How to protect your rewards, rates, and credit access as issuers tighten rules
January 20, 2026
Whether we’re ready or not, 2026 will be here before we know it. If you use credit cards, now is a good time to consider which credit card and digital payment trends to expect in the upcoming year so you can decide whether you’ll need to adjust your personal finance strategies.
The financial industry is ever evolving. Banks and financial services companies continuously shift their strategies, which can, in turn, may lead to changed consumer behavior.
The following detailed guide explores potential credit card trends for 2026 and explains how credit card trends affect you. Here’s what to consider as we head into 2026.
This section explains why rewards and perks may keep shifting, and what signals to watch so changes don’t surprise you.
When thinking about credit card and credit card rewards trends for 2026, it’s my professional opinion that credit card issuers will continue to make changes to the card benefits that they offer in 2026.
I feel it’s quite likely that some banks will make changes that benefit them rather than consumers. If this happens, I anticipate more cardholders making product changes to credit cards that better align with their needs and goals.
Often, card issuers put a positive spin when describing disappointing changes to card benefits. And many consumers see through this marketing talk, leading cardholders to become more vocal online about how their needs are no longer being met.
Here’s why I feel this will be a trend in 2026: As a credit card and credit card rewards expert, I keep a close eye on credit card industry news, and in 2025, multiple rewards credit cards underwent an overhaul.
In some cases, credit card benefit changes are positive. But that’s not always the case. One card that went through significant changes in 2025 was the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Many cardholders were left feeling disappointed by the changes.
Explore Our Top 2026 Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve® is an example of card changes that were not well-received by all consumers. In June 2025, Chase announced significant changes to the benefits it provides and to how the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns rewards. The popular travel rewards card now has an annual fee $795.
Previously, the card earned 10X points on car rentals and hotels booked through Chase Travel, 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel, and 3X points on all other travel and dining purchases.
But now, cardholders Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases.
In my professional opinion, these changes limit travel rewards opportunities. If you’re not using Chase Travel for most of your travel bookings, or booking directly with airlines or hotels, your travel purchases will only earn a meager 1X point.
Chase added several credits, including Apple TV and Apple Music credits worth up to $288 annually and up to $500 in annual statement credits for eligible The Edit Chase Travel hotel bookings made with your card.
But many cardholders, including myself, prefer direct statement credits rather than having to use specific services or book through apps or portals to utilize card perks. These statement credits are becoming more difficult to use, and some have long lists of exclusions and rules. This has led to an increase in dissatisfied customers referring to the credit card as a "coupon book.”
I have been a long-time, loyal Chase Sapphire Reserve® customer. But I plan to ditch the card before my annual fee hits in the spring. I plan to swap it for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. I find the card's perks and rewards structure better align with my lifestyle, and the $395 annual fee feels fair for all that is provided.
Personal finance expert Brett Holzhauer shares similar views about credit card trends.
Expert Intel:
Holzhauer had the following to say: “A few popular premium credit cards have expanded their benefits to the point where it can feel like a part-time job to track their use. Consumers will push back, and card issuers will go back to the basics.”
It’s possible that more credit cards will undergo significant changes in 2026. No matter which credit card you have in your wallet, it's important to pay close attention to its perks and how the card earns rewards. The start of the year is a good time to review your card benefits to ensure you know what to expect for the coming months.
Credit card issuers can change benefits at any time, so I recommend reviewing your current benefits each year. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on news about upcoming card changes.
Doing this can help you determine whether a particular credit card still meets your needs. If you decide a card no longer meets your needs, there are many other credit card options. Looking for a new credit card that earns rewards? Check out our best rewards credit cards list.
Practical checklist: what to watch when benefits change:
Annual fee changes vs. the credits you realistically use
Earning-rate changes (portal vs. direct booking vs. “everything else”)
New credits that require enrollment, monthly activation, or specific merchants
New exclusions that reduce real-world value (location limits, caps, time windows)
Any change in how points transfer or redeem (if applicable)
Explore Our Top 2026 Credit Cards
This section explains why consumer credit card behavior may shift, how delinquencies and revolving balances can rise, and why credit card interest rate trends matter more when balances are carried.
As for potential consumer credit card behavior trends in 2026, it’s quite likely that consumer credit card debt will rise. This prediction aligns with household data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
I looked at the Q3 2024 household debt and credit report for more insight. According to the report, outstanding credit card balances totaled $1.17 trillion in Q3 of 2024.
I compared those findings to data in the Q3 2025 household debt and credit report. The report notes that outstanding credit card balances totaled $1.23 trillion in Q3 of 2025. That’s an increase of over 5% from one year earlier.
Personal finance expert Brett Holzhauer echoed similar thoughts.
Expert Intel: Holzhauer shared, “If the economy remains stagnant and unemployment rates continue to rise, more consumers will shoulder credit card debt. It’s estimated that roughly half of Americans have revolving credit card debt. We could see that number increase.”
When using credit cards, the best strategy is to pay the entire statement balance in full. You should only ever charge what you can afford to pay off to avoid expensive interest charges. But that’s not always possible if you get in a bind.
