Kudos & Community Outreach 2004

"My favorite credit card review site..." Jean Chatzky, Financial Editor of NBC's Today Show

We are honored that we have received so much national recognition since our organization established an online presence in 1998 and we always welcome media or press inquiries.

December

• Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, interviewed by Jason Harper on KATV's MidDay Show - Channel 7 (ABC TV affiliate) regarding consumer tips on choosing a credit card. This interview was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted extensively in an article that appeared in The Butner-Creedmoor Newspaper (NC) regarding gas rebate credit cards. The article was written by Lynn Hillman and David Rodgers.
• Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, interviewed by BJ Sams on KTHV - Channel 11 (CBS TV affiliate) regarding consumer credit card debt during the holiday season. This interview was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
• Referenced in an book review of Live Well on Less Than You Think: The New York Times Guide to Achieving Your Financial Freedom by Mike Maza of The Dallas Morning News (newspaper).
• Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, interviewed by BJ Sams on KTHV - Channel 11 (CBS TV affiliate) regarding consumer credit card debt during the holiday season. This interview was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared in The Wall Street Journal (Sunday Edition) regarding airline reward credit card offers. The article was written by Kelly Spors.
• Mentioned in an article in The Chicago Tribune (Sunday edition) about credit card reward programs. The article was written by Gregory Karp, staff writer for The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa., a Tribune Co. newspaper.
• Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, interviewed by Melinda Mayo on KATV's Good Morning Arkansas - Channel 7 (ABC TV affiliate) regarding consumer credit card debt during the holiday season. This interview was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
• One of our credit education articles was reprinted in the premiere issue of Central Arkansas Woman Magazine.
• Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, was the guest for an hour-long call-in radio show that airs live on 96.9 FM Talk- WTKK Boston. Various consumer credit subjects were discussed. This event was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, was interviewed for a NewsProNet television segment regarding gas rebate credit card offers. The segment is made available to affiliate stations throughout the country, including KEYE- Austin CBS, KTRK- Houston ABC and WCPO- Cincinnati ABC.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, interviewed on WS Radio - The World Wide Leader in Internet Talk by nationally recognized credit expert and author Gerri Detweiler regarding consumer credit card tips. This event was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared on BankRate regarding online credit card security issues. BankRate began more than 25 years ago as a print publisher of the newsletter "Bank Rate Monitor" and is listed among the best financial websites by Forbes (Magazine). The article was written by Dana Dratch.
• Listed as a consumer resource in an article about low rate credit cards that was published in The Jersey Journal (newspaper). The article was written by Alexandra Fenwick.
• We were proud to have educated participants in the Arthritis Foundation’s 2004 Jingle Bell Run about credit issues by placing consumer credit information in about 2,000 "goodie bags". We are also proud to have been a financial sponsor of this event, which is an annual fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation. This effort was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
• We are proud that one of our credit education articles written by Rebecca Lindsey has been published in the December issue of Young Money Magazine. Young Money seeks to educate college students about personal finance. The magazine is published by InCharge® Institute of America, Inc., a national non-profit organization specializing in personal finance education and credit counseling. Young Money boasts a readership of 750,000 young adults.
• Listed as one of the best credit related sites on the Internet byThe Internet Tourbus- Best of Everything. This site, which began in 1995, is edited by Net gurus Bob Rankin and Patrick Crispen and boasts 100,000 subscribers in 130 countries.
• Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director,interviewed by Jason Harper on KATV's DayBreak - Channel 7 (ABC TV affiliate) regarding consumer credit card debt during the holiday season. This interview was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.

