Affiliate marketing has become a popular way for many people to earn money online, and credit card affiliate programs are among the most lucrative options available. As we head into 2023, there are several credit card affiliate programs that offer high payouts, making them attractive to affiliate marketers looking to earn big commissions.
One of the reasons credit card affiliate programs are so popular is that credit cards are a staple of modern life, with millions of people around the world using them to make purchases every day. This means that there is a huge potential audience for credit card affiliate marketers to target, and the commission rates on offer from many credit card companies are generous.
Some of the credit card affiliate programs that pay big in 2023 include those offered by major banks and financial institutions, as well as niche credit card providers that cater to specific markets or customer groups. In addition to high commission rates, many of these programs also offer additional incentives, such as bonuses for reaching certain sales targets or access to exclusive promotional materials.
Of course, like any affiliate program, success in credit card affiliate marketing requires careful planning and execution. This includes choosing the right programs to promote, creating high-quality content that engages and informs your audience, and implementing effective marketing strategies that drive traffic and sales. However, with the right approach, credit card affiliate programs can be a highly lucrative source of income for affiliate marketers in 2023 and beyond.
Credit Card Affiliate Programs
American Express
American Express (or Amex) is one of the major credit card companies, competing with Visa and Mastercard. Despite being predominantly known for credit cards in the US, the company is also available in other countries. For instance, American Express has been operating in Canada since 1853, although it wasn’t providing credit cards in the old west days.
Canadian customers of American Express can take advantage of the usual credit card perks, such as cash-back or flexible rewards cards. Affiliate marketers can also earn a substantial amount of money by referring new customers to the American Express credit card affiliate program, which offers up to CA$200 per lead.
Although the American Express affiliate program offers one of the most generous commissions, payments are only made for approved applications, rather than just submitted applications. This is to prevent spamming and fraudulent activity, which is common in financial service affiliate programs. The high payout for affiliates helps explain the program’s impressive earnings per click (EPC) of $644.89.
- URL: American Express Canada affiliate program
- Commission: Up to $200 per sale
- Cookie duration: 7 days
Bankrate Credit Cards
Bankrate has been providing financial advice to its readers since 1976, starting out as a print publisher before moving online in 1996. One of the services they offer is Bank Rate Credit Cards, which helps their audience find the best credit card for their individual needs by partnering with card programs as an affiliate.
However, Bankrate is not just an affiliate for card programs, they also operate as a credit card affiliate network. This means that affiliate marketers have the opportunity to promote credit card offers without being a direct affiliate of the card company. This includes partnerships with major credit card issuers like Chase, Discover, and Amex, among others.
While being a sub-affiliate for Bankrate’s individual credit card affiliate programs may not pay as much as working directly with the card issuer, credit card offers can still pay a substantial amount, ranging from $50 to $200 per signup. Therefore, affiliate marketers can earn a significant amount of money through the Bankrate credit card network.
- URL: Bankrate Credit Cards affiliate program
- Commission: TBC
- Cookie duration: TBC
USAA Credit Cards
USAA is a financial services provider that has been catering to the United States military community, both active and retired members, since 1922. What began as an auto insurance provider, now offers banking, mortgage, investment, real estate, and retirement products and services. USAA is also one of the leading credit card providers in the market, supplying credit cards from Visa and Amex.
This affiliate program can be attractive to affiliate marketers with an audience of military personnel, which constitutes over 24 million people. If your audience includes military personnel looking for a mainstream credit card with several benefits, the USAA credit card affiliate program is worth considering.
The downside is that the commission rate is only $20 per approved credit card, which is much lower than some other credit card affiliate programs. However, the niche market means less competition than more mainstream credit cards. Furthermore, high-performing affiliates can negotiate for better commission rates.
Ultimately, if you’re entering the credit card niche, your goal is to make money. While the commission rate may not be as high as other programs, the USAA credit card affiliate program can still be a lucrative option, given the potential audience for this niche market.
- URL: USAA Credit Cards affiliate program
- Commission rate: Up to $20 per lead
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Luxury Card
Luxury Card targets the premium credit card market with its unique mixture of stainless steel and carbon materials, and even offers a 24-karat gold version of the card. This card is for a very specific market and income bracket, i.e., wealthy people. Customers receive a premium card that offers 2% cashback and air miles redeemed at a rate of 2%, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions. Additionally, the cardholder receives access to airport lounges in various locations and a 24/7 concierge service available via phone, email, or live chat.
The Luxury Card credit card affiliate program offers a whopping $405, the highest payout among all the credit card affiliate programs listed. Commission rates at this level are rare, making this a lucrative opportunity for affiliate marketers. It’s important to note that there’s a separate application process on Flexoffers for these offers – it’s like a sub-credit card network within the main network.
