Credit Card News Archive

September 2006 Casino Credit Card Makes Big Splash with Gamblers ESPN Credit Card Offers Unique Sports Rewards Condo Developer Accepting American Express for Down-Payments New Travelocity Credit Card Promises Easier Point Redemption Discover Card Acceptance to Increase with New Partnership Saks Fifth Avenue to Offer World Elite MasterCard Chase Mistakenly Sends Customer Information Out with the Trash MasterCard to Cap Interchange Fees for Gas Stations, Publish Fee Schedule Online Credit Card Micropayments on the Rise, Especially Among the Young Business Credit Card Users Get Two Chances at $50,000 from MasterCard

August 2006 Consumer Credit Card Rates See Small Decline; Business, Student Rates Up Chase Buys Pier 1 Credit Card Business for $155 Million Enlightenment Visa Offers Cardholders Health/Spirit Rewards PNC Bank Drops MBNA in Favor of Credit Card Alliance with US Bank Discover Card Debuts New Ad Campaign at Emmy Awards Home Depot Debuts Two New MasterCard Credit Cards Discover to Broaden International Acceptance Through Alliance with JCB It's PONG Versus Roddick in New American Express Commercial JetBlue Extends Points Expiration Dates to Users of JetBlue Credit Card Advanta Rolls Out First Contactless Credit Cards Credit Card Rates Steady as Fed Applies Brakes Visa Sponsors Quiz to Help Consumers to Better Understand Their "Money Personalities" Consumers Choose Rewards Credit Cards But Don't Always Take Rewards Fed Interest Rate Decison Good News for Credit Card Holders American DreamCard Announces Sweepstakes Payouts of Over $500,000 Visa Business Credit Card Spending at Over $100 Billion for First Time Rewards Card Program Participants Higher Spenders: Survey Consumer Credit Card Rates Steady, Business Cards Tick Up United Airlines and Chase Team Up to Offer Free Vacation Financing American Express Making Changes to Rewards Program

July 2006 Chevy Chase Bank Settles Credit Card Lawsuit for $16.1 Million Wachovia Reenters Credit Card Market with Promise of Fewer Penalties, Generous Rewards Credit Card Companies Settle Currency Conversion Lawsuit for $336 Million Contactless Credit Card Usage Grows, Survey Suggests Bright Future Fewer Credit Card Offers in Your Mailbox? Discover to Be Only Credit Card Accepted at Dollar Tree Stores Credit Card Interest Rates Continue to Climb Small Businesses Offer Senate Testimony Against MasterCard and Visa Over Interchange Fees Study: Over Half of College Students Have Credit Cards Discover, First Data Deal Could Increase Acceptance of Discover Card Discover Card Announces New WNBA Affinity Credit Cards MasterCard and Citibank Begin Trial of Contactless Credit Cards in New York Subways Discover Card Announces Fall "Get More" Partners New Bank of America Credit Card Offers Unique Major League Baseball Rewards Columbus Bank and Trust Company, CompuCredit Corporation Agree to Pay New Yorkers $11 Million in Restitution for Deceptive Business Practices Philadelphia Area Coke Machines to Take Credit Cards Average Credit Card Rate Tops 14% After Latest Fed Rate Increase Bank of America Launches Its First American Express Card

June 2006 MasterCard Announces New Corporate Name and Logo Percentage of Delinquent Credit Card Payments Increases New York State Moves to Outlaw Credit Card Universal Default Clauses Consumer Credit Card Rates Steady Ahead of Fed Meeting Credit Card Late Fees Average $35, Over-the-Limit Fees Top $32 MINI Credit Card Offers Motoring Rewards, Customized Car Image Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on Credit Card Interchange Fees American Military Society Credit Card Launched Wells Fargo Goes Contactless Discover Partners with More Credit Card Issuers to Grow Network Discover Launches Business Credit Card Credit Card Rates Continue Slow Rise Delta Credit Cards Doubling Miles for Summer When Credit Cards Expire, Businesses Can Get Your New Number Without Your Permission Credit Card Numbers, Personal Information of Hotels.com Customers Stolen New Nature Conservancy Visa Credit Card Supports Conservation Efforts

