Capital One Credit Cards
By updated on May 22, 2012

If a Capital One credit card is not in your wallet, here's your chance to change that and learn about some of the best capital one credit cards available.  Capital One is a diversified financial services company offering a broad array of credit cards, savings and loan products in the US, UK, and Canada. They also have retail branch locations. Capital One offers credit cards for people with both excellent and good credit. Some offer reward points like credit cards in their No Hassle and Venture line of credit cards.

Other than those great Viking commercials, why should I choose a Capital One credit card?

If you're searching for the best credit card to fit your finances, chances are you can find what you are looking for from Capital One. Capital One credit cards come in all varieties, whether you have a limited credit history or excellent credit; if you're a student or a small business owner; if you want to take advantage of zero APR credit cards to pay off credit card debt, or if you want to earn rewards points for using credit cards for everyday purchases.

The Capital One commercials sustain one of the most recognized brands in America, but Capital One is also one of the country's top 10 biggest banks (based on deposits) and is a Fortune 500 company with a solid reputation. CEO Richard Fairbank founded the company in 1988 and the company today has more than 45 million customer accounts.

In 2011, Capital One made news by acquiring the credit card division of HSBC Bank, and is in the process of acquiring ING Direct. These acquisitions will make this financial institution the fifth largest in the U.S. in terms of deposits.

What are my options for Capital One credit cards?

You can choose from more than a dozen Capital One credit cards. There are options for people with excellent credit, average credit and those who are working to rebuild their credit. You can choose a card with rewards program, such as the Venture One Rewards card that gives you 1.25 miles for every dollar you spend, or the Cash Reward card that gives you up to 2 percent back on grocery and credit card purchases.

Capital One credit cards

  • Low interest rates. If you typically carry a balance from one month to the next, you should look for zero APR credit cards, especially if you anticipate making big purchases in the coming months. The Capital One Venture One Rewards credit card currently has a zero percent APR on purchases for 12 months, no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Plus, it earns you 1.25 airline miles per dollar on all purchase transactions. You'll need excellent credit to qualify.
  • Balance transfer. If you want to pay off your credit card debt over time, the Capital One Platinum Prestige credit card offers zero percent interest on balance transfers for 14 months. While you will be charged a one-time fee of 3 percent for a balance transfer, this card does not have an annual fee.
  • Limited credit. If you have lived on a cash-only basis or are new to the United States, no matter how good your finances are, you may not have much of a credit history. Capital One's Cash Rewards for Newcomers is one example of credit cards for limited credit customers. The credit card has no annual fee and pays 2 percent cash back on travel purchases, plus 1 percent cash back on all other purchases.
  • Rewards. If you have good or excellent credit and plan to pay off your credit card balance in full each month, you may want to take advantage of a rewards credit card. You can choose between several Capital One rewards cards to find the one that matches your spending habits. For example, the Capital One Cash credit card earns 1 percent cash back on gas and groceries and 1 percent on all other purchases. If you travel, you may want to opt for a rewards card that earns frequent flier miles, like the Capital One Venture One Rewards credit card mentioned above.
  • Student. College students need credit cards to pay for concerts, sports events and maybe even books, but not all credit card companies offer a student credit card. The Journey Student Rewards card from Capital One has no annual fee and allows you to set up text messages and email alerts when a payment is due or you are near your spending limit. The credit card is designed to help you build your credit history, plus you can earn 1 percent cash back on all purchases. Each month that you pay your bill on time, you can earn a 25 percent bonus on your cash back.

Does Capital One have credit cards for small businesses?

Yes, Capital One offers a dozen small business credit cards with a variety of rewards programs geared specifically for businesses. That includes such stalwarts as the Capital One Business Platinum with Preferred No Hassle Miles, which is popular for offering three miles for every dollar spent, unlimited miles without that don’t expire and an array of redemption options.

Also the Capital One Venture for Business credit card is one of the best small business credit cards around for business owners who need to travel, because you earn double airline miles on all purchases, 25,000 bonus miles if you spend $1,000 in the first three months, 5,000 bonus miles for each employee credit card you request and Capital One waives your annual fee for the first year.

So, research the choices above, and compare them to other card issuers.  Known for their excellent rewards programs, it's easy to see why so many people find themselves answering "Capital One" when asked to show what's in their wallet.

What is the standard Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on a Capital One credit card?

The APR depends on the individual credit card, but Capital One credit cards can range from an introductory offer of zero percent to 24.9 percent for both purchases and balance transfers. The APR is just one thing to consider when comparing cards--annual fees, rewards and additional benefits can make a difference in the best credit card for you.

