from this card issuer:

Benefits of this card issuer: Barclays is understood for providing a broad vary of co-branded bank cards alongside journey manufacturers like JetBlue, Carnival Cruises, Wyndham and Frontier Airways.

J.D. Energy 2023 U.S. Credit score Card Satisfaction rating: Not eligible

Capital One

Capital One has solely been round since 1994, so this firm is likely one of the newer monetary establishments that points bank cards. Because the firm’s inception, Capital One has grown to have one of many largest bank card portfolios worldwide. In early 2024, Capital One introduced a pending acquisition of Uncover, which might make it the biggest bank card issuer within the nation. The deal faces regulatory challenges however may very well be accomplished by late 2024 or early 2025.

Fashionable Capital One bank cards embody:

Capital One additionally presents varied monetary companies and merchandise, together with checking and financial savings accounts, auto loans and enterprise loans.

Benefits of this card issuer: Capital One presents a variety of bank cards for almost any sort of shopper: bank cards for companies, money again bank cards, journey bank cards, secured bank cards for low credit and card choices for individuals with honest credit score.

J.D. Energy 2023 U.S. Credit score Card Satisfaction rating: #4

Chase

Chase traces its roots to a predecessor financial institution that opened in 1799 in New York. Chase is a power to be reckoned with within the bank card area and stands as one of many prime issuers available on the market.

Not solely does this monetary establishment boast the biggest bank card portfolio of any card issuer worldwide, nevertheless it additionally has greater than 4,700 bodily financial institution branches nationwide. Other than its standard bank card merchandise, the establishment additionally presents a variety of economic merchandise, together with dwelling loans, auto loans and checking and financial savings accounts.

Fashionable Chase bank cards embody:

Benefits of this card issuer: Chase bank cards are a few of the most coveted on the market, and it’s primarily as a consequence of their affiliation with the Chase Final Rewards program. This versatile program allows you to redeem rewards for money again, assertion credit, present playing cards or journey by the Chase portal. Premier Chase journey bank cards additionally let you switch factors to Chase airline and lodge companions like British Airways, Southwest Fast Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt. Many individuals carry a number of Chase playing cards as a result of they make for a few of the greatest bank card combos round.

J.D. Energy 2023 U.S. Credit score Card Satisfaction rating: #5

Citi

Citi was based in 1812 and presently has the third-largest bank card portfolio on the earth. Citi presents private bank cards, banking and wealth administration companies and extra. It’s identified for high-yield on-line financial savings accounts along with providing one of many extra standard money again playing cards available on the market.

Fashionable Citi bank cards embody:

Benefits of this card issuer: Citi presents one of the vital standard money again bank cards immediately, the Citi Double Money® Card. However this card issuer additionally presents playing cards that earn factors within the standard Citi ThankYou Rewards program, which you’ll redeem for money again, present playing cards, journey by the Citi portal or transfers to Citi airline and lodge companions.

J.D. Energy 2023 U.S. Credit score Card Satisfaction rating: #6

Uncover

Uncover was established as a bank card firm in 1985 and is each a card issuer and a bank card community. As we speak, Uncover presents private bank cards, enterprise bank cards, on-line banking merchandise, private loans, dwelling loans and even scholar loans. Uncover is presently pending acquisition by Capital One, a deal that may very well be accomplished by late 2024 or early 2025.

Uncover presents a number of distinctive options that assist it stand out from different issuers. For instance, you may prequalify for all Uncover card merchandise and not using a exhausting inquiry in your credit score report.

Fashionable Uncover bank cards embody:

Benefits of this card issuer: All Uncover bank cards include no annual payment and no international transaction charges, and all permit for prequalification, which is a serious plus. Uncover’s Cashback Match program additionally basically doubles the rewards you’ll earn on the finish of your first yr with the cardboard.