If you have outstanding credit card debt and are unable to pay it off quickly, high-interest charges can lead to growing balances that can quickly become unmanageable.
If you have credit card debt, it may be worthwhile to consider transferring the balance to a balance transfer credit card to take advantage of 0% APR for a limited time. This could enable you to pay off your debt faster. But make sure you pay off the entire balance before the 0% promotional period ends, otherwise you’ll be charged interest.
This section explains digital payments and credit cards in 2026: why wallets, P2P apps, and installment tools may keep growing, and where BNPL vs credit cards can create tradeoffs.
My thoughts on credit card trends 2025 don’t stop there. Looking ahead to next year, I expect more Americans will use digital payment services, including apps. Busy consumers value convenience. Digital payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal make it easy to send and receive payments.
As everyday living expenses continue to rise, and consumers look for ways to pay for purchases without racking up credit card debt, I anticipate more consumers will utilize buy now, pay later services, which will lead to more BNPL growth in 2026.
Data shows that buy now, pay later is becoming an increasingly popular digital payment solution. This payment method operates as a short-term loan, allowing shoppers to borrow funds to make online purchases through participating retailers.
Typically, the total loan amount is repaid in smaller, scheduled installments. Buy now, pay later loans are typically interest-free, provided all payments are made on time and in full. Are for the usage of buy now, pay later vs credit cards, a recent study shows that many Americans use buy now, pay later payment solutions.
According to an April 2025 study from PartnerCentric, more than half of Americans currently use buy now, pay later. The study also found that 75% of buy now, pay later users prefer the buy now, pay later payment method to credit cards.
Personal finance expert Brett Holzhauer discussed why buy now, pay later usage could increase in 2026.
Expert Intel: Holzhauer said, “Buy now, pay later will continue to grow in popularity as consumers continue to feel a financial crunch. The BNPL market in the US is expected to reach $111 billion in 2026, up 14% year-over-year.” Due to this digital payment solution’s increase in popularity, Holzhauer suggests that “credit card companies may look into incorporating a similar payment service into their cards.”
Practical comparison: when BNPL can feel easier (and when it can backfire):
BNPL can simplify budgeting when payments are fixed and automatic
BNPL can increase the risk of “payment stacking” across multiple purchases if installments overlap
Credit cards may offer stronger built-in protections and clearer statements, depending on product terms
Missed BNPL payments can still trigger fees and collection activity depending on the provider and agreement
This section explains what’s changing behind the scenes: tokenization, stronger authentication, and how AI in finance is being used to reduce fraud and friction.
Credit card security trends are moving toward smarter authentication for online transactions and less reliance on static card numbers. For online shopping, EMV 3-D Secure (often branded by networks) adds an extra authentication layer that can reduce fraud and improve approval accuracy.
At the same time, issuers and payment networks are leaning into biometrics and risk-based checks that happen in the background rather than constant one-time passwords.
What this can mean for consumers (easy takeaways):
More “silent” fraud checks that happen without interrupting checkout
More card controls inside apps (freeze card, spend alerts, virtual numbers)
More biometric payment authentication (face/fingerprint) in wallet-based purchases
It can be beneficial to pay attention to digital payments and credit cards trends. Why? These trends and the future of credit cards directly affect consumers like you.
For example, the trend of credit card issuers reducing direct statement credits in favor of statement credits that can only be earned after you use a specific service, travel portal, or mobile app may make some credit cards and their perks feel less valuable to consumers.
Understanding credit card industry trends like this can help you make a more informed decision about whether a credit card is the right fit for your needs. Digital payments and credit cards trends can also influence your own behaviors.
For example, as buy now, pay later services become more popular, you might feel more comfortable using them.
Explore Our Top 2026 Credit Cards
Start reviewing your current card benefits, research cards with strong digital features, regularly monitor your credit, and consider adopting new budgeting tools that align with future trends.
AI will significantly enhance fraud detection by identifying unusual spending patterns faster. While this makes your transactions safer, staying vigilant with your personal data and using strong passwords remains crucial.
Economic factors will continue to influence interest rates. Staying informed about the broader economic outlook can help you anticipate potential changes and manage your balances proactively.
Yes, digital wallets often use tokenization, which replaces your actual card number with a unique, encrypted token for each transaction, adding a significant layer of security against fraud.
Look for cards that align with your spending habits and offer personalized rewards, robust security features, and integrate seamlessly with digital payment platforms. Regularly review new card offerings.
Embedded finance integrates financial services directly into non-financial platforms or apps you already use, making transactions and financial management seamless within that existing experience.
The core principles of maintaining a good credit score (paying on time, keeping utilization low) will remain crucial. New technologies may offer more tools to help you monitor and improve your score.
Disclosures:
Any opinions expressed are those of BestMoney alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuers.
The credit card offers and information presented on this page are current as of the published date. However, credit card terms, including APRs, fees, and promotional offers, are subject to change without notice. Some offers listed may no longer be available or may have expired. Please refer to the issuer's website for the most up-to-date terms and conditions.
Natasha is a financial writer specializing in credit cards and credit card rewards. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including NerdWallet, The Motley Fool, and Fast Company.