November

• Referenced in a new personal finance book entitled The ABC's of Getting Out of Debt: Turn Your Bad Debt to Good Debt. The author of the book is Garrett Sutton, Esq., a corporate attorney with over 20 years experience. This book is part of the popular Poor Dad Rich Dad Book Series - the original book in this series was on the New York Times Bestsellers List for 209 weeks.
• We are proud to have helped solicit consumer interviews for a investigative report on Frontline (PBS) entitled "The Secret History of the Credit Card". This report, produced in conjunction with the New York Times, examined how the credit card industry became so profitable and powerful, and- at a time when the average American family carries ten credit cards- so pervasive. We are also proud to be listed as a consumer credit resource on the PBS website. You can read a related article in the Sunday "New York Times" (11/21/04). The article can be read for free online at NYTimes.com.
• One of our consumer education articles dealing with student credit issues has been posted on CreditCardNation.com, the website of Dr. Robert Manning. Dr. Manning is nationally recognized for his expertise involving consumer credit issues. His book, Credit Card Nation (2000), received the 2001 Robert Ezra Park Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sociological Practice from the Sociological Practice Association and his path breaking study, "Credit Cards on Campus," received the 2000 Morris Rosenberg Award from the District of Columbia Sociology Society.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about department store cards written by Eileen Powell, a business writer for The Associated Press. The article ran is numerous newspapers across the country, including The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Miami Herlad.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about gas rebate credit card reward programs that appeared on the front page of The Houston Chronicle. The article was written by Purva Patel and Nelson Antosh.
• We were proud to participate in the Fall Carnival at Booker Arts Magnet School by distributing flyers containing consumer credit information and by donating a preloaded gift card to the silent auction. Congratulations to Vernita Daniels, the winner of the gift card. This effort was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about a recent Supreme Court decision affecting Discover and American Express that appeared on BankRate.com. BankRate began more than 25 years ago as a print publisher of the newsletter "Bank Rate Monitor" and is listed among the best financial websites by Forbes (Magazine). The article was written by Laura Bruce.
• Listed as a "Business & Money Site to See" byTime Warner Book Group, one of the most successful book publishers in the country. In 2002, Time Warner Book Group had a record 56 hardcover and paperback New York Times bestsellers.

October

• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about gas rebate credit card reward programs that appeared on SmartMoney.com (affiliated with Smart Money Mag.). The article was written by Aleksandra Todorova.
• One of our credit education articles was reprinted in the October issue of Arkansas Health and Living Magazine.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article by Betty Lin-Fisher about credit card fees that appeared in the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal (Newspaper). Betty is a business writer for the Beacon Journal.
• We were proud to have educated participants in the Arkansas Race for the Cure about credit issues by placing consumer credit information in 5,000 "goodie bags". This effort was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, interviewed by Michael Wallace, host of the The Wall Street Journal This Morning (Radio Show) regarding credit card comparison shopping tips. "The Wall Street Journal This Morning" is the leading early-morning business radio program broadcast on 58 stations in the U.S., including WLS, Chicago; WPHT, Philadelphia; KNEW, San Francisco; WTNT, Washington, D.C.; KFTK, St. Louis; and KSL, Salt Lake City.
• Mentioned in an article in The Chicago Tribune (Sunday edition) about credit card rate comparison shopping. The article was written by Gregory Karp, staff writer for The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa., a Tribune Co. newspaper.
• Our popular consumer reviews section was referenced in an article in the October issue of Details Magazine about airline reward credit cards. The article was written by Clive Thompson. Details recently received a "Gold Medal" by the Society of Publication Designers.
• Mentioned in a personal finance article by Reuters that appeared in The Boston Globe (newspaper). The article was written by Linda Stern, a freelance writer who covers personal finance issues for Reuters.

September

• Listed as a financial resource by the Kentucky Council on Economic Education, which is affiliated with the National Council on Economic Education.
• Mentioned in a segment about credit card rewards programs on Good Morning America (ABC News). The segment was hosted by Mellody Hobson, Good Morning America's Financial Contributor since 2000.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared in The Wall Street Journal (Sunday Edition) regarding credit card offers that are not consumer friendly. The article was written by Kelly Spors.
• Mentioned as a financial resource on the website of Towneley Capital Managment, Inc.. Towneley is a SEC-registered independent investment advisory firm founded in 1971 by Wesley G. McCain, CFA, Ph.D.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared in The Washington Post regarding rebate credit cards. We are also proud that Ira Stoller, a senior member of our message board, was quoted in the article. The article was written by Don Oldenburg, who writes about issues of consumer interest.
• We are proud that one of our credit education articles written by Rebecca Lindsey has been published in the Sept. issue of Young Money Magazine. Young Money is published by InCharge^® Institute of America, Inc., a national non-profit organization specializing in personal finance education and credit counseling.
• Mentioned in an article by Ann Limpert about saving time and money online in The Washingtonian (D.C. Magazine). The Washingtonian is one of the nation’s most respected and successful magazines, winning five National Magazine Awards in recent years.
• Special thanks to nationally recognized credit expert and author Gerri Detweiler for inviting Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, to participate in a conference call entitled "Choosing the Best Plastic". Curtis fielded questions from consumers related to various credit issues. This event was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
• Listed as a consumer resource in a segment about reward credit cards on WSLS Channel 10 (Roanoke, VA NBC affiliate).
• Mentioned on the air as a consumer resource in a segment about credit cards on KNDU Channel 25 (Kennewick, WA NBC affiliate).
• Featured link on Detroit Channel 7 (WXYZ- ABC News affiliate).
• We are proud that one of our credit education articles written by Rebecca Lindsey has been published in the Sept. issue of Military Money Magazine. Military Money is published by InCharge® Institute of America, Inc. in partnership with the National Military Family Association (NMFA). It is part of the Department of Defense's "Financial Readiness Campaign," created and distributed with the support of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy.

