Choosing the right credit card company can significantly impact your financial health and lifestyle. With so many options available, it's essential to understand what each company offers in terms of rewards, interest rates, and customer service.
We've provided a comprehensive list of the top credit card companies to help you find the best fit for your needs.
Comparing credit card offers
With literally hundreds of options, comparing credit cards requires a bit of patience. There are a lot of ways to choose a new credit card. The best credit cards for you will suit both your needs and your spending style. Here are a few ways to narrow down your choices.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | $200 cash rewardsEarn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewardsEarn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. | Intro:0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular:20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR | |
Discover it® Cash Back | Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.N/A | 1% - 5% CashbackEarn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. | Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular:18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR | |
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card OnBank of America'sSecure Website. | Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | 25,000 points25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5 points per dollarEarn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. | Intro:0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Regular:19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) | Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card OnBank of America'sSecure Website. |
By credit score
Whether you're approved for a new credit card will depend mostly on your credit score and history. So, a good place to start when you're choosing a card may be by looking at those that match your credit type to up your chance of getting approved:
- No (or limited) credit history: Best starter credit cards
- For building credit: Best secured credit cards
- Credit score below 579: Best cards for poor credit
- Credit score of 580-669: Best cards for fair credit
- Credit score of 670-739: Best cards for good credit
- Credit score of 740 or higher: Best cards for excellent credit
By purchase rewards
If getting approved isn't a problem, you can focus on the features of your new card. One of the most popular features of modern credit cards is purchase rewards. These cards give you rewards, like cash back or points, every time you use them to make a purchase:
- Best overall rewards cards
- Best cash back credit cards
- Best credit card sign-up bonuses
- Best credit cards for gas
- Best credit cards for groceries
- Best cards for dining and restaurants
- Best cards for streaming services
By travel perks
You can also get cards with benefits that complement your lifestyle. For instance, cardholders who like to travel can find a credit card that earns miles or provides awesome travel perks:
- Best travel credit cards
- Best hotel credit cards
- Best airline credit cards
- Best cards for international travel
- Cards with no foreign transaction fees
By other specific needs
In some cases, you need a very particular type of credit card. There are a variety of niche credit cards designed specifically to address the needs of specific cardholders:
- Best business credit cards
- Best student credit cards
- Credit cards with intro 0% APR
- Credit cards with low interest rates
- Credit cards for balance transfers
- Best cards with no annual fee
- Credit cards for medical expenses
- Best contactless credit cards
Top credit card issuers vs. networks
No matter what type of credit card you're after, be aware of the credit card companies involved. As a cardholder, you want to know both the credit card network and the credit card issuer associated with your card.
The credit card network helps process your credit card transactions. When you swipe your card, it's the network that transmits the transaction information from the merchant to your bank (and back). There are four major networks in the U.S.:
- American Express
- Discover
- Mastercard
- Visa
The places you can use your credit card will depend on the card's network. For example, if you have a Visa card, you can only use it with merchants that accept Visa. Every credit card operates on just one network.
The credit card issuer is the bank that financially backs your credit card's credit line. When you make a purchase, the money comes from the issuing bank. You'll be billed by and make your payments to the issuer.
Many of the best credit card companies will have different issuers and networks. Hundreds of banks partner with Visa or Mastercard. However, Discover and American Express act as both issuer and network. Here are some examples from major credit card companies:
| Credit Card | Issuer | Network |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Chase | Visa |
| Citi Strata Premier℠ Card | Citi | Mastercard |
| Discover it® Cash Back | Discover | Discover |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | American Express | American Express |
The majority of credit cards in the U.S. are issued by one of 10 major credit card issuers. But there are also some lesser-known or regional banks that offer quality credit cards.
Major credit card companies in the U.S.
Technically, any bank or credit union can -- and likely does -- issue credit cards. But your average U.S. credit card user is more likely to have a card from a multinational bank than from the regional bank down the street.
In fact, the top credit card issuers in the U.S. hold more than 80% of the market share, according to the Nilson Report. In other words, roughly 8 out of 10 credit cards in the U.S. are from one of these issuers:
- American Express
- Bank of America
- Barclays
- Capital One
- Chase
- Citi
- Discover
- Synchrony Bank
- U.S. Bank
- Wells Fargo
If you've ever wondered why every "Best Of" list seems to repeat the same banks with credit cards, this is why. They really do make up the vast majority of credit card options -- especially the fancy rewards cards that are so popular.
Given the massive impact these banks have on the credit card market, it's a good idea to get to know them a bit. Let's take a closer look at these credit card brands.
American Express (American Express Co.)
American Express, nicknamed Amex, has been in business since 1850. It didn't enter the payment card world until the 1950s when it issued its first card. The first Amex card came roughly 30 years later. Amex is both issuer and network for its cards.
