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Banks and the types of credit cards they offer are as expansive as the sky. Visa, American Express, Mastercard, HSBC, Discover, CitiBank, Chase, Capital One, and Bank of America are the most popular credit card companies in the United States (some even in the world!) and have credit card offerings suitable for everyone’s specific financial needs.

Although Visa does not issue credit cards or extend lines of credit, they are a trusted name in the industry. The cards with the famous Visa logo include small business cards and student credit cards. They are among the best when it comes to security and theft prevention. Similarly, MasterCard has a long-standing reputation and incredibly recognizable logo to boot. A specialty of MasterCard is the secure credit card; it is perfect for anyone hoping to improve his or her credit score.

As far as foreign-based credit card companies go, HSBC is often considered the best. The bank, which is headquartered in London and was founded in 1991, is already the second largest banking and financial services group in the world. A financial services company doesn’t become the second largest in the world without providing excellent customer service and a variety of credit cards to choose from.

Discover and American Express are known by many for their strong travel advantages. Miles by Discover and the Escape by Discover Card are ideal for those who call the skies home. Whether you travel for leisure or business, the points awarded to you by these credit cards will not disappoint.

Bank of America was named the third largest company in the world in 2010, and it offers rewards points for both the casual consumer as well as the big time spender. The company even offers a special card for those who love the outdoors. If you frequent Bass Pro Shops, Bank of America’s Bass Pro Shop Rewards card gives you five percent cash back on every dollar spent at Bass Pro Shop.

Capital One, Chase, and CitiBank round up the list of the most popular banks and financial service providers in the world. Chase offers a unique card exclusively for business owners. With the Ink Cash Business card you’ll get five percent cash back on business-oriented purchases like office supplies, wireless, landline and cable services. Capital One is currently offering zero interest for up to fifteen months for new credit cardholders.

If you’re looking for a new credit card, check out one of these top financial services and credit card companies in the world.