Does Capital One charge an annual fee?

Some Capital One credit cards have annual fees and some don't. For example, the Venture Rewards credit card has a $59 annual fee, but it is waived the first year. If you're looking for a Capital One card without an annual fee, typically you need to have excellent credit (a FICO score in the 730-850 range).

What's the best way to apply for a Capital One credit card?

Once you've found the Capital One credit card that best fits your needs, read the review and terms and conditions and apply for a capital one credit card online.

Capital One® Orbitz® Visa® Platinum

This is a great card for travelers as it takes the hassle out of earning and redeeming points. Your points won't expire and there's no limit to how many you can earn. You can use your points for gift cards and name-brand merchandise. Earn three times your dollar spent on all eligible Orbitz.com bookings and one point per dollar on all other purchases. There are also bonus points on eligible Orbitz.com bookings.There is no annual fee and a lengthy introductory purchase APR. Downside: This card requires excellent credit.

Who uses this card?
This card is best for consumers with excellent credit that frequently travel using Orbitz and do not need to revolve a balance.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

5 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® Orbitz® Visa® Platinum

MTV® Visa® Card from Capital One®

Build points on music, movies, food, and fun. The cardholder also earns bonus points for keeping an account open and in good standing. Then cash in on exclusive MTV rewards. The member earns 5 points per dollar spent on entertainment and 2 points per dollar spent on restaurants and another point per dollar on all other purchases. There are 25 bonus points each billing period you keep your account in good standing by paying on time. There is no annual fee and an extra long introductory 0% APR for purchases. Downside--a higher than average APR after the introductory period. There is also a high balance transfer rate.

Who uses this card?
This card is best for consumers with excellent/good credit that spend a lot in entertainment categories.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

5 out of 5

Learn more about MTV® Visa® Card from Capital One®

Capital One® VentureOneSM Rewards Credit Card

This card offers major rewards and more flexibility but without the annual fee. There is no limit to the miles you can earn and your miles won't expire. The credit card holder earns 1.25 miles per dollar spent on every purchase. There are no foreign transaction fees. There is a lengthy 0% introductory rate on purchases and then variable APR thereafter. There is no balance transfer fee. This card requires excellent credit.

Who uses this card?
This card is best for consumers with excellent credit that travel frequently, want flexibility, and plan to use the card overseas.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

5 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® VentureOneSM Rewards Credit Card

Capital One® VentureSM Rewards Credit Card

This card allows 2 miles per dollar on every purchase plus no limit to the miles you can earn, and miles won't expire. There are no foreign transaction fees and no balance transfer fee, balance transfer APR is based on your creditworthiness. Applicant must have excellent credit. There is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $59 after that.

Who uses this card?
This card is best for consumers with excellent credit who travel frequently, want flexibility, plan to use the card overseas, and spend enough to offset the annual fee.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

5 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® VentureSM Rewards Credit Card

Capital One® Cash Rewards - $100 Cash Back Bonus

This card offers $100 bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months and 1% cash back on all purchases. There are no limits to cash back rewards and cash rewards won't expire. There is an auto redemption feature available. There is a lengthy 0% introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers. There is no annual fee. Downside: This card requires excellent credit defined as among other items, "never been more than 60 days late on a credit card, medical bill or loan payment."

Who uses this card?
This card is best for consumers that have excellent credit, pay in full, and who want to maximize cash back for their spending.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

5 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® Cash Rewards - $100 Cash Back Bonus

Capital One® Platinum Prestige Credit Card

This card offers and a lengthy introductory 0% purchase and balance transfer APR. There is a 3% balance transfer fee. This card is for individuals with an excellent credit history. There is a 24-hour travel assistance if your card is lost or stolen as well as 24-hour roadside assistance. There is also auto rental insurance. After the introductory 0% APR expires, the normal APR is about average for a card that does not offer rewards.

Who uses this card?
This card is best for consumers with excellent credit looking to take advantage of a good 0% introductory offer.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

5 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® Platinum Prestige Credit Card

LSU Tigers(TM) Platinum Mastercard® from Capital One®

I like that this card offers extra points on groceries and gas and that there are no point caps or expiration dates to worry about. I think the zero percent purchase introductory interest rate is also a pretty good deal. Just keep in mind that after that great introductory APR offer the rate will increase to a 13.90-19.90% variable rate. So, don't plan on making a habit of carrying a balance on this card--which is the general rule for rewards credit cards. The card design is great for loyal LSU fans.

