The current average credit card rate is:

12.34%

More on current credit card interest rates...

Most popular / best credit cards according to IndexCreditCards.com visitors:

1. Disney Rewards Visa Card - Earn Disney Rewards Dollars, 0% rate on purchases & balance transfers for 12 billing cycles
2. BP Visa - 5% cash back at BP stations, 2% on travel and dining, 1% elsewhere
3. Discover More Card - 5% Cashback Bonus in certain categories, up to 1% elsewhere; 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers
4. Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage World MasterCard - Earn American Airlines miles
5. Discover Open Road Card - 5% Cashback Bonus on gas, up to 1% rebate elsewhere; 0% on purchases and balance transfers
6. Chase Freedom Card - Earn 3% cash back in top 3 categories each month, 1% everywhere else
7. Capital One Platinum Prestige - 8.9% interest rate, 0% on purchases and balance transfers until October 2009
8. HSBC Platinum MasterCard® with Cash Back - 1% cash back, 0% on purchases & balance transfers for 12 billing cycles
9. Capital One No Hassle Miles Rewards - Get 1.25 miles per dollar, miles good on all airlines
10. Blue from American Express - Earn Membership Rewards Express points, get 0% rate on purchases for up to 12 months

1,225 credit cards listed, including...

• Costco True Earnings Business Card from American Express
• Costco True Earnings Card from American Express
• Dallas Cowboys Credit Card
• Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Credit Card from American Express
• Delta SkyMiles Gold Credit Card from American Express
• Denver Broncos Credit Card
• Detroit Lions Credit Card
• Discover Business Card
• Discover Business Miles Card
• Discover More Card
• Discover Motiva Card
• Discover Open Road Card
• Discover Student Card
• Disney Rewards Visa Card
• Ducks Unlimited Credit Card
• Fidelity Investments 529 College Rewards Credit Card
• Fidelity Investments Rewards Visa Credit Card
• Green Bay Packers Credit Card
• Hilton HHonors Visa Card from Citi
• Hilton HHonors Platinum Credit Card from American Express

Click here for complete credit card list.

Basic credit card information to help you manage your finances.

Anatomy of a Credit Card Application
A line-by-line review of a typical credit card application tells you what credit card issuers hope to see from you.

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 you're getting what you think you're getting. Here are seven tips to keep in mind when searching for a credit card that pays you back.

Transfer Balance, Then Put That Card Down! The Balance Transfer Catch That Can Cost You Plenty
Balance transfer 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.

How to Get Your Free Credit Report
Every consumer is legally entitled to a free yearly check of his or her credit reports. Here's how to get yours.

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:

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.

Using Virtual Credit Cards in the Fight Against Identity Theft
If you worry about identity theft, virtual credit cards may give you peace of mind.

When Are Charge Cards Better Than Credit Cards?
A credit card allows you to make purchases on credit, and allows you to revolve your credit balance, while a charge card requires you to pay off the full balance every month. Credit cards offer greater flexibility, so why do some people choose charge cards such as traditional American Express cards?

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? Think again, because you'll pay more in fees than you'll earn in rewards.

Original research from IndexCreditCards.com.

Consumer Credit Card Rates Up Slightly, Business Card Rates Steady
Consumer credit card rates jumped a bit this week in all categories, but especially in the rewards card category. At the same time, business credit card rates remained steady. Are recent events in the financial industry having an impact on rates? It's too early to tell, as the slight increases seen so far are not significant enough to signal a trend, and of course small business rates have done nothing but fall so far this year.. (more)

Survey Finds Wide Variance in International Credit Card Transaction Fees
With business travel having become increasingly global in nature, IndexCreditCards.com researches the major U.S. credit card issuers to discover the extra fees cardholders can expect when using their cards overseas. (more)

Average Credit Card Debt Over $4,200 Per Adult, Over $8,200 Per Household
Using government debt data and census data, IndexCreditCards.com has determined that the average American adult is carrying $4,246 in revolving debt and the average American household is carrying $8,218 in revolving debt.These numbers represent a 19% and 13% increase, respectively, over the averages in January of 2006. At that time, the average debt per adult was $3,560 and the average revolving debt per household was $7,271. (more)

Credit Card Late Fees Average Over $35, Over-the-Limit Fees Top $36
The average credit card late fee is now $35.20, while the average over-the-limit fees checks in at $36.10. 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)

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% 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.
• 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.

