List of credit card companies
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 11:03 a.m. UTC Nov. 14, 2023
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Most people have an idea what a credit card is — a small rectangle of plastic or metal you can use as a method of payment in person or online. And when referring to your credit card company, you might mean your issuer or your network. Your issuer is the bank or credit union that lends you money every time you use your card. Examples of credit card issuers include Chase and Wells Fargo. Your network is the payment network that processes your transactions, with examples including Visa and Mastercard. Some companies, like American Express and Discover® Bank function as both issuers and payment networks.
We’ll break down how the process works behind the scenes when you swipe, tap or dip your card and tell you about some of the major credit card companies with products on the market today.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
List of credit card companies
The term “credit card company” might refer to one of two things. It could mean the credit card network — these are the companies that process transactions. You’ve probably seen businesses advertising that they accept Visa or American Express, for example.
The four major credit card networks in the United States are Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. All four are widely accepted within the U.S. Abroad, your best bet may be Visa or Mastercard, because Amex and Discover acceptance lags in some countries.
The issuer is the financial institution that actually extends credit to you. Note that Amex and Discover act as both payment networks and card issuers, extending credit directly to consumers. With Visa and Mastercard, you won’t apply for a card directly with the payment network, but rather with a bank or credit union.
Common credit card companies
Many of the big names on our list of credit card companies will likely be familiar to you:
- American Express: American Express is unique in that it is both a credit card network and credit card issuer. It offers a wide range of credit card products for both consumers and small business owners, including cards that earn points in their Membership Rewards® program.
- Discover: Similar to American Express, Discover is a credit card network as well as an issuer. It offers products for many different kinds of cardholders, whether you are looking to build credit or earn cash back. Their cards are known for their lack of annual fees.
- Capital One: The company issues both Visa and Mastercard credit cards and offers products ranging from secured cards for those working to rebuild their credit all the way up to premium travel cards aimed at those with excellent credit.
- Chase: As one of the largest credit card issuers in the country by purchase volume, its suite of Ultimate Rewards®-earning credit cards appeals to both business and consumer cardholders alike.
- Bank of America: Though it doesn’t offer quite as many cards as an issuer like Chase or Capital One, Bank of America is also a popular credit card issuer, especially among those who also bank with the company. The Preferred Rewards loyalty program offers elevated credit card rewards based on meeting certain thresholds for deposits with Bank of America and investments with Merrill.
- Citi: Citi offers several different credit card products, including cards under its own name and co-branded credit cards with companies including American Airlines and Costco. Cards from the company have a range of annual fees and benefit options, ensuring there are options for many kinds of cardholders.
- Barclays: Barclays as a banking institution has its foundations in the U.K., but it also offers credit cards in the U.S. All of the issuer’s current offerings at the time of writing are co-branded with merchants including Old Navy, JetBlue, Wyndham, and American Airlines.
- Wells Fargo: Wells Fargo offers a smaller menu of credit cards than some other major banking institutions on this list, but that doesn’t mean they are any less competitive. Whether you are searching for a balance transfer offer or rewards card, Wells Fargo offers a few great products for a variety of needs.
- Synchrony Bank: Synchrony is known primarily as an issuer of store credit cards. It is a giant in this space, with hundreds of partners and more than 120 million open accounts at the time of writing.
- U.S. Bank: U.S. Bank has a selection of credit card offerings that compete with some of the best on the market in a variety of niches, including cards for rewards, balance transfers, and credit building. All but one of U.S. Bank’s current lineup of consumer cards are on the Visa network, with one card on the American Express network.
- Credit One Bank: Credit One Bank is best known for its credit card offerings tailored to those on the lower end of the credit score spectrum. This issuer’s cards are typically easier to qualify for, but beware, they may also come with high-interest rates and potentially expensive annual fees.
Additional credit card issuers
The major credit card companies listed above offer the majority of the most popular cards on the market, but there are other institutions with cards you’re likely to come across from time to time as well:
- Goldman Sachs.
- Truist.
- Huntington Bank.
- PNC.
- Regions Bank.
- Fifth Third Bank.
- BMO Harris.
- TD Bank.
- First National Bank of Omaha.
- Citizens Bank.
- Merrick Bank.
- BBVA.
- KeyBank.
- HSBC.
- Premier Bankcard.
- Navy Federal Credit Union.
Many companies on this list offer just a handful of credit card products, but for cardholders with specific needs, they might still be a good option. For example, if you already bank with one of these institutions and want the simplicity of having your credit card on the same online banking login as your bank account, opening a card with one of these issuers keeps things streamlined.
One notable issuer here is Goldman Sachs, which made an attention-grabbing entrance into the credit card scene in 2019 with the launch of the iPhone-integrated Apple Card * The information for the Apple Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .
How credit card companies make money
Credit card companies make money in a few ways. First, merchants pay credit card networks a small fee, typically 1% to 3% of each transaction, for processing customer payments.
Issuers can profit off consumers by charging various fees, including annual fees, late payment fees, foreign transaction fees and more. They also make money on interest charges when cardholders carry a balance from month to month.
Credit card APRs are often very high — with the average rate above 19% in November 2022, according to the Federal Reserve — so interest can add up to quite a bit on large balances. Luckily, almost all credit cards offer a grace period to pay your balance in full before interest charges begin accruing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Both Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, with both estimated to be accepted at more than 100 million online and in-store merchants worldwide, according to the Nilson Report.
While American Express and Discover have broad acceptance in the U.S., cards on these networks are less widely accepted in some international locations than cards on Visa or Mastercard networks.
Five of the most popular credit cards on the market are the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, and the Discover it® Cash Back. These products offer benefits that may include high rewards rates on everyday purchases, generous welcome bonuses and in some cases, valuable perks and benefits.
This depends on whether you’re categorizing credit cards based on payment network, issuer, or the features a card may offer — like cash back, travel rewards, or 0% introductory APR periods.
When it comes to credit card networks, there are four major networks in the U.S. These are Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Thus, there are four types of credit cards you’re likely to encounter based on what network processes transactions made on the card.
Regarding credit card issuers, there are a significantly larger number. You’ll find the major issuers in our list above. And when it comes to the type of card based on features, some of the cards on the market include cash-back cards, travel cards, and credit-building cards.
Co-branded credit cards are offered by a store but issued by a major credit card company. For instance, Barclays issues the Barnes & Noble Mastercard and the JetBlue Plus Card * The information for the JetBlue Plus Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , while Chase issues the Prime Visa * The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . Such brands partner with credit card issuers to offer rewards and payment options, but the financial institution manages your account.
*The information for the Apple Card, Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, JetBlue Plus Card and Prime Visa has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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