May 2006 Credit Card Rates Continue to Rise New PayPal Credit Card Offers eBay Discounts as Rewards MasterCard Debuts on Wall Street, Rises Over 15 Percent Experian Credit Study Reports Debt and Late Payment Increases New Bank of America Credit Card Features Photo of Your Pet, Rewards Poll Says Average Credit Card Debt Tops $3,000 Per Cardholder and Almost $6,000 for Balance Carriers Sierra Trading Post Launches Rewards Visa Sportsman's Warehouse Launches Rewards Credit Card Visa Credit Card Usage Continues to Expand Fed Rate Increase Spurs Rise in Credit Card Rates Citibank Business Credit Cards Offering Free Discount Prescription Drug Benefit Leading Credit Card Issuers Raise Lending Rates Borders Introduces Improved Credit Card Reward Program PayPal, SunTrust Offering Free Equifax Credit Monitoring MasterCard Sweepstakes Gives Small Business Owners Chance for a Free Technology Makeover American Airlines Begins Credit Card Acceptance for In-Flight Purchases Credit Card Rates Steady for Just Third Time in 2006 New BP Credit Card Increases Rewards MasterCard Sponsors American Airlines Frequent Flyer Anniversary Giveaway

April 2006 Home Depot, GE Capital Settle Lawsuit Over Credit Card Charges Bank of America Could Start Own Payment Network UBS Wealth Management Clients Offered Unique Rewards Credit Cards Credit Card Rates Rise Again Former University of Texas Quarterback Vince Young Backs Prepaid Credit Card MasterCard Sues Over World Cup Sponsorship Discover Card Chooses New Ad Agency Barnes & Noble Credit Card Launched Discover Card Offers 5 Percent Cash Back on Gas, Auto Products in April,May and June Credit Card Rates Up Over One Full Point in 2006 HSBC Acquires Boscov's Credit Card Accounts Joint Venture Seeks Credit Card Acceptance at Casino Gaming Devices Ross-Simons Credit Card Data May Have Been Stolen Visa Waives Signature Requirement to Encourage Small-Ticket Credit Card Purchases Credit Card Rates Up, Cash Back Cards Especially Hit Discover Card Rated Best for Fraud Protection Services Credit Card Customers In the Dark on Rates, Limits, Fees: Survey MasterCard PayPass Credit Card Readers Installed in 9 Major League Baseball Stadiums American Express Adds to IN:NYC Card Partners Credit Card Rates Resume Upward Climb

March 2006 Citizens Living Abroad Have Difficulty Getting Credit Reports: BusinessWeek American Express Membership Rewards Adds iTunes Fed Raises Interest Rates, Banks Follow Late Credit Card Payments Decline in 2005 Fourth Quarter Survey Finds Fees Stop Americans from Paying Taxes by Credit Card EmigrantDirect Sweetens Cash Back Credit Card Offer MasterCard Extends Zero Liability to Business Credit Cards Survey Finds Wide Variance in International Credit Card Transaction Fees Visa Announces Load Network for Prepaid Credit Cards New Olivia Credit Card Caters to Lesbian Market Credit Card Rates Unchanged for First Time in 2006 Will New Credit Scoring Alliance Produce Results, or Confusion? Media Questioning Debit Card Safety Capital One Expands Further with Acquisition of North Fork Bancorp Lowe's Launches Project Card, New Credit Card for Home Improvement Purchases GM Flexible Earnings Card Adds to General Motors Customer Options Business Customers Enjoy Sweet Credit Card Deals as Competition Heats Up M. Night Shyamalan Directs, Stars In New American Express Commercial Chase Purchases Kohl's Credit Card Accounts Survey Gauges Customer Satisfaction with Top Credit Card Issuers Spirit Airlines Launches Frequent Flyer Program, Rewards Credit Card Marriott Introduces New Rewards Credit Card Option

