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The Daily Insight Hub

What is the main reason credit card companies make large profits?

Author

Emma Miller

Updated on February 02, 2026

Credit card companies make money by collecting fees. Out of the various fees, interest charges are the primary source of revenue. When credit card users fail to pay off their bill at the end of the month, the bank is allowed to charge interest on the borrowed amount.

What do credit cards use to make money off of their customers?

Credit card companies make the bulk of their money from three things: interest, fees charged to cardholders, and transaction fees paid by businesses that accept credit cards.

What court cases allow credit card companies to raise their fees without limits?

More importantly, have you wondered why credit card companies can ignore your state’s usury law, which limits the amount of interest that can be charged on a loan, and charge whatever rate they want? The answer lies in a 1978 Supreme Court ruling, Marquette National Bank of Minneapolis vs. First of Omaha Service Corp.

What did Kahr suggest for a new minimum payment?

He changed the standard 5% monthly minimum to 2%, realizing that that three percentage downward shift could keep people indebted for years and years longer. Before Kahr, credit card companies used to have bills due on the first business day following a major holiday or Sunday.

Which is the best credit card for customer service?

Discover’s customer satisfaction score was 842 — the highest among issuers for the fifth time in six years. Discover’s CEO, Robert Hochschild, states that the key to Discover’s exceptional customer service is the technology the company continues to invest in.

How are credit card companies attracting new customers?

To attract customers who like to travel, companies like airlines, hotel chains and motor vehicle manufacturers partner with card companies to offer cards with benefits like priority airport lounges, room upgrades and special gifts for purchases.

How many credit card companies are there in the world?

Credit card companies, like most other things in life, come in all shapes and sizes. Some are titans of the industry, spending upwards of $336 million a year to blare commercials 24/7 on every medium known to man. Others lack any kind of name recognition — outside of their employees, and, presumably, a handful of customers.

Which is the best way to market a credit card?

Focusing on balance transfer and reduced interest charges can bring in customers from other credit card companies, while marketing to people based on credit history can appeal to customers who want to build their credit or obtain special benefits for their good credit. Students are a common group for card companies to target.