Top Credit Card Issuers in the US
- Chase – Recognized for travel and cash-back cards like Sapphire Preferred and Freedom Unlimited®, backed by the powerful Ultimate Rewards ecosystem.
- American Express (Amex) – Offers premium travel perks and exclusive benefits through cards like Platinum and Blue Cash Preferred.
- Capital One – Provides flat-rate cash-back and travel cards (e.g. Venture, Quicksilver) plus accessible credit-builder options like the Capital One Platinum Secured.
- Discover – Known for rotating 5% cash-back categories, no annual fees, free FICO® scores, and U.S.-based service on cards like Discover it.
- Navy Federal Credit Union – Ideal for military members and families, offering lower APRs, tailored credit-building solutions, and personalized service.
Major Bank Credit Cards
Large U.S. banks including Chase, Citi, and Bank of America provide cards with generous sign-up bonuses, category-specific rewards, and 0% intro APR offers on purchases or balance transfers. These cards typically require fair to excellent credit but deliver significant value when balances are paid on time.
Milestone Mastercard
Milestone Mastercard, issued by The Bank of Missouri and serviced by Concora Credit, is built for U.S. consumers with fair to poor credit. It requires a soft-pull prequalification or even a hard pull, offers unsecured approval (no deposit required), and reports to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion monthly.
Fintech or Online‑Only Credit Card Issuers
Companies like Petal, Chime, and Upgrade use alternative underwriting—bank account and income data—to approve applicants. Their unsecured cards often carry no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, and modern app-based tools, while still reporting to all three U.S. bureaus. Rewards exist but are modest.
Secured Credit Cards for Building Credit
Cards such as Discover it® Secured, Capital One Platinum Secured, and OpenSky® Secured Visa® require a refundable deposit (commonly $200+), report to the bureaus, and frequently offer path-to-unsecured upgrades or even cash-back rewards. They generally carry no annual fees and much lower APRs than Milestone, making them more cost-efficient for building credit.
Retail Store Credit Cards
Store-branded cards like Target RedCard or Amazon Store Card offer retail-only perks but typically have high APRs, limited acceptance, and weak consumer protections. For broader financial impact, general-purpose cards tend to offer clearer, long-term benefits.
How Credit Cards Impact Your Finances and Credit Score in the US
Smart credit use in the U.S. hinges on managing your credit utilization ratio, ideally keeping it under 30% to improve your FICO score. Making on-time payments is the most important factor in building credit—while carrying balances can lead to heavy compound interest charges. Cards impact your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), which lenders evaluate for mortgages and other loans. Tools like balance transfers reduce interest but require strict payment discipline. Many cards include perks like purchase protection and rental car insurance, which are often underused. Multiple hard inquiries incurred from rapid credit applications can temporarily lower your score. Always read your cardholder agreement, avoid high-interest debt, and pay your balance in full whenever possible.
