There is no perfect credit card company for everyone. A lot of it comes down to the actual features you want, rather than the name on the card.
But if you want to include the credit card company in your comparison, here's a look at different banks and brands in Australia – including the 4 biggest credit card providers.
2023 Finder Awards
Award-winning credit cards
The Finder Credit Card Awards for 2023 recognise the best credit cards in Australia, with expert analysis of available products from 80 credit card companies. These awards cover personal and business cards, with categories including Best Low Rate Credit Card, Best Rewards Credit Card and Best Credit Card for Travellers.
In Australia, you can get a credit card from a bank, credit union, co-operative, other financial provider or even a big-name brand such as Coles or Qantas.
Broadly speaking, there are 2 main ways a credit card company can be set up in Australia:
Credit card issuers are financial organisations that are legally authorised to provide a credit facility. This includes most major banks and financial institutions in Australia, as well as their divisions or subsidiaries (which may have separate licences).
A credit card brand can also partner with an issuer to offer credit cards under their name. For example, Coles, Virgin Money and Qantas Money credit cards have their own branding but are all issued by NAB.
Credit card companies in Australia
You can learn more about different credit card companies, as well as the cards they offer, by clicking on their names below.
If you're interested in the biggest banks or credit card companies, here are the 4 Australian credit card providers with the highest market capitalisation.
1. Commonwealth Bank
As well as being one of the Big Four banks in Australia, CommBank has the highest market capitalisation value at $193.04 billion. The Commonwealth Bank Group includes Bankwest, Colonial First State and CommSec (online stock broking). Commonwealth Bank credit cards include low-rate, low-fee, rewards, premium and business options.
2. NAB
Another of Australia's Big Four banks, NAB has over 8.5 million customers in Australia, New Zealand and across the world. Its market capitalisation is $99.32 billion. NAB credit cards include low-cost, rewards, premium, business and corporate options. It also issues Citi-branded credit cards, along with Coles, Qantas Money, Virgin Money, BOQ and other brands.
3. Westpac
Big Four Bank Westpac's credit card lending portfolio covers products from Westpac Banking Corporation, including St.George, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA. Its total market capitalisation is $82.46 billion. The range of Westpac credit cards include low rate, low fee, balance transfer and rewards options.
4. ANZ
Rounding out the Big Four banks on this list is ANZ, with a total market capitalisation of $79.89 billion. ANZ credit cards offer a mix of products, including rewards, frequent flyer, low-cost and premium cards for both personal and business use.
Want to know more about credit cards in Australia? Get up-to-date credit card statistics, including how many cards and how much debt Aussies owe.
Other factors to consider
The types of credit cards available. Ultimately, the right credit card company will offer a card with features you want. Keep in mind that even unfamiliar brands could offer you competitive rates, fees, rewards and perks.
Accessibility. If you want access to a branch, look for banks or brands with locations nearby. For mobile or phone banking, you could also check app store reviews or customer service ratings.
Rewards and other features. If you want a card that earns rewards, consider the value offered by different programs. And for other perks like complimentary travel insurance, check the requirements so you know you can get value from the card.
Fees. This includes the annual fee, foreign transaction fees, late payments, cash advances and any other charges on the bank or brands schedule of fees.
Other accounts. If you want to do all your banking with one provider, look at what other accounts are available and if there are any banking packages (such as if you get a mortgage and a credit card). Alternatively, the free Finder app lets you connect and view your accounts in one place.
Introductory offers. A new card with a 0% interest rate offer, bonus point, cashback or other perks can give you extra value when you sign-up.
Ethical values. If green banking is a priority for you, consider the investment details and any community support programs offered by the credit card company. You can usually find this information in the "About" and "Investor" sections of a bank or company's website.
In Australia, the biggest credit card companies include Visa, Mastercard and American Express. These companies provide the payment network for the majority of credit cards issued by Australian banks such as ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and NAB.
Visa and Mastercard are the most accepted credit cards in Australia. These cards are widely accepted at almost all merchants across the country, both in-store and online. American Express is also accepted, but may not be as widely available as Visa or Mastercard due to higher merchant fees.
Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald. See full bio
Amy's expertise
Amy has written 566 Finder guides across topics including:
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