Rakuten Card tops generative AI recommendations for credit cards

A September 2026 study by Branding Works reveals that Rakuten Card was the most frequently recommended credit card when using generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. Rakuten Card achieved a 63% mention rate, ranking first in both AI models.

Sumitomo Mitsui Card followed in second place with a 61.1% mention rate, while JCB CARD W ranked third at 50.0%. The study noted that Gemini tended to mention specific brands more frequently than ChatGPT, which refrained from naming specific brands in 74% of its responses.

The AI recommendations were primarily categorized into three criteria: point redemption rates, high rewards at specific stores, and integration with specific services. The most cited information source for these AI responses was my-best.com, accounting for a 13% share of citations.