- URL: Luxury Card affiliate program
- Commission: $405 per sale
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Commission Soup
Commission Soup is a CPA network that has been specializing in credit card offers for 20 years. They’re not as mainstream as other affiliate networks like CJ, ShareASale, and Linkshare, but if you’re looking to promote financial services offers, Commission Soup is an excellent option, alongside Bankrate.com and Credit.com.
Most major credit card companies “retired” from running their own affiliate programs after the 2008 financial crash, and now any affiliate looking to access such programs has to go through intermediaries like Commission Soup. Commission Soup offers a variety of credit card affiliate programs, including the Green Dot Primor Mastercard, which is a secured credit card that helps people with terrible FICO scores improve them.
Promoting secured credit cards is a more niche market, which means less competition for your site. Furthermore, you have a vast audience to promote to, which includes anyone with bad credit. In the next decade, this could potentially be hundreds of millions of people. With almost 1,000 keywords with a KD score of 20 or under, there are plenty of opportunities to promote Commission Soup’s credit card affiliate programs.
- URL: Commission Soup affiliate program
- Commission: Varies
- Cookie duration: Varies
Scotiabank Credit Cards
Scotiabank has been in business since 1831, when a group of businessmen established a public bank to compete with the private bank serving the people of Halifax. 190 years later, they have branches in 55 countries and over 19 million customers thanks to expansion and acquiring banks in other countries.
In addition to their banking services, they offer travel rewards, cashback, low APR, and student credit cards to their customers in Canada and North America. Therefore, there are plenty of opportunities for affiliate marketers to work with multiple niches.
Scotiabank’s affiliate program pays a flat commission of CA$99 for each approved referral who clicks their affiliate link, which converts to approximately US$70. This is a respectable commission for any type of affiliate program.
The misconception that offers with high payouts have too much competition often causes new affiliates to avoid them. However, that’s rarely the case. Therefore, affiliate marketers should take advantage of the Scotiabank credit card affiliate program to earn a substantial amount of money.
- URL: Scotiabank affiliate program
- Commission: Up to CA$99 per approved card
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Capital Bank (OpenSky)
The OpenSky credit card is offered by Capital Bank, and it is promoted through its domain rather than directly on Capital Bank’s website. Capital Bank is a regional bank serving New York state, so this is likely a branding move on their part. Despite the name suggesting international travel, it is actually a secured credit card, making it an ideal program for anyone blogging about personal finance, managing debt, or improving their credit score.
The secured credit card is the quickest and safest way to improve FICO scores, making it a popular choice. Affiliates can receive $25 for each successful referral to the OpenSky affiliate program, which is at the lower end of the scale compared to other programs in this roundup. However, there is no credit scoring for this card, so anyone can get one. The program also allows you to market the offer via email, which is unusual in this niche, making OpenSky one of the best credit card affiliate programs available.
- URL: Capital Bank affiliate program
- Commission: $25 per sale
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Upgrade Credit Card
The Upgrade credit card is a unique addition to the market. It offers a recognized Visa credit card with a credit line of up to US$20,000, but with lower interest rates than most other cards. This allows cardholders to pay off their outstanding balance faster. For instance, Upgrade’s example shows that you can pay off $14,000 in two years instead of 28 years.
Affiliate marketers should encourage their audience to do their due diligence when signing up for any financial product or service. The Upgrade credit card affiliate program pays a flat rate of $60 for every approved Upgrade card. However, a person’s credit score determines the size of the credit line they receive with this card.
- URL: Upgrade credit card affiliate program
- Commission: $60 per referral
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Avianca LifeMiles Credit Card
The Avianca LifeMiles credit card is designed for international travelers or digital nomads who travel to South America frequently and want to earn air miles. It is one of the leading offers on the market, offering 0% APR for the first 12 months and a variable rate after that. The card has no foreign transaction fees and offers protection against unauthorized charges, coverage for damage in auto collisions, and travel accident insurance.
Promoting the Avianca LifeMiles credit card can put up to $200 per referral in an affiliate marketer’s pocket, making it one of the higher-end credit card affiliate programs. Although it is marketed to a niche audience, 15 referrals per month could result in an additional $36,000 in annual income. This is the second-highest paying affiliate program in this roundup.
- URL: LifeMiles credit card affiliate program
- Commission: Up to $200 per referral
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Indigo Platinum Mastercard
Many people have a less-than-perfect credit score, making it challenging to get approved for credit cards, loans, or cars. In fact, one study claims that over half of Americans have been turned down for credit due to poor credit history. For those individuals, a credit card tailored to customers with lower credit scores might be the perfect solution.
That’s where the Indigo Platinum Mastercard comes in. This card is suitable for people with lower credit scores, including those who have been declared bankrupt. All Indigo card payments are reported to the three major credit bureaus, making it an ideal card to build a positive payment history.
