As a consumer, no doubt you sometimes feel at odds with your credit card company. After all, they set the terms of your contract. They tell you what to pay and when. They’re also out to get a piece of your hard-earned money, right?

Hold on though. The truth is that you’re trying to get something out of the credit card company too! It’s a mutually beneficial and mutually risky relationship, and because of that your credit card company might be a bigger friend than you think.

Here are three reasons your credit card company is really your friend. Keep these elements of your relationship in mind the next time your credit card bills or policies have you feeling down.

1. Your credit card company makes your life more convenient.

Sure, you could use a debit card for most of your everyday purchases. If you like to keep the bulk of your money in savings rather than a checking account with a debit card though, you might not have enough funds available for a big purchase, to make hotel reservations, or cover some other large expense with that debit card.

Your credit card’s available credit limit allows you to make those purchases immediately and pay them off later when you’ve moved money out of savings.

2. Your credit card company pays you to shop.

Let’s be realistic. You’re going to shop. You’re going to spend money. Whether you use a credit card, cash, or a debit card you’re still going to make routine purchases.

A credit card offers something other options don’t (or at least rewards cards like the CUA Rewards credit card do) — rewards. By using a rewards credit card, you’ll earn points to redeem for bonuses like plane tickets or shopping vouchers, or you could even earn cash back just for buying things you would purchase anyway.

3. Your credit card company really needs you.

One of the biggest reasons the credit card company isn’t really the “enemy” is the fact that they can’t afford to be. Okay, so losing one customer isn’t going to put them out of business. That doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate you and want to keep you as a customer.

Credit card companies know that it’s more cost-efficient to keep existing customers than try to replace them with new ones. As much as it might sometimes feel like your credit card company doesn’t care about your needs, try talking to them or negotiating with them. You just might be surprised to find that they’re happy to work with you rather than risk losing you to the competition.