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Do you have one from each of the Big Four?

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Anonymous
Not applicable

Do you have one from each of the Big Four?

Visa
Mastercard
Amex
Discover

Do you have at least one of each? If not, which are you missing?

I have a Visa by way of a local bank card backed by Elan, and a Quicksilver Mastercard. That's it so far. I want an Amex BCE next, so would there be any benefit to having a Discover too? I like the Chase Freedom revolving categories better than the Discover It categories, but I'm wondering if I should get an It card to have all four for any decent reason. Does it help in building a more well-rounded profile or increase your score to have them all?
77 REPLIES 77
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Do you have one from each of the Big Four?

I don't know this for sure, but I can't imagine card network diversity matters very much, if at all. Card issuer diversity can matter a bit, but mostly to make sure you aren't putting all your eggs in one basket in case a particular bank decides you are too much of a risk for whatever reason and kills your limits and/or closes your accounts. Amex and Discover are also issuers, so there's certainly no harm in diversifying with one or both of them, but having all your cards at Capital One or Chase, for instance, is more of a problem.

 

That said, each network has its own pros and cons. So, get the cards you want based on what they offer, including the issuing bank and card network benefits.

Message 2 of 78
pipeguy
Senior Contributor

Re: Do you have one from each of the Big Four?


@Anonymous wrote:
Visa
Mastercard
Amex
Discover

Do you have at least one of each? If not, which are you missing?

I have a Visa by way of a local bank card backed by Elan, and a Quicksilver Mastercard. That's it so far. I want an Amex BCE next, so would there be any benefit to having a Discover too? I like the Chase Freedom revolving categories better than the Discover It categories, but I'm wondering if I should get an It card to have all four for any decent reason. Does it help in building a more well-rounded profile or increase your score to have them all?

Short and sweet... Yes...  Visa (many), MC (more than a few), AmEx = 2 (one actual, one co-branded AmEx network), Discover, just one, but that's all I need.

Message 3 of 78
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Do you have one from each of the Big Four?

I have 3 of 4. 

 

Discover It

Bank of America Cash Rewards (Visa)

Capital One QuickSilverOne (MasterCard)

 

(I have another MC and Visa but they aren't solid rewards cards and won't be long-lasting either). 

 

And a smattering of store cards.

 

No AMEX yet.  Maybe one day, when my profile supports it.

Message 4 of 78
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Do you have one from each of the Big Four?

Card network diversity matters because networks sometimes go down and you probably still want to use a card. Yes, I have at least one of each, although two of four is probably enough.
Message 5 of 78
Viva-LV
Frequent Contributor

Re: Do you have one from each of the Big Four?


@Anonymous wrote:
Visa
Mastercard
Amex
Discover

Do you have at least one of each? If not, which are you missing?

I have a Visa by way of a local bank card backed by Elan, and a Quicksilver Mastercard. That's it so far. I want an Amex BCE next, so would there be any benefit to having a Discover too? I like the Chase Freedom revolving categories better than the Discover It categories, but I'm wondering if I should get an It card to have all four for any decent reason. Does it help in building a more well-rounded profile or increase your score to have them all?

Like many members, I have all four, and then some.  Discover is worth having: customer service is top-notch, and many do well with building their limits.  I make use of the quarterly spend for 5% back. Third quarter this year was home improvement stores, so I got a decent amount back. Well-rounding profile or increasing your score?

I doubt it. Not everyone has all four to do well with their profile or scores, its what works best for you. Happy hunting!

Am Ex | BOA | Chase | Citi | Disc | PenFed | USB | 400K Club
Message 6 of 78
sarge12
Senior Contributor

Re: Do you have one from each of the Big Four?


@Anonymous wrote:
Visa
Mastercard
Amex
Discover

Do you have at least one of each? If not, which are you missing?

I have a Visa by way of a local bank card backed by Elan, and a Quicksilver Mastercard. That's it so far. I want an Amex BCE next, so would there be any benefit to having a Discover too? I like the Chase Freedom revolving categories better than the Discover It categories, but I'm wondering if I should get an It card to have all four for any decent reason. Does it help in building a more well-rounded profile or increase your score to have them all?

 

1 Amex BCE

1 Discover It

2 Mastercard

11 Visa

 

All Visa cards are sig. except two which are low interest...Mastercards are WEMC, and WMC. Do not know if it helps score, but doubt it.

TU fico08=824 06/16/24
EX fico08=815 06/16/24
EQ fico09=809 06/16/24
EX fico09=799 06/16/24
EQ fico bankcard08=838 06/16/24
TU Fico Bankcard 08=847 06/16/24
EQ NG1 fico=802 04/17/21
EQ Resilience index score=58 03/09/21
Unknown score from EX=784 used by Cap1 07/10/20
Message 7 of 78
Kevin86475391
Frequent Contributor

Re: Do you have one from each of the Big Four?

I have Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Years ago I had an Amex, but am not really interested in getting another. I find there's very little difference between Visa and Mastercard, and it's the issuing bank that mostly matters rather than the network. By contrast of course Discover and Amex really do matter both in terms of network and bank.

 

LOL, if anything my personal 'Big Four' would be something like Discover, Amex, Chase (Visa), and Citi (Mastercard). Or maybe instead of Citi, Capital One (although they issue both Mastercard and Visa).

Message 8 of 78
Creditplz
Valued Contributor

Re: Do you have one from each of the Big Four?

2 Amex, 1 MC, 9 Visa and 1 Discover Smiley Happy
Message 9 of 78
skimmie48
Regular Contributor

Re: Do you have one from each of the Big Four?

I have three out of four. Have never gotten Discover. No reason other than I have enough credit cards and have the Freedom for category spend. 

Message 10 of 78
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