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The
current average credit card rate is:
12.59%
More
on current credit card interest rates...
Lowest
interest credit cards with no annual fee:
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Complete
Credit Card List
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1,217
credit cards listed, including...
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for complete credit
card list.
Basic
credit card information to help you manage your finances.
Read
the Fine Print When Choosing a Rewards Credit Card
Like getting cash back, frequent flyer miles, or other rewards
when you use your credit card? If so, check the fine print on
card offers to make sure that what you think you're getting
is what you actually get. Here are seven tips to keep in mind
when searching for a credit card that pays you back. (more)
Transfer
Balance, Then Put That Card Down! The Balance Transfer Catch
That Can Cost You Plenty
One of the best money savers for consumers
in debt is the credit card balance transfer offer -- a credit
card company actively recruits you to shift your debt from a
high interest card to a new card offering zero interest for
12 months or perhaps a 3.9% rate for the life of the balance
transfer. These offers are attractive and can be a very good
deal, especially if no balance transfer fees are attached. BUT,
they're only a good deal if you transfer your balance and then
put the new card away. (more)
What
Entrepreneurs Should Know About Small Business Credit Cards
The stories of entrepreneurs financing their business startups
with credit cards are legendary. But if you're not choosing
a separate small business credit card over your personal credit
card, you could be leaving money on the table--and that's unacceptable
to most cash-crunched small business owners. (more)
When
Are Charge Cards Better Than Credit Cards?
Many people use the terms charge cards and credit cards interchangeably,
but in fact they are different. A credit card allows you to
make purchases on credit, and allows you to revolve your credit
balance, i.e., pay less than the full amount each month and
have the remainder carry over to the following month. A charge
card, on the other hand, requires you to pay off the full balance
every month. (What used to be MasterCharge actually offered
credit cards, which may explain why they changed their name
from MasterCharge to MasterCard.)
Credit cards offer greater flexibility, so why do some people
choose charge cards such as traditional American Express cards?
(more)
How
to Get Your Free Credit Report
Recent laws have mandated that every consumer
is entitled to a free yearly check of his or her credit reports.
Here's how to get yours. (more)
How
to Opt Out of Credit Card Offers
Want to stop credit card offers from showing up in your mailbox?
Here are two ways to stop the offers, or at least slow them
down: (more)
Using
Virtual Credit Cards in the Fight Against Identity Theft
If you worry about identity theft, virtual credit cards that
are used one time only may give you peace of mind. (more)
You
Can Pay Taxes By Credit Card; Here's Why You Shouldn't
Thinking of racking up airline miles or getting cash back by
paying your taxes with a rewards credit card? You could, but
think again, because you'll pay more in fees than you'll earn
in rewards. (more)
Original
research from IndexCreditCards.com.
Credit
Card Rate Averages Fall Again
Credit
card rate averages have again set a new two-year low, falling
even further than we had predicted last month. And, with the
Federal Reserve cutting interest rates by a quarter-point this
week, these averages figure to go down even a bit more in the
coming weeks. (This week's Fed cut is not factored into the
averages listed here, as it takes some time for these cuts to
be felt by credit card consumers.) (more)
Survey
Finds Wide Variance in International Credit Card Transaction
Fees
With business travel having become increasingly global in nature,
and with the summer travel season approaching, IndexCreditCards.com
researched the major U.S. credit card issuers to discover the
extra fees cardholders can expect when using their cards overseas.
(more)
Credit
Card Debt Tops $3,500 Per Adult, $7,200 Per Household
Using government debt data and census data,
IndexCreditCards.com has determined that the average American
adult is carrying $3,560 in revolving debt and the average American
household is carrying $7,271 in revolving debt. Revolving debt
is mainly debt from credit cards, although certain other open-end
lines of credit may be included as well. (more)
Average
Credit Card Late Fee $35, Over-the-Limit Fee $32.24
Our
twice-yearly check on average credit card late fees and over-the-limit
fees shows no change since the middle of 2006. The average credit
card late fee remains at an even $35, while over-the-limit fees
check in at $32.24. Using data from a cross-section of major
and minor card issuers, IndexCreditCards.com found that late
and over-the-limit fees ranged from $0 to $39. However, most
nationwide issuers charged between $29 and $39 in both categories.
(more)
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Low Interest Credit Cards:
- Low
APR Credit Cards - Ongoing - Credit cards with low
ongoing interest rates. Ranked by lowest published rate, with
introductory offers, balance transfer rates and annual fees
factored in where rates are equivalent. Includes online credit
card applications.
- 0%
Introductory Offer Credit Cards - Compare the best
credit cards offering a zero percent introductory APR, with
cards ranked by length of introductory period. Ongoing interest
rates, balance transfer rates, and annual fees factored in
when introductory rate terms are equivalent. Apply online.
- 0%
Balance Transfer Credit Cards - The best credit cards
offering zero percent balance transfers, ranked by length
of balance transfer offer. Ongoing interest rates, introductory
APR offers, balance transfer fees and annual fees factored
in when balance transfer rates are equivalent. Apply online.
Rewards
Credit Cards:
- Cash
Back Credit Cards - Credit cards offering cash rebates
on every purchase. Ranked by percentage of cash back per purchase.
