By Issuer

The biggest card issuer in the US and home of Ultimate Rewards, the most beginner-friendly transferable currency thanks to Hyatt, United and Southwest.

Key rule: 5/24 rule: 5+ new personal cards across all banks in 24 months = automatic denial on most Chase cards

The premium-benefits powerhouse. Membership Rewards has the largest transfer partner list, and Amex Offers add real recurring value.

Key rule: Once-per-lifetime rule: one welcome bonus per card product, ever (waived offers exist)

Simple flat-rate earning, fast-growing lounge network, and miles that transfer to 15+ partners. Approval odds are famously hard to predict.

Key rule: 1 card per 6 months across personal cards

ThankYou Points are the only major bank currency with American Airlines access, and Citi's no-fee cards quietly upgrade into transferable points.

Key rule: 1 card per 8 days, max 2 per 65 days

Rebuilt its card lineup around the Autograph and Active Cash. A small but growing transfer program via Autograph Journey.

Key rule: 1 bonus per card product per 16 months

The rent-rewards program. No-fee points on rent with elite transfer partners including Hyatt and American Airlines.

Key rule: Issued via Wells Fargo (card 1.0), Cardless takes over new issuance in 2026

Beginner-friendly issuer with the famous year-one Cashback Match and no-fee products across the board.

Key rule: 1 card per year, 2 Discover cards max

Preferred Rewards turns ordinary cards extraordinary: up to 75% earn boosts for clients holding $100k+ in BofA/Merrill accounts.

Key rule: 2/3/4 rule: 2 cards per 2 months, 3 per 12, 4 per 24

Quietly strong product lineup: the best choose-your-own 5% card, a 4x no-fee dining card, and the Smartly card that pays up to 4% on everything for customers who park deposits or investments at the bank.

Key rule: Informal velocity sensitivity: roughly 1 new card every 6 months keeps approvals smooth

The US arm of the British bank is a cobrand specialist: American Airlines Aviator, JetBlue, Wyndham, Hawaiian and more. Home of the famous first-purchase-only Aviator Red bonus.

Key rule: Applies a 6/24-style screen: 6+ new cards across all banks in 24 months risks denial

The investment bank's consumer experiment, best known as the issuer behind Apple Card. The Apple partnership has been winding toward a handoff, but cards continue to be serviced normally in the meantime.

Key rule: Apple Card applications run entirely through the iPhone Wallet app

The brokerage's single card, a flat 2% Visa issued and serviced by Elan Financial Services. Rewards deposit directly into Fidelity brokerage, IRA, 529 or HSA accounts.

Key rule: Underwriting and servicing handled by Elan, not Fidelity itself

OpenSky is the credit card brand of Capital Bank, N.A., built around one product: a secured Visa that requires no credit check. Approval is based on your deposit and identity verification, not your credit history, which makes it a common first stop after bankruptcy or for applicants with no credit file at all.

Key rule: No hard pull, no credit check: approval is based on deposit and identity