Not Capital One, Not Bank Of America: JD Power Says This Credit Card Issuer Leads In Customer Satisfaction

Not all credit cards are created equal. Whether its differences in cash back rewards or avoiding store brand cards altogether, there can be a lot to learn when it comes to finding the right credit card for your needs. A good place to start can be looking at the actual credit card issuer first. It stands to reason that a credit card issuer with positive reviews is more likely to be the kind of company you'll want to have a long-term financial relationship with. Considering just how long credit card problems can stay on your credit history, it can be important to seek out a company that has high customer satisfaction. According to the JD Power 2025 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study, American Express had the highest customer satisfaction rating –- for the sixth year in a row — beating out both Bank of America and Capital One, which ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively.

With the overall card issuer average coming in at 612 in JD Power's study, American Express scored 643. Plus, among all included credit cards with an annual fee, The Platinum Card from American Express was the highest rated at 683 (meanwhile the average was 623). Another offering from American Express – the Gold Card -– came in at No. 3 in the same ranking. Continuing the trend of Amex's dominance, it also ranked No. 2 for its Airline co-branded credit card –- the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express card –- and No. 1 for its co-branded credit card without an annual fee — the Hilton Honors American Express card — giving you plenty of potential card options.

While, for many, it might seem like a turn-off to pay an annual fee for a credit card, it turns out it actually leads to higher rates of satisfaction. In JD Power's report, customers reported higher satisfaction scores with credit cards that contained an annual fee compared to those that did not. With that said, there were some caveats depending on just how much the annual fee was. For instance, if a card's annual fee exceeded $500 then customers reported lower satisfaction with the 'reasonableness' of the fee, but boasted higher satisfaction with the overall card experience than those with an annual fee under $500. In this same vein, it's worth noting that overall credit card satisfaction jumped 9 points in 2025 among cardholders considered 'financially healthy' -– indicating that those who are likely wealthier (and therefore more able to maintain financial health) may be getting more out of their credit card experience than the average consumer.

Alongside fees, the surcharges associated with using a credit card also have a significant part to play in customer satisfaction. Per JD Power's report, 65% of cardholders reported being charged higher prices because they used their credit card. While there are many legitimate reasons why businesses might charge you for using a credit card, it evidently has a negative impact on satisfaction. Cardholders who reported experiencing a surcharge had satisfaction scores that were, on average, 39 points lower. Even worse news for credit card issuers, 81% reported using a different payment method altogether to avoid the surcharge.