The Indigo Platinum Mastercard is an unsecured credit card, meaning users don’t need to put down a refundable security deposit. Pre-qualification is quick, easy, and doesn’t have any impact on a person’s credit score.
- URL: Indigo Platinum Mastercard affiliate program
- Commission: 5%
- Cookie duration: TBC
Credit Karma
Credit Karma does not operate a typical credit card affiliate program. Instead, it provides free credit scores and reports and recommends a broad range of personal finance products, such as credit cards, personal loans, and insurance for vehicles and homes.
More than 100 million people use the Credit Karma app, which has received a 4.7-star rating from 7,800 reviews on the App Store at the time of writing. With such a vast audience, it is clear that Credit Karma has established itself as a leader in the industry, which can make it easier for affiliates to promote its products.
Unfortunately, earning a commission through the Credit Karma affiliate program can be challenging because it only offers a commission on online mortgage submissions. Mortgages are a significant financial decision, so expect a more extended conversion funnel.
- URL: Credit Karma affiliate program
- Commission rate: $12 per online mortgage submission
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Credit Assistance Network
Although not strictly a credit card affiliate program, the Credit Assistance Network has been a key player in the credit repair industry since 2004, providing solutions for individuals with weak credit scores who are looking to obtain credit cards.
However, the Credit Assistance Network offers more than just credit card assistance. It also provides aid in a wide range of credit repair areas, including inflated and expired debts, short sales, and foreclosures. This means that there are multiple opportunities to generate revenue from your traffic.
The Credit Assistance Network’s affiliate program offers commissions of $1.25 per lead and $95 per sale, with an impressive 365-day cookie window. This is the longest cookie window of all the credit card affiliate programs we’ve reviewed.
- URL: Credit Assistance Network affiliate program
- Commission rate: $95 per sale
- Cookie duration: 365 days
Experian
Experian, one of the three major credit score providers along with Equifax and TransUnion, serves consumers in numerous countries by providing credit score information and practical advice to help improve it. With credit playing a vital role in daily life, from obtaining a mortgage or lease to applying for a credit card or phone contract, Experian’s services are in high demand.
Given the vast audience for Experian’s financial products, there are excellent opportunities to promote its affiliate program. However, similar to other credit card affiliate programs on this list, Experian’s program is somewhat complicated.
Specifically, you earn a commission by referring individuals to sign up for Experian Connect, a service that allows consumers to share their credit information with third parties, such as landlords or finance providers. Despite its complexity, the strong demand for Experian’s services and the potential for high earnings make it a program worth considering.
- URL: Experian affiliate program
- Commission rate: TBC
- Cookie duration: TBC
BankAffiliates.Com
BankAffiliates.com is a dedicated affiliate network that offers affiliate programs across multiple finance-related niches, such as insurance, bank accounts, credit cards, credit repair, and personal loans, much like Commission Soup.
The network boasts some of the highest payouts in the industry, according to BankAffiliates.com. However, the actual commission rates vary between affiliate programs and are not disclosed. By signing up, you can discover the earning potential for each program.
In addition to commission rates, BankAffiliates.com provides regular contests and monthly bonus programs, providing ample opportunities to increase your earnings. Moreover, the BankAffiliates.com team comprises former and current affiliate marketers who can offer advice on driving more traffic and targeting profitable channels.
- URL: BankAffiliates.com affiliate program
- Commission rate: Dependent on program
- Cookie duration: Dependent on program
Petal Visa Card
Similar to the Indigo Platinum Mastercard, the Petal Visa Card is designed to assist individuals in building their credit scores. It provides high limits, low interest rates, and no fees, making it an appealing option for individuals with poor credit.
Petal has created an intelligent system to assess potential clients that looks beyond their credit score and considers their income and bill payments. This strategy allows Petal to approve applicants who may not have a credit score, and it enables Petal to provide personalized limits that fit individual users’ needs.
It’s a straightforward solution that other credit card companies should consider adopting. The Petal Visa credit card affiliate program pays $15 per signup and has a 30-day cookie duration. While the commission may not be the highest among credit card affiliate programs, it still provides an opportunity to generate revenue.
- URL: Petal Visa Card affiliate program
- Commission rate: $15 per signup
- Cookie duration: 30 days
Conclusion: Credit Card Affiliate Programs
Credit card affiliate programs can be an excellent source of income for affiliate marketers in 2023. The programs reviewed in this article offer a wide range of commission rates, cookie windows, and perks, such as bonus programs and contests. To be successful in promoting these programs, it’s crucial to understand the needs and interests of your target audience, and to create engaging content that highlights the benefits of the products and services offered. With careful planning, dedication, and hard work, affiliate marketers can take advantage of the opportunities provided by these credit card affiliate programs to earn significant commissions and build successful, sustainable online businesses.