Who uses this card?
This is a great card for loyal LSU fans that use their credit card to buy groceries and gas.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

5 out of 5

Learn more about LSU Tigers(TM) Platinum Mastercard® from Capital One®

Capital One® Classic Platinum Credit Card

Here is a card which can be as unique as you when you upload a favorite image to create your own card design. It's fast, easy and free. This card offers a lengthy introductory 0% APR. The cardholder must have average credit. There is no balance transfer fee. 24-hour emergency roadside assistance plus 24-hour travel and emergency service. This card has a decent APR for people with average credit. Downside: There is a $39 annual fee.

Who uses this card?
This card is best for consumers with average credit looking for a Plain Jane card to use to further build credit that don't mind paying an annual fee.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

4 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® Classic Platinum Credit Card

Sony Card from Capital One®

This card offers and a lengthy introductory 0% purchase APR. This card is for individuals with an excellent credit history who enjoy entertainment rewards. After the introductory 0% purchase APR expires, the normal APR is about average.

Who uses this card?
This card is best for consumers with excellent credit looking to take advantage of a good 0% introductory purchase APR offer.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

4 out of 5

Learn more about Sony Card from Capital One®

Capital One® Cash Credit Card - Average

Here is a card for folks with average credit. This card offers 1% cash back on all purchases. There is no limit on rewards and no expiration. There is an extensive introductory 0% APR on purchases then variable APR thereafter. There is no balance transfer fee but the balance transfer APR is on the high side. Downside: There is a $39 annual fee.

Who uses this card?
This card is best for consumers that have average credit, pay in full, and don't mind paying an annual fee for a cash back rewards.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

4 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® Cash Credit Card - Average

Capital One® Platinum Credit Card

There are no balance transfer fees. This card is for folks with average credit. Use Image Card to upload one of your favorite pictures or choose from one of Capital One for your own unique card. There is a 24-hour travel and emergency assistance if your credit card is lost or stolen, as well as 24 hour roadside assistance if your car breaks down or you get locked out. There is also auto rental insurance. Downside: purchase APR is high. Balance transfer APR is the same as purchase APR with no introductory rate.

Who uses this card?
This card is best for consumers with average credit looking for a Plain Jane card to use to further build credit that never carry a balance.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

3 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® Platinum Credit Card

Capital One® Secured Mastercard®

This is a great card for those with limited credit histories that would like to further build their credit. It offers a low annual fee compared to other secured credit cards and there are no set up or processing fees. It reports to all three major credit reporting agencies and offers tools to help track your credit. As with most cards for people with limited credit histories, the APR is on the high side.

Who uses this card?
This card is best for consumers with limited credit that do not qualify for an unsecured card and that never carry a balance.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

3 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® Secured Mastercard®

Journey (SM) Student Rewards from Capital One®

Parents, legislators and consumer advocates have debated the merits of student credit cards over the past few years, especially after allegations of questionable marketing practices on college campuses. That's why it's great to see how Capital One has promoted its Journey Student Rewards credit card as an effective tool for young Americans to build good financial habits. This credit card for limited credit uses Capital One's features, benefits and customer service as incentives to reward responsible saving and spending.

Teaching students the benefits of credit cards over prepaid debit cards According to research conducted by Auriemma Consulting Group, consumers born after the 1980s tend to rely more on checking account debit cards and on prepaid debit cards instead of on credit cards for daily purchasing. They tend to manage money well, but may be missing out on some of the biggest benefits of using credit cards. Journey Student Rewards offers Visa Platinum benefits that include:
  • $0 fraud liability. Debit cards that get lost or stolen can put your cash at risk, at least for a little while. Capital One protects its cardholders from paying charges made without permission.
  • Travel assistance services. Studying abroad and setting out on spring break become safer and simpler with help from a 24-hour response team that can dispatch replacement credit cards and cash advances.
  • Travel accident insurance. Purchase your train or plane tickets with Journey Student Rewards, and Capital One provides coverage for your trip.
  • Rental car insurance. Occasional drivers will appreciate automatic collision, damage, and loss insurance included when you reserve your rental car with Journey Student Rewards.
  • Extended warranty coverage. Even if you use some of your credit line to splurge on jewelry, electronics or appliances, you'll appreciate automatic warranty extensions that come with your Capital One credit card.

Like other Capital One credit cards, Journey Student Rewards doesn't charge fees for foreign transactions or currency conversion, making it an ideal travel companion for quick overseas trips or extended stays abroad. You can even transfer a balance from another card at no charge, something for which other credit cards charge up to 5 percent.

