Choose and compare.
Big Four Banks and challengers
Choose and compare.
Credit unions and mutual banks
From local credit unions to mutual building societies and customer-owned banks.
Types of credit card providers, issuers & brands in Australia
In Australia, you can get a credit card from a range of sources, including banks, credit unions, co-operatives, other financial institutions, or even well-known brands like Kogan or Qantas.
Generally, credit card providers in Australia operate in two main ways:
- Branded partnerships: Some credit card brands team up with an issuer to provide cards under their own name. For instance, Coles, Kogan Money, Virgin Money, and Qantas Money credit cards carry their own branding, but are issued by NAB. Another example, David Jones credit cards are issued by Latitude Financial Services.
- Credit card issuers: These are financial institutions legally authorised to offer credit facilities. This includes most major banks and financial providers in Australia, as well as their divisions or subsidiaries (which may hold separate licences).
The 'Big Four Banks' in Australia
If you’re curious about the biggest players in the credit card game, here are the four Australian providers, often called The Big Four, with the largest market capitalisation:
1. Commonwealth Bank (CommBank)
As one of Australia’s Big Four banks, CommBank boasts the highest market cap at $193.04 billion. The Commonwealth Bank Group includes Bankwest, Colonial First State, and CommSec (online stock trading). CommBank offers a variety of credit cards, including low rate, low fee, rewards, premium, and business credit cards.
2. NAB
Another Big Four bank, NAB serves over 8.5 million customers across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, with a market cap of $99.32 billion. NAB’s credit card range includes low cost, rewards, premium, business, and corporate cards. It also issues Citi-branded cards, as well as Coles, Qantas Money, Virgin Money, BOQ, and other branded cards.
3. Westpac
Westpac, part of the Big Four, has a credit card portfolio that includes products from Westpac Banking Corporation, St.George, Bank of Melbourne, and BankSA. Its market cap sits at $82.46 billion. Westpac’s credit cards cover low rate, low fee, rewards, and balance transfer offers.
4. ANZ
Rounding out the Big Four is ANZ, with a market cap of $79.89 billion. ANZ offers a mix of credit cards, including rewards, premium, low cost, and frequent flyer cards for both personal and business use.
What you should consider before comparing
- Accessibility. If you prefer face-to-face banking, look for providers with branches near you. For digital or phone banking, check out app store reviews, independent reviews on YouTube, or customer service ratings.
- Introductory offers. Look for new cards with 0% interest rates, sign-up bonus points, cashback, or other sign-up perks to maximise the value of your new card.
- Fees. Watch out for annual fees, international transaction fees, late payment charges, cash advance fees, and other costs listed in the provider’s fee schedule.
- Rewards and perks. If rewards are your thing, compare the value of different programs so you can earn Qantas Points, Velocity Points, or do you want flexibility with Membership Rewards? For extras like complimentary travel insurance, airport lounge access, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria to get the most value.
- Types of credit cards. The best provider will offer a card that suits your needs. Don’t overlook lesser-known brands as they might have competitive rates, fees, rewards, or perks that may work for you better than a big brand.
- Other banking products. If you want to consolidate your banking, check what other accounts or packages, like personal loans paired with credit cards, the provider offers.
