The current average credit card rate is:

14.67%

More on current credit card interest rates...

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

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   Discover® More(SM) Card - 5% Cashback Bonus in certain categories, up to 1% elsewhere; 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers
   
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   Citi Platinum Select MasterCard - 0% on purchases & balance transfers for up to 12 months, APR as low as 11.99%
   
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   Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express - Earn points toward free nights at Westin, Sheraton, W, and other Starwood hotels
   
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   Simmons First National Bank Visa Platinum - 7.25% fixed interest rate (Excellent Credit Required)
   
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   Discover® Open Road(SM) Card - 5% Cashback Bonus on first $100 in gas and auto maintenance each month
   
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   American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Card - 10,000 American Express Membership Rewards bonus points when you use the card for at least $500 in purchases within the first 3 months.
   
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   Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card - Earn Delta Airlines miles, get 20,000 bonus miles
   

• True Earnings® Card from Costco and American Express - 3% cash back for gas, 3% for restaurants, 2% for travel, 1% everywhere else

• Citi PremierPass Card Elite - 20,000 bonus travel points after you've made over $600 in purchases with the card within 3 months.

MORE... Credit Card Deals

1,225 credit cards listed, including...

• American Express Business Platinum Card
• Discover® Student Card
• IberiaBank Visa
• Escape by Discover® Card
• Simmons First National Bank Visa Platinum
• American DreamCard MasterCard
• mtvU Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students
• New Millennium Bank Secured MasterCard or Visa
• Visa Black Card
• Citi Forward Card

Click here 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 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.

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.

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?

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:

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.

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.

Original research from IndexCreditCards.com.

Average Credit Card Rates Hit 52-Week High
Average credit card rates rose significantly in all categories again this week, reaching the highest levels seen in the last 12 months --- actually, the highest since February of 2008. The average rate for credit cards across all consumer sectors jumped to 14.67%, up a half-point in just the last month. Issuers continue to re-price based on market conditions as well as in anticipation of business practice restrictions spelled out in the recently passed credit card law.

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.

Average Credit Card Debt $4,150 Per Adult, Over $7,900 Per Household
Using government debt data and census data, IndexCreditCards.com has determined that the average American adult is carrying $4,150 in revolving debt (mainly credit card debt) and the average American household is carrying $7,980 in such debt.

Credit Card Late Fees Average $34.09, Over-the-Limit Fees Average $36.53
Our latest survey of credit card fees finds the average credit card late fee at $34.09, while the average over-the-limit fee is $36.53. 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, with certain smaller issuers a bit more lenient.

Consumer advocacy groups suggest that you obtain a copy of your credit report at least yearly in order to reduce the risk of credit errors, identity theft and fraud. The good news is that you can obtain your credit reports without cost or obligation as a result of federal legislation protecting consumers.

Similarly, it is recommended that you know your credit score when looking for credit cards. An excellent credit score is often required to obtain the best credit cards. You can instantly get your free credit scores online.

Get Your Free Credit Score Instantly Online and Get The Card That Meets Your Needs

Low Interest Credit Cards:

Low Interest Credit Cards - Credit cards with low APR on an ongoing basis. Ranked by lowest published interest 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. 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. 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 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.
Also: Hotel Credit Cards

Automotive Credit Cards - Credit cards with rewards and rebates toward specific automobile manufacturer vehicles, parts and merchandise.

Bad Credit Credit Cards:

Unsecured Credit Cards - Credit cards for people with poor credit, but good enough to still be eligible for limited unsecured credit lines.

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.

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.

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.

MORE... Business Credit Cards

Specific Credit Card Companies / Types of Credit Cards:

• American Express Credit Cards - Comparison of both consumer and small business American Express card offers.
• 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.

  MORE... Credit Card Companies

Specific Frequent Flyer Credit Cards:

• Delta Airlines Credit Cards - Compare the many American Express credit cards offering Delta Airlines SkyMiles or SkyPoints.

  MORE... Airline Credit Cards

How long will it take to pay off my credit card?

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Daily updates on the ever-changing credit card industry, including news on credit card introductions and credit card company / industry information.

Credit Card Issuer Practices to Get Major Overhaul as President Obama Signs New Law
President Obama on Friday signed into law a "Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights" that will constitute a major change in the way credit card issuers can treat their customers. In particular, issuers will lose the ability to increase interest rates "any time for any reason" as they have in the past. Many other common practices will also be curtailed or eliminated altogether. Among the major changes...

Advanta to Cease Small Business Credit Card Lending
Advanta Corp, which specializes in small business credit card issuance, has taken the drastic step of completely shutting down the issuance of credit beginning June 10. No new Advanta credit cards will be issued, and current Advanta customers will not be allowed to make further purchases with their cards. (Current customers will of course be liable for debts they've incurred.) While Advanta is leaving the door open to conducting business in the future, the new mode of operation will be to collect receivables from past customers and use that capital to pay off shareholders in Advanta's securitization trust.

American Express Offers Double Points on Gas & Groceries for Charge Card Holders
American Express last week announced a new perk for holders of its consumer charge cards -- double Membership Rewards points on gas and grocery purchases for the next year or so. (The program began March 22 and runs through March 15, 2010.) Double points can be earned on up to $1000 of gas and grocery purchases per month.

New Citi Forward Card Rewards Cardholders for Good Behavior
In what may be a sign of these tough financial times, Citi has launched a new credit card, the Citi Forward Card, that rewards cardholders for paying on time and staying beneath their credit limits.

American Airlines to Only Accept Credit and Debit Onboard
American Airlines announced today that it will begin to transition to a "cashless cabin" this summer during flights within the United States and to and from Canada. Flight attendants will only accept credit cards and debit cards for purchases of food and beverages, headsets, etc.

more credit card news

My Credit Card Offers - We check out the credit card offers from our mailbox today, and compare those mailed credit card applications to those on this site.