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The credit card space was dominated by luxury credit card overhauls in 2025. Multiple major issuers — from American Express to Chase — overhauled their staple cards, increasing annual fees and adding additional perks. And while premium credit cards are set to retain consumer interest this year, 2026 may bring further shifts.
We expect the credit card market to evolve in several ways. Premium cards will continue to reward top spenders, while experience-based perks grow in popularity. Further, mid-tier, “middle-class” cards will expand for everyday consumers, and rewards and fees will remain stable.
Below, CNBC Select breaks down our 2026 credit card trend predictions alongside tips on how you can review your cards, use perks wisely and keep your credit score healthy.
The “K-Shaped” credit card trend
2025 was a great year for luxury cardholders. Amex and Chase refreshed two extremely popular cards — the American Express Platinum Card® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) — increasing their annual fees and adding additional benefits. Citi released its premium travel option in the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. And many cards carried welcome offers valued at over $1,000.
These luxury credit cards generally target people with super-prime credit scores.
“We see customers with super-prime credit — they spend more, they’re more willing to take on high-annual-fee cards, they’re more interested in the rewards,” Tiffany Funk, co-founder and president at point.me, told CNBC Select. “These super premium cards are catering to these people in high GDP markets, high household incomes, super-high credit scores, and that’s going to continue.”
The American Express Platinum Card, one of the leading names in premium card space, offers over $3,500 in value each year for a $895 annual fee. A lot of the value is tied to statement credits with popular brands like Resy, Uber, Equinox, Lululemon and more. The card also offers some of the best airport lounge access available and gold status in both the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors programs.
Unfortunately, not many consumers have super-prime credit scores, and those with lower credit scores will be pushed toward more no-annual-fee cards or ones with intro APR offers. Issuers may even redesign cards for lower-credit consumers and could charge higher APRs for subprime borrowers.
“You’ll see the market respond in terms of the products that are available in that segment,” said Funk. “I expect to see [these things] change dramatically in 2026 compared to 2025.”
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)’s 2025 Report to Congress, there were $3 billion in annual fee charges in 2015 and $8.7 billion in 2024, almost tripling in less than nine years. Further, from 2015 to 2024, the number of people paying an annual fee decreased by 2.4%, yet the average annual fee cost more than doubled from $62 to $127.
This data suggests fewer people are paying annual fees, but those who do are willing to pay more. It also exemplifies the “K-shaped” growth we’re seeing in the current credit card market: A small segment of wealthier individuals opting for high-end rewards cards, and a larger segment seeking cards with $0 annual fees or 0% APR options.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we’re here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fee
Cards will continue to prioritize experiences
One of the biggest draws of many premium cards is access to unique experiences you can’t necessarily find elsewhere. These perks not only attract customers but also help build stronger relationships.
For example, Chase continues to offer a wide range of unique experiences for its users, primarily through the $795 annual fee Chase Sapphire Reserve. Starting Feb. 10, Sapphire Reserve cardholders can access a limited number of exclusive FIFA World Cup 26TM tickets. If you’d rather choose something slightly more active, you can travel to St. Moritz, Switzerland, and hit the slopes with three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White.
Lora Monfared, head of consumer card products at Bank of America, expects issuers to continue expanding how they cater to customers.
“I think you’re going to see cards continue to evolve in the sense that it’s not just going to be cash back or travel rewards, it’s going to come with more to it… merchant-funded offers or lifestyle credits and just benefits that provide experiential access,” Monfared told CNBC Select.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater
The growing “middle-class” card
While we previously discussed the current K-shaped credit card growth, the middle segment could see significant growth this year as well.
“I do think we’re going to see more in the, let’s say, high-but-reasonable annual fee market, in that $250 to $350 [range],” said Funk, which is substantially cheaper than the $700 and $800 fees of top premium credit cards.