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.
• Business Credit Cards - Cash Back - Business credit cards offering strictly cash rebates, including cash back of up to 5% on certain purchases.
• Business Credit Cards - Travel and Airline Miles - Compare business cards that specifically offer travel rewards such as airline frequent flyer miles.

MORE... Business Credit Cards

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.

Specific Credit Card Companies / Types of Credit Cards:

• Advanta credit cards - Compare the rates and benefits of the three main Advanta business credit cards offered online.
• American Express Credit Cards - Comparison of both consumer and small business American Express card offers.
• Capital One credit cards - Compare credit cards from Capital One for consumers as well as small business credit cards.
• 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.
• HSBC Credit Cards - Compare HSBC rewards cards with attractive 0% offers, plus HSBC's Orchard Bank for those with less-than-perfect credit.
• Visa credit cards - List of popular bank credit cards affiliated with Visa.
• "Retired" credit cards - Discontinued credit cards no longer available.

Specific Frequent Flyer Credit Cards:

• American Airlines credit cards - Compare the many Citibank credit cards offering American Airlines AAdvantage miles.
• Delta Airlines credit cards - Compare the many American Express credit cards offering Delta Airlines SkyMiles or SkyPoints.

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.

Chase Becomes Largest Credit Card Company in U.S. with WaMu Acquisition
When JP Morgan Chase bought the assets of the failed bank Washington Mutual for $1.9 billion last week, it became the second biggest bank in the country behind Bank of America. It also became the largest credit card issuer in the United States, at least in terms of outstanding loan balances. (more)

House Passes "Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights", Senate Approval Less Likely
The U.S. House of Representative yesterday overwhelmingly passed a bill dubbed the "Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights" by a vote of 312 to 112, but the chances of it passing in the Senate --- especially with the massive loan bailout front and center --- is much less likely. (more)

Visa Gives the OK to Unembossed Credit Cards, Leading to Faster Card Issuance
Visa announced today that it has opened the doors for banks and other card issuers to offer Visa credit and debit cards without the raised embossing that most cardholders have come to expect. While on the surface the change seems slight, it is significant in that it gives banks the ability to issue cards immediately --- customers who apply at a bank branch or other physical location can be approved and walk out with a card on the same visit. (more)

MasterCard "Contactless" PayPass Technology Now at Rite Aid Stores
MasterCard announced yesterday that most Rite Aid drug stores are now accepting its PayPass "Tap & Go" contactless credit & debit cards for payment. The technology, which allows consumers to pass their cards quickly in front of a special reader instead of swiping it through a machine, is designed to speed up the sales process. (more)

American Express Tops Credit Card Satisfaction Survey for Second Straight Year; Discover Ranked Second
American Express ranked first in overall credit card customer satisfaction for a second straight year, according to J.D. Power survey results released yesterday, with Discover Card holders being the second happiest customers. The survey asked over 7,000 credit card customers to rate their card company or companies in 5 areas: interaction; billing and payment process; fees and rates; reward programs; and benefits and services. American Express received a score of 783 out of a possible 1000, and Discover had a score of 751. (more)

Southwest Airlines Goes Cashless, To Accept Only Credit and Debit Cards Onboard
Southwest Airlines announced yesterday that, beginning September 9, the airline would only except credit cards and debit cards for on-board purchases --- no cash allowed. Southwest is not the first but is the largest airline to go cashless on board. (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.