These days, Amex is the second-largest card issuer in the U.S. by purchase volume, according to 2023 Nilson Report data. It's also in the top six card issuers based on the number of cards in circulation.
See our list of Best American Express credit cards.
Popular American Express cards we've reviewed:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express Review
- American Express® Gold Card Review
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Review
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Review
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card Review
Why we like them: American Express has one of the best rewards programs around. Amex Membership Rewards points have a lot of uses, including transferring to more than 20 hotel and airline partners.
Bank of America (Bank of America Corp.)
Bank of America, abbreviated BoA, was actually founded in San Francisco in the 1900s as the Bank of Italy. It wasn't until 1930 that it became the Bank of America. The first BoA credit card, called the BankAmericard, was launched in 1958 as one of the first consumer credit cards.
BoA is fifth on the list of top credit issuers based on the number of cards. It's also the fifth-largest issuer by percentage of purchase volume.
See our list of Best Bank of America credit cards.
Popular Bank of America cards we've reviewed:
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Review
- Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card Review
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Review
Why we like them: BoA offers easy-to-use rewards cards, many of which have no annual fee. Cardholders who also bank with BoA can earn extra rewards depending on how much money they have in their bank and investment accounts.
Barclays (Barclays Bank Delaware)
Barclays is best known as a British bank, but it has a U.S. presence as Barclays Bank of Delaware. Barclays was responsible for launching the first consumer credit card in the U.K. in the 1960s. But it didn't begin issuing cards in the U.S. until nearly 50 years later.
Barclays comes in at No. 9 on the list of credit companies when ranked by total cards in circulation (in the U.S.). It's also low on the list for purchase volume. The bank used to issue a few cards under the name Barclaycard, but now it primarily focuses on cobranded travel and retail cards.
Choosing a credit card
Don't you wish you could take a peek inside a credit card expert's wallet sometimes? Just to see the cards they carry? Well, you can't look in anybody's wallet, but you can check out our experts' favorite credit cards. Get started here:
Best credit cards
Capital One (Capital One Financial Corp.)
Capital One is a relatively young bank, having been founded just a few decades ago in 1994. It started issuing credit cards almost immediately, and has grown steadily since then.
Nowadays, Capital One is ranked as the fourth-largest credit card issuer by purchase volume. But it comes in second on credit card lists when it comes to the number of cards in circulation.
See our list of Best Capital One credit cards.
Popular Capital One cards we've reviewed:
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Review
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Review
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Review
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Review
- Capital One Platinum Credit Card Review
Why we like them: There's a reason so many people have Capital One cards, and it's not only because they're easier to get (though Capital One does offer many cards for people who need to build credit). They also have a variety of quality rewards cards, including competitive options for travel rewards and cards for everyday rewards.
Chase (JPMorgan Chase & Co.)
Chase has been around in one way or another since 1799 when it was founded as the Bank of The Manhattan Company. Through many mergers, it eventually became JPMorgan Chase, called Chase for short.
Chase is arguably the top credit card issuer in the U.S., both in terms of purchase volume and card volume. Chase holds the largest share of the market in purchases, and comes in first for the number of cards.
See our list of Best Chase credit cards.
Popular Chase cards we've reviewed:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Review
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review
- United Quest℠ Card Review
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card Review
Why we like them: Chase really excels when it comes to rewards. Its Ultimate Rewards points program is one of the best around. You can also get great benefits with nearly every Chase card, including top-tier travel insurance.
Citi (Citigroup Inc.)
Citi can trace its roots back to the early 1800s and the City Bank of New York. It became Citigroup, called Citi by most, in 1998. The company entered the credit card market in the 1960s, with a card known colloquially as the "Everything Card."
The modern Citi reigns as No. 3 of the top credit card issuers in the U.S., ranked third in both purchase volume and by the number of cards in circulation.
See our list of Best Citi credit cards.
Popular Citi cards we've reviewed:
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Review
- Citi Double Cash® Card Review
- Citi Simplicity® Card Review
- Citi Custom Cash® Card Review
- Citi Rewards+® Card Review
Why we like them: Citi has a wide variety of cards, making it easy to find one to suit your needs. It has one of the top rewards programs with their transferable ThankYou Points. You can also find unique cash back cards with long intro 0% APR deals.
Discover (Discover Financial Services)
Discover was born as a branch of Sears -- yes, the department store -- during an attempt to enter the financial industry. It was spun off, sold, and eventually became Discover Financial Services. Many credit Discover as the inventor of the rewards credit card. Discover is both an issuer and its own credit card network.
Discover comes in fourth overall of top credit card companies when it comes to the number of cards in circulation. But it only ranks sixth for market share by purchase volume.
See our list of Best Discover credit cards.