February 2006 Credit Card Rates Continue Moving Up Income Stagnant, Debt Up, Says Federal Reserve Credit Card Processor That Exposed Massive Customer Data Agrees to Run Tighter Ship Is Identity Theft Risk Overblown? After 50 Years, "Cash Only" a Thing of the Past at Waffle House Credit Card Rates Rise Again, Due for a Lull H&R Block Drives Business By Cutting Credit Card Tax Payment Fees Mastercard Postpones IPO Merchants,Credit Card Companies Face Off on Capitol Hill Over Interchange Fees Discover Drops "No Surcharge" Requirement, is Dropped from Merchant Lawsuit Discover Steps Into the Debit Card Ring Credit Card Rates Up Over Half-Percent Since January 1 Wireless Phones Could Soon Double as Credit Cards Consumer Debt Rose Three Percent in 2005 You Can Pay Taxes By Credit Card; Here's Why You Shouldn't Churches Embrace Giving Via Credit Card Visa Launches First New Brand Campaign Since 1980s MasterCard Usage Rose Over 11 Percent in 2005 Average Credit Card Rate Tops 13 Percent Study Highlights Differences Between Those with High and Low Credit Scores Recent Credit Card News Links Boston Newspaper Delivers Credit Card Numbers Along with Newspapers

January 2006 MasterCard Brings Back MacGyver for Super Bowl Ad Citi, MasterCard to Test Contactless Payments in New York City Subways Credit Card Rates Hold Steady Gas Credit Cards Promise (A Little) Relief to Consumers Struggling with High Gas Prices Cross Country Bank Ordered to Pay $8.9 Million in New York Fraud Case Credit Card Issuers, Retailers May Face Off Over Fees American Express, GE Consumer Finance Alliance Starts with Launch of Dillard's American Express Card Credit Card Rates Continue to Climb Read the Fine Print When Choosing a Rewards Credit Card Reader's Digest, Chase Team Up on New Home Improvement Credit Card Credit Cards from Corn? Many Credit Counselors Losing Non-Profit Status Credit Card Rates Inch Up Again MasterCard Urges Merchants to Increase Security of Credit Card Customer Data Credit Card Debt Tops $3,500 Per Adult, $7,200 Per Household Late Credit Card Payments Decrease Slightly How to Opt Out of Credit Card Offers Visa Unveils New Logo for First Time in 30 Years Survey Finds Largest Credit Card Issuers Not Doubling Minimum Payments New Year Brings Higher Consumer Credit Card Rates New US Airways Credit Card Competes with Old US Airways Card Bank of America Completes Acquisition of MBNA Survey: Average American Carrying Over $2300 in Credit Card Debt

December 2005 Consumer Credit Card Rates Steady, Business Rates Jump Who's Responsible for Credit Cards When You Die? HSBC Becomes Latest Issuer to Offer American Express Cards With Thirteenth Straight Federal Increase, Credit Card Rates Rise Again Bank of America, Citibank to Offer American Express Credit Cards How to Get Your Free Credit Report Fed Approves Bank of America / MBNA Merger Credit Card Rates Stable, But Fed Rate Hike Soon to Kick In Credit Card Minimum Payments Doubling? It Ain't So AAdvantage Business Credit Card Doubles Reward on American Airlines Purchases MarketWatch.com: Your Options if Credit Card Debt Getting You Down Overstock.com Launches New Credit Card More Consumers Choosing Online Credit Card Account Services Putting Off Paying for Holiday Gifts? Try These Credit Cards Credit Card Rates Stable for First Time in Nine Weeks Consumers Union Attacks Credit Card Industry for the Holidays Credit Card Micropayments Increasing, Says Survey Using Virtual Credit Cards in the Fight Against Identity Theft HSBC Completes Acquisition of Metris Companies Tying the Knot & Building the Nest with American Express Professional Bull Riders Visa Launched IKEA Credit Card Now Available Online and In-Store