When asked if that “middle-class” section of cards was an emerging sector, Monfared agreed. “I think it is. I think it’s all about how you attract the right customers with the right level of value.”
- Annual 25k Global Companion Award
- Fee waivers for partner awards and same-day changes
- Earns valuable miles
- High annual fee
- Lounge passes are limited to two per quarter
Information about the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
Many of these mid-level cards are a great way to experience a few premium-level perks without committing to a higher annual fee. One reason Funk believes this segment will expand is that it’s not fully clear how some premium cards can continue to deliver additional value.
“I don’t know if we’ve sort of reached the cap of what we can add in those [premium] markets to be competitive and have it be interesting.”
While Funk noted that people have proven willing to pay an annual fee if they find value and the perks align with their interests, “they’re not going to pay $2,500 worth of annual fees across three super premium cards for the clout,” she said.
Rewards and swipe fees will likely stay
Premium credit card enthusiasts have been on edge for a while, with a long-running legal battle including Visa and Mastercard potentially threatening some high-end rewards and perks.
In November 2025, a settlement was reached, and while it still requires court approval to become official, it’s unlikely to substantially impact the credit card industry in its current form.
Not only is the reduction to swipe fees very minimal at 0.1%, but it’s also only temporary, lasting for just five years. The settlement would also classify credit cards into one of three categories: commercial cards, premium cards (including rewards cards) and standard, no-rewards cards.
This is potentially problematic for a few reasons. Per the CFPB’s 2025 Report to Congress, 92% of general-purpose card spending was on reward cards in 2023 and 2024, leaving merchants with no choice but to accept that category.
Additionally, Funk fears it would raise some implementation hurdles.
“Are you now going to start taking only the no-fee Mastercards, but you’re not going to take high-fee Visas?” she posed, also noting that rejecting customers’ payments or making transactions more difficult in the era of tap-to-pay will likely hurt businesses’ customer service.
“It seems like the juice is not going to be worth the squeeze,” said Funk.
What can consumers do today?
With 2026 just beginning, now is a great time to check in on your finances. Funk highly recommends that your New Year financial check include the credit cards you already have in your wallet. Give the number of cards that raised annual fees and changed perks last year, make sure you’re still getting value.
When considering a new credit card, Funk urges consumers to look past the ever-growing list of card perks and to contextualize a card’s benefits within their own lives. Just because a card offers a list of benefits or credits doesn’t mean you’ll actually use them, even if they’re well-known brands.
“That Lululemon credit doesn’t matter if you don’t shop there. The Uber Eats credit doesn’t matter if you don’t get food delivery,” she emphasized.
Monfared also encourages people to think about the requirements or conditions attached to card benefits, like annual or monthly credits that require enrollment.
“Are they lifestyle credits that are easy to use and don’t have a lot of hurdles to go through? Consumers will be attracted to those types of products,” said Monfared.
If you’re considering a credit card in 2026, it’s also key to ensure your credit score is in a good position to qualify you for the card you’re eyeing.
“The economy is always shifting, and it’s always important to be prepared for that,” said Monfared, which means focusing on good habits so you can be ready anytime, including “using credit responsibly” and “paying off your balance on time and in full every month.” Not only can these actions help your credit score, but they also give you some wiggle room on your line of credit in case of emergencies.
If you’re focusing on your credit score, CreditWise® from Capital One is a free tool available to all, even without a Capital One credit card. The tool tracks your Experian and TransUnion credit reports and can suggest personalized ways to improve your credit score. Plus, it only triggers soft inquiries, so it won’t hurt your credit score.
CreditWise® from Capital One
Information about CreditWise has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by Capital One before publication.
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Cost
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Credit bureaus monitored
TransUnion® and Experian®
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Credit scoring model used
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Dark web scan
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Identity insurance
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Meet our experts
At CNBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. For this story, we interviewed Lora Monfared, head of consumer card products at Bank of America and Tiffany Funk, co-founder and president at point.me.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
