Top Credit Card Issuers and Their Customer Satisfaction
J.D. Power’s latest report on credit card satisfaction highlights the preferences of cardholders, ranging from no-fee favorites to premium cards with annual fees. The study shows that rewards programs play a significant role in shaping customer satisfaction, especially for those who use cards with points or miles rewards.
American Express emerged as the top credit card issuer in overall customer satisfaction according to the 2025 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study. This was followed by Bank of America and Capital One. Chase Bank, known for its popular Chase Sapphire Reserve card, along with Discover and Wells Fargo, ranked among the next three. Each of these top six issuers scored above the industry average, indicating strong performance across different segments.
John Cabell, managing director of payments intelligence at J.D. Power, noted that increases in customer satisfaction are largely driven by cardholders with higher financial health scores and no revolving debt. These individuals tend to prefer cards with points/miles rewards programs and annual fee cards, which offer additional value.
On the other end of the spectrum, Credit One Bank, Premier Bankcard, and FNBO ranked as the lowest in overall customer satisfaction. This suggests that these issuers may not be meeting the expectations of their customers as effectively as others.
The rankings were determined by surveying over 37,000 credit card customers between June 2024 and June 2025. This extensive data collection helps ensure the results are representative of the broader credit card market.
Best Rewards Credit Cards Without Annual Fees
For those seeking rewards without the burden of an annual fee, the Capital One Savor Rewards Card, the Citi Double Cash card, and the Discover It Student Cash Credit Card were ranked as the highest. These cards provide valuable benefits without the added cost of an annual fee.
Among co-branded cards without an annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express card, the Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi card, and the Apple Card took the top three spots in overall customer satisfaction. These cards offer unique perks that appeal to specific consumer groups, such as frequent hotel guests or shoppers.
Premium Cards With Annual Fees
Many travel and rewards credit cards come with annual fees to offset the numerous perks they provide. In this category, The Platinum Card from American Express took the top spot, followed by the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite card, the American Express Gold Card, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
While these cards can be costly—Chase recently raised the annual fee on the Reserve card to $795—the perks they offer can be highly beneficial for travelers and shoppers. For example, American Express Platinum cardholders receive access to more than 1,400 airport lounges, $200 in annual Uber credits, and a $300 credit to Equinox gyms, among other benefits.
Top Airline Co-Branded Cards
For frequent flyers, the American Airlines’ Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard was the top-ranked airline co-branded card. This card offers exclusive benefits tailored to frequent travelers, including priority boarding and lounge access.
However, it’s important to note that these rewards often come at a cost. More than half of the survey respondents were described as “financially unhealthy” and carried credit card balances. John Cabell pointed out that there was a significant increase in the number of financially unhealthy cardholders and those carrying revolving debt during the early stages of the study.
Broader Travel Industry Insights
Beyond credit cards, J.D. Power also evaluates other aspects of the travel industry, including the best travel apps and websites. In a 2023 ranking, the company found that Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue had the highest customer satisfaction for airlines. For hotels, World of Hyatt, Choice Hotels, and Hilton Honors topped the list.
These insights highlight the evolving landscape of customer satisfaction in the travel and financial sectors, emphasizing the importance of both value and service in maintaining loyal customers.
