US Folks have the Best Credit Card Options

Although I certainly knew this earlier, it occurred to me the other day that US folks have waaaaaay more credit card options than other countries. And can receive waaaaaay more benefits for having/using them.

Granted, some non-US banks have "rewards" credit cards, but they pale in comparison to US bank credit card rewards. Especially over the last couple decades or so. As you can find throughout my blogs (and on a plethora of other sites as well as YouTube videos), credit card rewards options abound in the US. Particularly when it comes to rewards/benefits focused on travel and lifestyle.

The main US credit card issuing banks (e.g., American Express, CapitalOne, Chase, Citibank, etc.) offer multiple co-branded and non-co-branded rewards cards with some truly outstanding benefits. Really. Often, for a few hundred dollars, you can get elite status, lounge access, and a host of other travel/lifestyle credits. Not so in most other countries around the world. You might get one point/dollar for spending on your Scotiabank Visa card, but that's it. No other credits or benefits. Just points you can redeem...and usually for merchandise rather than travel. And you may have only a few other choices of rewards credit cards.

So when I read blog posts of (US) people complaining about card x downgrading lounge access or issuer y removing a specific benefit, I'm saddened. Because, really?!

As a US citizen you have the option – multiple great options, in fact – to pick and choose among dozens of cards (provided your credit is decent). And you complain about a company removing your streaming credit or double points on groceries benefit? Come on. You want some cheese with that whine? Ugh.

Now, of course credit also works differently in the US than most other countries, and whether having a LOT of credit is a good or bad thing for people...well...that's a discussion for another time!

The lesson here? If you're lucky enough to have a US rewards credit card, be grateful you have it. Most people outside the US aren't as fortunate.

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