Using today's technology to manage a student credit card Even with a strong slate of premium features, Journey Student Rewards really shines by connecting cash back rebates to responsible credit card use. In addition to the 1 percent rebate common among many of today's best cash back rewards cards, Journey Student Rewards offers a 25-percent bonus rebate for cardholders who pay their bills on time. To help keep you from missing your payment or exceeding your credit line, Capital One has set up an elaborate online system that triggers text or email alerts when your account's in danger. You can even help prevent fraud by enabling other notifications for daily card transactions.

Should you switch to Journey Student Rewards? You won't really be able to switch to Journey Student Rewards unless you're a young adult ready to trade in your authorized user status on a parent's account for your very first individual credit card. Capital One doesn't make Journey Student Rewards available to co-applicants, so you'll have to wait until you're at least 21 years old before you can complete their instant approval application. As you get older and gain more money management experience, you'll certainly qualify for credit cards with better interest rates. Until then, Journey Student Rewards is one of the best cash back credit cards you'll find.

Who uses this card?
This card is best for students and other young adults who want to get a head start on a solid credit history without the help of a co-signer. Sure, Journey Student Rewards offers many of the same features as other Capital One credit cards. However, it wraps those rewards and benefits into language designed to ease first-time credit card users into a money management system that's not restrictive. The program's emphasis of rewards and benefits helps students learn the reasons why you might choose to swipe credit cards instead of debit cards at the checkout counter, without running the risk of going deeply into debt.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

3 out of 5

Learn more about Journey (SM) Student Rewards from Capital One®

CapitalOne® Cash Rewards for Newcomers

If you're new to the United States, especially on an H1B Visa or another work-related program, it may be hard for you to establish a credit history. Capital One wants to help, with the Capital One Cash Rewards for Newcomers, a special version of its Cash Rewards MasterCard designed for recent immigrants to the country. This basic card offers an easy and inexpensive way to jumpstart your U.S. credit score, as long as you plan to pay off the balance every month.

Travel rewards
Capital One Cash Rewards for Newcomers uses the same online rebate tracking system that powers the bank's other popular rewards credit cards. You'll earn 2 percent cash back on all travel purchases and 1 percent rebates on everything else, which you can easily redeem for statement credits through Capital One's website. Like other Capital One credit cards, this account charges no foreign transaction fees, saving you up to 5 percent when you travel overseas.

Not the lowest APR card
However, access to credit comes at a price if you want to carry over a balance from month to month. Capital One Cash Rewards for Newcomers comes with an annual percentage rate well into the double digits, far higher than most cash back rewards cards and comparable to many credit cards for bad credit. Although the card charges no fee for balance transfers, it's unlikely that you'll save money by consolidating your debt with this account.

Should you switch?
Not if you already have a Capital One credit card, or a credit card from any other major United States lender. Capital One designed the Capital One Cash Rewards for Newcomers for people who may already have credit cards in their former home countries, or may not have used a credit card before.

Who uses this card?
This card is best if you've been living and working in the U.S. for less than a year and you want the security and convenience of carrying a credit card from a trusted lender. This card is also ideal if you intend to remain loyal to Capital One, since the bank often allows customers to graduate from subprime terms into its credit cards for good credit. Capital One enjoys a strong reputation for reporting to all three credit bureaus, enabling you to establish a credit profile that will qualify you for other lenders' standard credit card offers.This card is best for consumers with limited credit that never carry a balance. And who want to build credit and earn cash back.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

3 out of 5

Learn more about CapitalOne® Cash Rewards for Newcomers

Capital One® SparkSM Cash for Business



Who uses this card?


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

5 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® SparkSM Cash for Business

Capital One® SparkSM Miles for Business



Who uses this card?
This card is for the business owner who travels a great deal.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

5 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® SparkSM Miles for Business

Capital One® SparkSM Miles Select for Business



Who uses this card?
This card is for the business owner that has established credit, who wants more miles, low intro rate on purchases, no annual fee and online Quarterly and Year-End Summaries.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

5 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® SparkSM Miles Select for Business

Capital One® SparkSM Cash Select for Business



Who uses this card?
This card is for the business owner who has established credit, wants more cash back, low intro rate on purchases, no annual fee and online Quarterly and Year-End Summaries.


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

5 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® SparkSM Cash Select for Business

Capital One® SparkSM Classic for Business



Who uses this card?


Note!  Do you know your credit score? Click here for free credit score offers.

Editor's Rating

4 out of 5

Learn more about Capital One® SparkSM Classic for Business
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