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Curtis Arnold, Editor-in-Chief
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Joe Taylor Jr., Reporter
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Amber Stubbs, Managing Editor

Credit Card Information

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Whether you��re planning a wedding or celebrating your anniversary, you know that compatibility is one of the keys to marital bliss. But many couples forget to make sure that they��re also financially compatible, especially when it comes to credit cards. Greg and Jessica of Fort Smith, Arkansas didn��t make that mistake. They��re planning to be [...]
Being in credit card debt is bad enough, but, when you have credit card debt at a high interest rate, it's even more stressful. If your credit score is good enough, consider transferring your balance to a low-interest credit card. Here's a roundup of the best credit cards for balance transfers.Citi Platinum Select® MasterCard® This [...]
Not long ago, it was hard to find anyone at an airport flashing anything other than a corporate American Express card. It was also hard to find airfare under $200. Today, competition among credit card companies for frequent travelers has made perks and bonus programs commonplace. Discount travel options make it more affordable for families [...]
Is there anything better than using your credit card and getting cash back? If you have excellent credit (in some cases, you only need good credit) and you pay off your balance in full every month, one of these cards might be a perfect fit for you. Capital One® Cash Rewards - $100 Cash Back Bonus This [...]
If you're like most American newlyweds, you'll probably budget at least $5,000 for your honeymoon. With some skill and flexibility, most of that won't have to be your own money. "Travel hacking" your honeymoon has become easier than ever, thanks to eager credit card companies and information you can look up for free online. Use [...]
Airline reward credit cards may lure you in with promises of big bonuses and double miles, but savvy consumers know to look for the fine print. In many cases, you might reap more benefits by trading your airline reward credit card for a cash back credit card.Sky-High Annual Fees on Many Airline Credit Cards Airlines and credit [...]
Editor's Note:  This article is a guest post from Amy Danise, Senior Managing Editor of Insure.com. It is the fourth in a four-part series on financial literacy. If you're healthy, you'll likely receive good life insurance quotes for your age and sail through the buying process. But life insurance shoppers with a less-than-ideal medical history should have a good [...]
Editor's Note:  This article is a guest post from Keith T. Gumbinger, Vice President at HSH Associates, Financial Publishers. It is the third in a four-part series on financial literacy. Perhaps the most frequently asked question we field at HSH.com is, "Where are mortgage rates today--and where are they headed?" It's a simple enough question, but there isn't a [...]
Editor's Note:  This article is a guest post from Richard Barrington, personal finance expert at MoneyRates.com. It is the second in a four-part series on financial literacy. Whether you've had a bank account for years or are looking to start your first account, understanding how bank deposit products work can help protect you from potential problems and earn [...]
April is National Financial Literacy Month, and it's the perfect time to make a commitment to learning more about your personal finances. Unlike with National Chocolate Custard Month and National Roller Skating Month, paying attention to this national commemorative month can truly mean a higher quality of life (not that we're knocking chocolate custard or [...]
Since 2003, credit bureaus have been required by law to provide Americans with annual access to their credit reports, at no charge. However, the AnnualCreditReport.com web site created to manage the process has been overshadowed by a variety of services claiming to offer free insight into credit health. Many of the trial offers attached to free [...]
There are numerous options when it comes to credit cards, including Credit Unions. While Credit Union credit cards aren't an option for everyone, there are some great upsides that you might not be aware of. Here are a few of the perks: Excellent customer service. Why is customer service at credit unions generally superior to banks? Because [...]
With new credit card rules squeezing profit margins at major banks, foreign travelers have become an even easier target for special fees and surcharges. Credit card issuers have traditionally imposed foreign transaction fees to offset the cost of fraud prevention and currency exchange services. Many banks now generate profits from foreign transactions, forcing savvy visitors [...]
There��s no doubt that the new credit card legislation was long overdue and that it offers some wonderful consumer protections. But even though consumers could see the benefits from the Credit CARD Act, they also felt that, as with all good things, there��s sometimes a bad side that comes along with it. An August 2009 CardRatings.com poll [...]
American credit card customers enter a new era on February 22, 2010. That date marks the full enactment of the Credit CARD Act signed into law the previous spring. Bolstered by populist backlash against "bailed out" banks, lawmakers drafted some of the boldest, strictest regulations ever imposed on private lenders. New Rules Ban "Unfair" Credit [...]
When Congress passed the Credit CARD Act in the Spring of 2009, lawmakers intended to protect consumers who were struggling to keep up with mounting debt. Implementing a stringent set of regulations on credit card issuers had a chilling effect on Americans with poor credit scores. Those consumers may feel like they have no choice but [...]
Editor��s Note: The following is a guest post from Richard Barrington, a freelance writer and novelist who previously spent over twenty years as an investment industry executive.  It was Mark Twain who once said that rumors of his demise had been greatly exaggerated. You could say the same about the articles floating around lately about the death [...]
The Credit CARD Act of 2009 kicks into full effect on February 22, 2010. Consumer advocates hailed the Act's curbs on service fees and interest rate hikes, even though  they played a role in some banks reducing credit limits and closing some accounts. Student borrowers earned lawmakers' attention after industry critics complained that casual campus marketing has [...]
Most Americans like to make New Year's resolutions involving numbers. You may want to lose weight, increase your savings, or boost your stock portfolio. If you're planning on buying a house, financing a car, or purchasing insurance in the next year, your credit score is one more number you'll want to track on your resolution [...]
Categories: Credit Scores
When lawmakers proposed tightening banking regulations to help protect credit card users, most consumers cheered the decision. However, by shifting profit centers away from interest rates and penalty fees, many banks have resorted to raising costs for all of their customers. Avoid Inactivity Fees by Making Routine Credit Card Purchases For years, many card issuers have [...]
As our "year-end" highlights list moves into the new year, we spotlight credit cards that caught our attention in 2009 that also look to make a major impact in your spending habits during 2010.Best Reward Points Cards 2009 may have felt like the swan song for reward credit cards, with many banks pulling back on perks to [...]
Jean Chatzky is the financial editor for the Today Show, a columnist for the New York Daily News, and author of six books, including Pay It Down. Jean has now created an online debt reduction program called Debt Diet Online.  CardRatings.com reporter, Mike Killian, interviewed her to get the scoop on her new debt diet site. Mike:  [...]
Categories: Credit Card Debt
Hundreds of new credit card products launch every year, taking their place alongside trusted veterans. Only a handful of cards made our list of the very best credit cards of 2009. Best Cashback Credit Cards of 2009: In a year when banks pulled out all the stops to preserve profit margins, cash back and reward cards took some [...]
A recent poll conducted by CardRatings.com found that a majority of consumers anticipate spending more on their credit cards this holiday season than last. Our founder and consumer advocate Curtis Arnold believes this may be an encouraging sign of consumer confidence as the nation slowly recovers from the recession.   "I think it is encouraging that consumers are indicating [...]
Categories: CardRatings Polls
Credit card rate hikes have become a popular strategy for lenders who want to purge their portfolios of less profitable accounts. New federal credit card regulations give consumers the power to reject a credit card rate increase, but only at the expense of an active credit line. "Freezing" a credit line to lock in favorable [...]
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