J.D. Energy 2023 U.S. Credit score Card Satisfaction rating: #2 (Tie)

Synchrony

Synchrony Financial institution’s historical past dates to 1932 when Common Electrical started providing credit score to households who wished to finance their new home equipment. Since these early days, Synchrony has expanded to supply quite a few co-branded bank card merchandise alongside manufacturers like Lowe’s, Ashley HomeStore, JCPenney, Sam’s Membership and extra.

Synchrony Financial institution additionally presents cash market accounts, Certificates of Deposit (CDs), financial savings accounts and different monetary merchandise.

Fashionable bank cards from this card issuer:

Benefits of this card issuer: Synchrony Financial institution presents principally co-branded retailer bank cards that allow you to finance purchases with main retailers. Their playing cards might help you repay your purchases over time whereas doubtlessly incomes rewards in your purchases.

J.D. Energy 2023 U.S. Credit score Card Satisfaction rating: Unranked

U.S. Financial institution

U.S. Financial institution’s historical past goes again to 1863 when Abraham Lincoln offered its predecessor (First Nationwide Financial institution) a license to function. As we speak, U.S. Financial institution has branches all around the nation, and the financial institution presents monetary services and products to people, companies and main firms.

Fashionable bank cards from this card issuer:

Benefits of this card issuer: U.S. Financial institution bank cards might not be as standard as choices from issuers like American Specific and Chase, nevertheless it nonetheless presents distinctive rewards and advantages.

For instance, the U.S. Financial institution Visa® Platinum Card boasts one of many longest intro APR presents available on the market immediately, and its rewards playing cards provide an amazing mixture of high-value money again and journey rewards.

J.D. Energy 2023 U.S. Credit score Card Satisfaction rating: #9

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo was based in 1852 and has grown to change into a serious issuer of mortgage loans, automotive loans, bank cards and extra. That mentioned, Wells Fargo is a relative newcomer to the bank card area, because it didn’t broaden into the bank card trade till the Nineteen Sixties.

Fashionable Wells Fargo bank cards embody:

Benefits of this card issuer: Wells Fargo has launched some distinctive card choices over the previous few years. A notable instance contains the Wells Fargo Mirror® Card, which presents a 0 p.c intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying steadiness transfers (18.24 p.c, 24.74 p.c or 29.99 p.c variable APR thereafter), with a steadiness switch payment of 5 p.c, minimal $5.

The Wells Fargo Lively Money® Card additionally created a splash within the money again card market, because it presents a flat 2 p.c money rewards on purchases with no annual payment.

J.D. Energy 2023 U.S. Credit score Card Satisfaction rating: #7

Smaller bank card issuers

Along with these main bank card corporations, loads of smaller banks and credit score unions provide bank cards available on the market immediately.

Do bank card networks provide advantages?

Whereas bank card networks are typically liable for the behind-the-scenes workings of your bank card, they’ll have an effect in your card’s perks and options. For instance, eligible playing cards could obtain further advantages by the Visa Signature, Mastercard World or World Elite standing.

Playing cards granted this standing by the community could include an assortment of helpful perks corresponding to journey protections or concierge companies. Nonetheless, the bank card issuer has the ultimate say during which of those further perks a specific card could obtain.

Ought to the bank card firm have an effect on my selection of card?

Naturally, a bank card firm’s primary affect in your card selection is card availability. Other than which playing cards you may select, the cardboard issuer would possibly issue into your remaining choice in a number of different methods:

The underside line

Your bank card choices are plentiful, whether or not you desire a card from a serious card issuer otherwise you want banking with a smaller financial institution or credit score union. In the end, one of the best banks for bank cards are those that give you one of the best mixture of customer support, flexibility and card selection.

Whereas the knowledge above might help you slender down card issuers to concentrate on, be sure that to match one of the best bank card presents available on the market immediately earlier than you resolve.

*Data for these playing cards has been collected independently by Bankrate and particulars haven’t been reviewed or permitted by the issuer.

For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, a few of the above advantages are offered by Visa® or Mastercard® and should fluctuate by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.

The Financial institution of America content material on this publish was final up to date on 08/8/2024.