Top Credit Card Issuers in the US
- Chase – Ultimate Rewards leader with travel and everyday rewards cards like Sapphire Preferred and Freedom Unlimited.
- American Express (Amex) – Premium travel and cash back options, renowned for perks and service.
- Capital One – Flat-rate travel and cash-back offerings like Venture and Quicksilver.
- Discover – Beginner-friendly with rotating categories, no fee cards, and strong U.S. support.
- Navy Federal Credit Union – Ideal for military families, with low APRs and credit-building tools.
Major Bank Credit Cards
Cards from banks like Chase, Citi, and Bank of America deliver sign-up bonuses, travel perks, rotating or flat rewards, and 0% intro APR offers—ideal for good-to-excellent credit users who pay balances monthly.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card
The Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card offers strong travel rewards with 3 miles per dollar on Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar on gas, EV charging, transit, cable, and streaming, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. New cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus miles plus a $0 Companion Fare (just pay taxes and fees) after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days. Ongoing cardholders can access the annual Companion Fare by spending $6,000 per year. Travel perks include a free first checked bag for you and up to six companions, priority boarding, 20% back on in-flight purchases, a $100 Alaska Lounge+ membership discount, and no foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent card for frequent flyers.
Fintech or Online‑Only Credit Card Issuers
Fintechs like Petal, Chime, and Grow Credit use alternative underwriting and offer unsecured, no-fee credit tools with bureau reporting—ideal for building credit without traditional credit checks, though rewards tend to be modest.
Secured Credit Cards for Building Credit
Secured cards such as Discover it® Secured, Capital One Platinum Secured, and OpenSky Secured Visa require an upfront deposit, report to credit bureaus, and often include rewards or upgrade paths—providing stable credit-building options.
Retail Store Credit Cards
Store-specific cards (Amazon Store Card, Target RedCard) offer retailer perks but have limited acceptance, high APRs, and few travel benefits. General-purpose travel cards like Alaska Visa offer broader flexibility and value.
How Credit Cards Impact Your Finances and Credit Score in the US
Using credit responsibly shapes your U.S. financial profile:
- Credit utilization: Keep under ~30% to boost your FICO® score.
- Payment history: Timely payments are the top factor.
- Interest & DTI: Carry balances, and compound interest increases debt and Debt-to-Income ratio, affecting future loans.
- Rewards vs. cost: The Alaska Visa’s travel perks and Companion Fare can exceed the $95 fee if used—but avoid paying interest, as there’s no intro APR.
- Inquiries: Limit applications to avoid hard inquiry impact.
- Perk utilization: Benefits like checked bags and lounge discounts add real, recurring value.
Always read your cardholder agreement, avoid high-interest debt, and aim to pay in full monthly.
