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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

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
BLUEPRINT RATING
Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circumstances.
Apply Now
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s secure website

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

60,000 bonus points

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(700 – 749) Good, Excellent
Earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x points on dining and 2x points on all other travel purchases, plus more.

Editor’s take

Pros
  • Flexible points that can be transferred to 14 travel partners or redeemed through Chase Travel℠ at 1.25 cents each.
  • $50 annual statement credit toward Chase Travel hotel bookings.
  • Valuable travel protections.
Cons
  • $95 annual fee.
  • Category bonuses are limited and not competitive against other travel cards.
  • Transfer partner list is limited compared to programs like Amex Membership® Rewards and Citi ThankYou®.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred may not have a premium fee but it comes packed with enough benefits to stand tall in a crowded field of travel cards. It earns rewards at generous rates on travel purchased through Chase and on dining, and offers the same lineup of transfer partners as the more expensive Chase Sapphire Reserve®, plus a robust selection of travel protections.

Card details

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
  • Member FDIC

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.

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.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Emily Sherman

BLUEPRINT

Emily Sherman is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance, especially credit cards and maximizing rewards. She has written for publications including Bankrate, U.S. News & World Report and Stacker. Emily spends her free time planning her next vacation using points and miles.

Glen Luke Flanagan is a deputy editor on the USA TODAY Blueprint credit cards team. Prior to joining Blueprint, he served as a deputy editor on the credit cards team at Forbes Advisor, and covered credit cards, credit scoring and related topics as a senior writer at LendingTree. He’s passionate about helping people understand personal finance so they can make the best decisions possible for their wallet. Glen holds a master's degree in technical and professional communication from East Carolina University and a bachelor's degree in journalism from Radford University.