Popular Discover cards we've reviewed:
- Discover it® Cash Back Review
- Discover it® Student Cash Back Review
- Discover it® Secured Credit Card Review
Why we like them: Discover's stable of cards have a lot of great features. For one, all of them have rewards -- even its secured card. Discover cards are also light on fees, with no annual fees or foreign transaction fees on any of its cards.
Synchrony (Synchrony Financial)
Synchrony originated as the GE Capital Retail Bank roughly 90 years ago, becoming Synchrony Financial in 2014. Most people who hold a card issued by Synchrony may not even realize it, as the company deals almost exclusively in cobranded retail credit cards. Dozens of popular retail brands have store credit cards issued by Synchrony. But the bank keeps its own branding minimal.
Synchrony holds the smallest portion of the market of the issuers on this list, coming in 10th in purchase volume. This makes sense with so much of its portfolio consisting of typically low-limit store cards.
Popular Synchrony cards we've reviewed:
- PayPal Cashback Mastercard® Review
- Sam's Club Credit Card Review
Why we like them: If you have a store card, there's a good chance it was issued by Synchrony. And as much as we may caution against store cards, they definitely have their place.
U.S. Bank (U.S. Bancorp)
U.S. Bank started out on the West Coast as the United States National Bank of Portland in 1891. Several mergers later, it became U.S. Bancorp, also called U.S. Bank. The bank hasn't been issuing credit cards for long, though it now has both bank-branded and cobranded options.
All in all, U.S. Bank has a relatively small portion of the market share. It comes in seventh for card volume, and it's only ranked seventh for percentage of purchase volume.
See our list of Best U.S. Bank credit cards.
Popular U.S. Bank cards we've reviewed:
- U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card Review
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card Review
- U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card Review
Why we like them: U.S. Bank has several interesting cards that stand out from the typical offerings. It has one of the few choose-your-own rewards cards on the market, and even includes unusual bonus categories like home utilities and fitness centers.
Wells Fargo (Wells Fargo & Co.)
Wells Fargo is a child of the California Gold Rush and once served as the western arm of the Pony Express. It got into more traditional banking in the 1920s, and credit cards toward the end of the century.
Wells Fargo currently holds a modest portion of the market share, ranked seventh overall for card volume and eighth for purchase volume.
See our list of Best Wells Fargo credit cards.
Popular Wells Fargo cards we've reviewed:
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Review
- Wells Fargo Reflect® Card Review
- Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card Review
Why we like them: Wells Fargo underwent a major overhaul of its credit cards -- and we're fans. Its current offerings include a strong cash back card and an intro APR card with a very generous 0% intro APR term.
Lesser-known or regional credit card issuers
The bulk of the credit cards in the U.S. may be from just 10 issuers. But the rest are issued by lesser-known companies, including regional banks and credit unions. This is definitely not a complete list, but here are some smaller issuers you may encounter:
- Fifth Third Bank
- Goldman Sachs
- HSBC
- Huntington Bank
- Navy Federal Credit Union
- Pentagon Federal Credit Union
- PNC Bank
- Truist (a merger of BB&T and SunTrust)
- USAA
- World Financial Network National Bank (aka Comenity)
If you're not sure which company issues your credit card, you can check your cardholder agreement. You can also look up the card's website and check the fine print at the bottom of the page or in the terms and conditions.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | $200 cash rewardsEarn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewardsEarn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. | Intro:0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular:20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR | |
Discover it® Cash Back | Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars. 5.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.N/A | 1% - 5% CashbackEarn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. | Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular:18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR | |
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card OnBank of America'sSecure Website. | Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars. 4.00/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | 25,000 points25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5 points per dollarEarn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. | Intro:0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Regular:19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) | Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card OnBank of America'sSecure Website. |
FAQs
More than 80% of credit card companies in the U.S. are issued by just 10 banks. The top 10 credit card issuers in the U.S. are:
- American Express
- Bank of America
- Barclays
- Capital One
- Chase
- Citi
- Discover
- Synchrony Bank
- U.S. Bank
- Wells Fargo
Every credit card represents a line of credit from a bank. That bank is the credit card issuer. If you use your credit card to make a purchase, that purchase is paid for by the issuer. Then, you pay off your balance with the issuer.
Credit card networks are companies that handle credit card transactions. When you use your card, the information about the purchase is sent to the issuer via the network. Except for store cards, all credit cards operate on a credit card network. You can only use your card with merchants that accept cards from that network.
All credit cards are issued by a bank. In some cases, banks also offer credit cards that are cobranded, meaning it is associated with a brand or company in addition to the bank. For example, the Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs bank, but also cobranded with Apple.
Cobranded credit cards work the same way as cards that are only from a bank. They both have a credit line and can be used to make purchases. However, many cobranded cards also offer branded perks or rewards. Cobranded airline credit cards, for instance, earn frequent flyer miles that automatically deposit into your airline account.
