The average American has 3.7 active credit cards.1
Most of us have a few cards. We picked them for the perks. But here's where it gets interesting.
Annual fees have nearly tripled in 9 years.
Average fee: $62
$695 → $895
The Amex Platinum fee increase in 2025. The Chase Sapphire Reserve: $550 → $795.
CNBC Select / Yahoo Finance, 20257
Fewer people are paying annual fees overall — but those who do are paying a lot more. The question isn't whether you're paying. It's whether you're getting your money's worth.
83% pick cards for the perks.
Most can't name what they actually have.
of cardholders say better notifications would help them use their perks more8
The gap
A survey of 2,000 cardholders found many can't accurately identify which benefits their card offers — some rated benefits as “very valuable” that their card doesn't even have.
CardRatings, 20259
of cardholders say their card's perks actually improve their lifestyle.
J.D. Power, 202410
of rewards cardholders haven't redeemed any rewards in the past year.
LendingTree, 202211
What's it actually costing you?
Three households. Three different stories. One common thread.
Scenario A
The Starter
1 fee card
One mid-tier card ($95/yr fee)
Unused: TSA PreCheck perk, streaming perks
~$100+left on table
Most common
The Everyday Household
2–3 cards
One premium ($250), one mid-tier ($95), one no-fee
Unused: Dining perks, Uber perks, airline perks
$400–$800+left on table
Biggest gap
The Premium Household
2+ premium cards
Amex Platinum ($895) + Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795)
Unused: Fine Hotels perk, Saks perk, travel perks, lounge access
$1,000–$2,000+
left on table every year
“The average 3-card household leaves $847/year unused.”
Estimated based on published perk values
Individual results vary based on card mix and spending habits. These scenarios are illustrative estimates based on published perk values.
What if you just… checked them off?
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Sources & Methodology
- 1.Experian (2025). "Average Number of Credit Cards." Based on active accounts (used or carrying balance in past 6 months).
- 2.Federal Reserve (2023). Survey of Consumer Finances — 82% adult credit card ownership.
- 3.WalletHub (2025). Credit Card Statistics — household income and ownership correlation.
- 4.Capital One Shopping Research (2025). Credit card ownership statistics.
- 5.CFPB (2025). Consumer Credit Card Market Report to Congress — annual fee trends, $3B→$8.7B.
- 6.eMarketer / CFPB (2024). Premium cardholders annual fee trends — superprime share increase.
- 7.CNBC Select (2025/2026). Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve fee changes.
- 8.CardRates.com (2024). Consumer survey — 83% select cards based on perks, 62% want better notifications.
- 9.CardRatings (2025). Survey of 2,000 cardholders — perk awareness gap findings.
- 10.J.D. Power (2024). U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study — 25% say perks improve lifestyle.
- 11.LendingTree (2022). Unused rewards survey — 70% sitting on unused rewards, 40% no redemptions in past year.
- 12.CFPB (2023/2025). Revolvers earn 27% of rewards but pay 94% of interest/fees.