Signing up for a credit card involves several considerations. You may want a card with a low interest rate, an attractive balance transfer offer, or possibly one with strong rewards. But another important consideration is how the credit card company treats its customers. What is their level of customer service?
Each year, J.D. Power asks consumers to rank their experiences with credit card companies. Those rankings are compiled and presented in the annual Credit Card Satisfaction Study. The criteria behind these ratings are:
- Interactions with customer support (Satisfaction reaching customer support on the phone, online, and mobile apps)
- Card terms (Interest rates, fees, the fairness of credit line, etc.)
- Communication (Ease of understanding the information provided, how often is new information shared)
- Benefits and services offered (Level of information available on benefits and services, the attractiveness of those benefits and services, ease of using the benefits)
- Available credit card rewards (Points per dollar spent, quality of information, ease of using rewards)
- Key moments with the company (Enrollment, replacing the card, problem resolution, etc.)
According to the 2019 J.D. Power Credit Card Satisfaction Study, these are the top eight credit card companies. Discover is the highest-ranking company with five-star ratings with American Express very close behind. Let’s take a look at how each of these credit card issuers ranked in the study.
1. Discover
Discover boasts that everything the company does is done with the customer in mind. Customer service representatives are all in the U.S., which could be the reason why consumers offer high praise. Call at any time of the day or night, and you will be talking to an account manager within the country. The company also has a quick guide to the five questions you should ask for the best customer service experience. These five questions are:
1. Do I qualify for a lower interest rate?
2. Will you waive my late fee?
3. Am I getting all of the cardholder rewards or benefits I qualify to receive?
4. Can I have a minimum payment waived due to an emergency?
5. Do I qualify for a higher credit limit?
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Discover offers a credit card for just about every category. Depending on your situation different cards will be more beneficial than others, everything from Cash Back, Business, Travel, Student and Secured cards. People who are working to build or rebuild their credit could do well with their Secured card. It’s a real credit card, not a prepaid one, that could help consumers build a positive credit rating, with responsible use, and it reports to all three major credit bureaus. Cardholders also receive perks like free FICO scores on monthly statements and alerts if your Social Security Number is found in the Dark Web. Whichever card you have or are looking to get they all come with the same customer service, so you know you’ll have top of the line help should you need it.
2. American Express
American Express has a long history in banking. Starting in 1850, American Express was a freight company that transported people’s prized possessions. One hundred years later, they expanded and introduced a charge card for customers who desired more convenient ways to make payments. Today, American Express is one of the best-known credit card companies in the world. They offer an array of customer service videos that help customers take full advantage of their account.
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One area where American Express excels is business credit cards. The Blue Business CashTM Card from American Express is one of the best you’ll find. With the Blue Business CashTM Card, business owners receive 2% cash back (on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases) per year and 1% after that. This American Express business card does not charge an annual fee. A 0% interest rate on Purchases and Balance Transfers is extended for the first year.
3. Capital One
Capital One and Chase tied for third place. You probably know Capital One thanks to the company’s catchphrase “What’s in your wallet?” The credit card company is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S. It went public in 1994, so it’s one of the nation’s newer major banks. Eno, Capital One’s virtual assistant, helps the customer support options stand out. Eno asks consumers if they made a purchase or if they’re aware monthly bills are higher than usual. It’s a convenient service that can help prevent credit card fraud.
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The Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase. Points never expire and can be set up to redeem automatically each year or when you’ve accumulated a specific dollar amount. There is a $39 annual fee with this card.
4. Chase
Reach Chase online, by phone, or through the app. The company also offers instructional and informational videos that help cardholders get answers or learn more about credit card and banking options like QuickPay with Zelle, an easy way to send and receive money from friends and family members.
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Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card is a credit card that allows you to earn unlimited 1.5% rewards on all purchases. It has no annual fee and allows you to refer friends and get cash for doing so.
5. Barclays US
With self-service customer support and live support through fax, email, and toll-free phone, reaching Barclays US is convenient at any hour. Self-service support is best for checking transactions, transferring money, paying bills, checking your balance, or changing your PIN. There is also a free mobile app that assists you with online banking and reaching customer service.
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Barclays US has a Upromise® Mastercard® that’s popular with parents of young children. You get 1.25% cash back on every purchase you make. Plus, it rounds up your purchases so that you get extra cash back on purchases. The cash back rewards go into your Upromise Program Account. Link your Upromise account to an eligible 529 College Savings Plan and Barclays US offers a 15% bonus on your rewards, which helps grow college savings. There’s no annual fee with this card.
6. Citi
To make it easy to get help when you need it, Citi sets up several numbers for its cardholders. There are dedicated numbers for consumers and businesses and different numbers for people with lost or stolen cards. Online and mobile banking options also make it easy to reach customer support.
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The Citi Simplicity® Card – No Late Fees Ever is ideal for new cardholders. Citi never charges late fees, penalty rates, or annual fees for Simplicity cardholders. Balance transfers have a 0% APR for 21 months as well as 12 months on purchases. APRs vary after that and depend on your credit score.
7. Bank of America
You have to go back to the Industrial Revolution to get an idea of how long the Bank of America has been around. For decades, Bank of America has helped businesses and consumers make savvy financial decisions. With customer support available through social media, toll-free numbers, secure email, and the mobile app, it’s easy to reach out for help.
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Customize your experience with the Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card. You choose the category where you know you’ll make the bulk of your purchases and get 3% cash back rewards on those purchases, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1% back on all other purchases. If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you’ll get an additional rewards bonus of 25-75% on every purchase. APRs are based on your credit score. There is no annual fee.
8. U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank has been around since 1863 and is the fifth-largest bank in the country. U.S. Bank works hard to provide consumers with a credit card that best matches their needs and makes sure that if you have a question they are there to answer it. They offer a great FAQ section on their site for every aspect of banking from checking, credit cards, mortgage, and more. If you can’t find the answer to your question they have customer service numbers you can call.
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For consumers who are looking to build or re-establish their credit, the U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card could be an ideal option to consider. You choose the best payment due date for you. If you want to set a payment date that is weeks before your student loans, rent, or other substantial payment is due, you can. You can also get email alerts if something changes with your credit report, regular TransUnion credit scores, and the U.S. Bank’s Zero Fraud Liability coverage. There’s a yearly fee of $29. Currently, you can make a refundable deposit of $300 to $5,000. The amount you deposit is your credit line and gains interest each month in an FDIC-insured savings account. When you charge something to the U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card, you must pay it at the end of the month or make the minimum payment by the due date. The charge is not subtracted from the deposit you made.
What is the best credit card? It comes down to your needs and your credit score. No matter who you choose, you’ll find reaching customer service with any of these credit card companies is always convenient.
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