November 2005 Credit Card Rates Likely to Continue Rising MasterCard Shareholders Approve New Structure, Pave Way for IPO MasterCard Discloses Best Times to Beat Holiday Shopping Rush Heading Into Holiday Season, Credit Card Rates Rise Again Wachovia Names New Credit Card President One in Seven Have Had Personal Information Stolen Credit Card Rates Up for Sixth Straight Week MasterCard to Offer Credit Card Customization Bank of America, Chase Hit Hard By Customer Bankruptcies Credit Card Rates Climb Again, Latest Industry Shakeup Adds to Uncertainty Credit Card Debt Increases While Overall Consumer Debt Falls in September Credit Card Rates Rise Slightly, More Increases On the Way Wachovia & MBNA Split, Wachovia to Re-Enter Credit Card Issuing Dash for Bankruptcy Costs Discover Over $200 Million Major Banks Raise Lending Rates

October 2005 Sears Credit Card Now Available at Kmart New Wawa Credit Card Uses Chase "Blink" Technology Delta Credit Cards Offer Double Points Through Year End National Council of Teachers of English Launches Credit Card Credit Card Rates Climb, But Could See A Leveling Off HSBC to Offer OfficeMax Credit Cards Higher Gas Prices Lead to Higher Credit Card Use Consumer Credit Card Rates Move Up Again Citi Simplicity Credit Card Gives A Break to Late Payers Is New, No-Fee American Express Card Right for You? Credit Card Interest Rates Trend Upward "One" Credit Card Offers Cash Back with a Twist Michigan Association of Realtors Credit Card Launched Top Level Credit Card Rates Remain Below 10 Percent Washington Mutual Completes Providian Acquisition

September 2005 American Express Launches Credit Card Especially for L.A. CompuCredit to Acquire CardWorks Bemidji State University Alumni Credit Card Launches Case Design/Remodeling Launches Private Label Credit Card Credit Card Deals May Be Dwindling MasterCard, Visa Don't Have to Warn About Stolen Credit Card Information Ohio State Bar Association Launches New Affinity Credit Cards Children's Wish Foundation Launches Credit Card Lending Rate Increases at Major Banks to Impact Credit Card Rates Aviation Week Credit Card Debuts American Express Launches Chicago-Specific Credit Card Metris Companies to Issue New Discover Credit Card Red Hat Society MasterCard Launched United States Equestrian Federation Launches Visa Credit Card Marvin Companies Chooses GE for Private-Label Credit Card Check Prepaid Credit Card Terms Carefully Chase Credit Card Promotion Doubles Reward Points MasterCard Files for IPO HSBC Rolls Out Debit Cards with Contactless Technology Wireless Provider MetroPCS Offers Prepaid Visa Card Increased Bankruptcy Filings Lead to Greater Credit Card Chargeoffs US Lacrosse Launches Visa Credit Card Trycera Financial Launches Finium Prepaid Credit Card New Latina Style" Credit Card Generates Scholarships for Latinas Modell's Sporting Goods Launches New Credit Card NFL's Giants and Redskins Add MasterCard PayPass Technology HSBC to Issue New Advance Auto Parts Commercial Credit Card Financial Information Theft Often Done By Those We Know Best HSBC Defers Payments and Waives Fees for Katrina Victims Chase and Universal to Offer Limited-Edition King Kong Credit Card New Millennium Bank Waives Fees for Katrina Victims MasterCard Going Public

August 2005 New Las Vegas Parking Meters Offer Payment By Credit Card, Cell Phone San Francisco's BART Seeks Credit Card Partner United Mileage Plus Visa Card First Airline Credit Card to Use Contactless "Blink" Technology IKEA to Offer New Credit Card Longwood University Adopts Capital One's MoneyWi$e University Financial Education Program United Airlines Offers Credit Card Reward Bonus for Back-to-School Purchases Baltimore Ravens to Offer Credit Card Purchases at M&T Bank Stadium As Prices Soar, Drivers Use Credit Cards More Lowe's Introduces Habitat for Humanity Affinity Card Does Credit Counseling Hurt Your Credit Rating? Sears Settles Credit Card Suit Credit Card Fraud Alert: Restaurant Workers Morgan Stanley Won't Sell Discover Card Unit Students Charging to the Limit

Published 11/4/10 (Modified 5/7/12)