- Gas
Credit Cards - Credit cards offering cash back rebates
on gasoline purchases.
- Rewards
Credit Cards - Credit card rewards programs offering
merchandise, gift certificates, travel rewards, cash back
options, and other goods and services.
- Travel
and Airline Credit Cards - Credit cards offering frequent
flyer miles and/or other travel rewards with each use. Includes
airline credit cards, hotel credit cards, and combination
travel rewards credit cards.
- Automotive
Credit Cards - Credit cards with rewards and rebates
toward specific automobile manufacturer vehicles, parts and
merchandise.
Business
Credit Cards:
- Low
Interest Business Credit Cards - Business credit cards
with low ongoing interest rates. Ranked by lowest published
rate, with introductory offers, balance transfer rates and
annual fees factored in where rates are equivalent.
-
Business Credit Cards with Rewards - Business credit
cards offering reward programs, including all cash back, reward
program, travel / airline mile, and other business rewards.
Bad
Credit Credit Cards:
-
Secured Credit Cards - Credit cards for people with
bad credit that require some sort of deposit for approval.
Most cards listed report to credit reporting agencies, potentially
helping you reestablish credit.
- Unsecured
Credit Cards - Credit cards for people with poor credit,
but good enough to still be eligible for limited unsecured
credit lines.
Student
Credit Cards:
- Low
Interest Student Credit Cards - Student credit cards
with low ongoing interest rates. Ranked by lowest published
rate, with introductory offers, balance transfer rates and
annual fees factored in where rates are equivalent.
- Student
Credit Cards with Rewards - Student credit cards offering
reward programs, including all cash back, reward program,
travel / airline mile, and other programs.
Prepaid
Credit Cards:
- Prepaid
Credit Cards - Cards that are accepted like credit
cards, but function as debit cards, with each purchase coming
from the prepaid amount loaded onto the card.
Cards
from Specific Credit Card Companies:
- Advanta
credit cards - Compare the rates and benefits of the three
main Advanta business credit cards offered online.
-
Chase credit cards - Listing of Chase-branded credit cards
as well as partner/affinity credit cards issued by Chase.
- Citi
credit cards - Listing of Citibank credit cards, including
branded Citi credit cards for consumers and Citi business
credit cards, plus partner/affinity credit cards issued by
Citibank.
- Discover
credit cards - Listing of Discover Card options, including
credit cards issued directly from Discover Bank and Discover
credit cards issued by banks on the Discover Network.
-
"Retired" credit cards - Discontinued credit
cards no longer available.
Specific
Frequent Flyer Credit Cards:
 How
long will it take to pay off my credit card?
How
much could I save with a lower interest credit card?
...more
credit card calculators...
Daily
updates on the ever-changing credit card industry, including
news on credit card introductions and credit card company /
industry information.
Federal
Reserve Proposal Would End Many Controversial Credit Card Practices
The Federal Reserve Board closed out last week by announcing
a set of regulations that would end some of the most controversial
practices used by credit card companies. The regulations, which
could go into effect by the end of 2008, would: (more)
Discover
Raises International Profile with Purchase of Diners Club
Discover Financial Services announced today its purchase of
the Diners Club credit card brand from Citigroup for $165 million.
The move will help Discover expand its footprint outside of
the United States, where it has struggled to make headway and
compete on an equal footing with the likes of Visa, MasterCard
and American Express. Citigroup, for its part, raises some cash
as it continues its attempt to right the ship after being stung
in the subprime debacle. (more)
Bank
of America Launches U.S. Olympic Team Visa
Bank of America today launched the U.S. Olympic Team Worldpoints
Visa Credit Card as part of its "U.S. Olympic Team Banking"
package, which also includes Olympics-themed checks and check
cards. You do not have to choose the whole "suite"
of services, but can instead sign up for the credit card or
other products independently. (more)
Budweiser
Visa Launched
Anheuser-Busch has launched the Budweiser Rewards Visa Platinum
Card, which will reward users with points toward Budweiser-themed
merchandise but, alas, not beer. (more)
uTango
Visa Card Offers Points Toward "LifeStage" Rewards
uTango, a company offering a loyalty rewards program with a
unique twist, launched the uTango Visa earlier this month, allowing
members to increase their uTango points accrual with each purchase.
Similar in function to other loyalty programs that offer points
or cash rebates when you shop with their partner merchants,
uTango's distinct proposition is that its points can only be
accrued by single or newly married (less than 3 years) couples,
and that its points can earn both small yearly rewards and the
promise of bigger rewards if couples stay in the program for
10, 20 or 30 years --- and also stay married. uTango claims
that some couples could even earn an ultimate payout of $1 million
--- provided they stay in the program 30 years and meet spending
tiers. (more)
Ameriprise
Financial Launches MasterCard Credit Card
Ameriprise Financial, the financial planning
company that was once part of American Express, announced Monday
the launch of new MasterCard credit cards that will be issued
by Barclays PLC. (more)
more
credit card news
My
Credit Card Offers - Tim explains which credit card
offers showed up in his mailbox today, and how those mailed
credit card applications compare to what you'll find on this
site.
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