Modern MBA

Data

Chase

The retail bank inside JPMorgan Chase, the largest bank in America and the most valuable in the world.

7 figures on Chase, drawn from 2 Modern MBA case studies.

The figures

US dollars3

Against its own chart
Swipe fees against reward costs and partner payments, 2023, in billions · Swipe fees$31B2nd of 5 · top $33BHow credit card companies actually make money
Revenue of the big bank credit card divisions and the payment networks, 2024, in billions$23B5th of 9 · top $61BHow credit card companies actually make money
Swipe fees against reward costs and partner payments, 2023, in billions · Rewards & partner payments−$25B5th of 5 · worst −$25BHow credit card companies actually make money

Percentages2

Against its own chart
Operating margin of the big banks’ credit card divisions · 20088%2nd of 4 · top 14%How credit card companies actually make money
Operating margin of the big banks’ credit card divisions · 2009−17%3rd of 4 · top 13%How credit card companies actually make money

Counts2

Against its own chart
Credit cards in circulation by issuing bank, 2024, in millions154M1st of 6 · top 154MHow credit card companies actually make money
US locations against the leading banks5,1003rd of 7 · top 60,000How Western Union makes money from the unbanked

Case studies covering Chase

Case study — FinanceHow credit card companies actually make moneyThe swipe fee is not the business. The interest is — and the networks taking the blame were founded by the banks collecting it.15 min readCase study — FinanceHow Western Union makes money from the unbankedIt has more US locations than Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi, Capital One, and Bank of America have branches combined.11 min read

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