August

• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article in the August issue of Consumer Reports^® MoneyAdvisor Newsletter about store credit card reward programs. MoneyAdvisor is a new publication offered by Consumers Union^®, the nonprofit publishers of Consumer Reports. Consumers Union^® is an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization serving only consumers.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about reward credit cards in USA Today (Weekend Magazine). The article was written by Jean Sherman Chatzky, editor-at-large for Money Magazine and financial editor for NBC's Today Show. USA Weekend appears in 598 newspapers throughout the country.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article in The Chicago Tribune about credit scoring. The article was written by columnist Janet Kidd Stewart.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared on the website of CNN/Money(Magazine) about student credit cards. The article was written by Jeanne Sahadi, senior staff writer.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about student credit cards that appeared in The Arizona Republic (Phoenix Newspaper). The article was written by Brahm Resnik, a business and consumer reporter.
• Mentioned on the Clark Howard Show by guest host and personal finance expert Ilyce Glink. Ilyce is an award-winning, nationally-syndicated columnist, television reporter, radio talk show host and best-selling book author.
• One of our credit education articles was reprinted in the July/August issue of Arkansas Health and Living Magazine.
• Referenced in a segment about rebate credit cards on NBC 4 Television- Columbus, OH. The segment featured NewsChannel 4's Teresa Garcia.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about the AAA gas rebate credit card that appeared in Toledo Blade (Toledo, OH Newspaper). The article was written by Gary Pakulski, a business writer for the Blade.

July

• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, was a guest on an hour-long call-in radio show that airs live on 96.9 FM Talk- WTKK Boston. Various consumer credit subjects were discussed.
• Mentioned in an article about gas rebate cards that appeared in the July issue of the National Association of Convenience Stores Magazine.
• Special thanks to Rose Marie Willis from the Arkansas Department of Workforce Education (Office of Family and Consumer Sciences) for allowing us to speak to a group of family and consumer science high school teachers about consumer credit issues during a Jump$tart seminar held at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. We are proud that Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, serves as the co-chair of the Arkansas chapter of Jump$tart. This event was part of our community outreach program.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about gas rebate credit cards that appeared in The Arizona Republic (Phoenix Newspaper). The article was written by Brahm Resnik, a business and consumer reporter.
• Mentioned in a segment about rebate credit cards onThe Saturday Early Show on CBS. The segment featured Vera Gibbons, special correspondent from Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, interviewed by Sharon Epperson on CNBC TV's Power Lunch about identity theft issues. The interview was aired during "Getting Real," a weekly personal-finance segment.
• Featured in an article about credit card interest rates in the L.A. Times- Sunday Edition. The article was written by Eileen Ambrose, personal finance columnist.
• Featured in an article about secured credit cards that appeared on the website of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine. The article was written by Janet Bodnar, executive editor and a nationally recognized expert in the field of children's and family finances.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article in the July issue of Consumer Reports^® MoneyAdvisor Newsletter about disposable credit card numbers. MoneyAdvisor is a new publication offered by Consumers Union^®, the nonprofit publishers of Consumer Reports. Consumers Union^® is an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization serving only consumers.
• Featured as a recommended Web resource by Rich Ray, Community Publishing Coordinator of The Florida Times-Union newspaper.
• Special thanks to the Lyn Haralson, Community Affairs Associate Specialist - Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (Little Rock Branch), for allowing Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, to address various representatives of Faith Based Organizations at a home ownership workshop regarding credit issues. The representatives are working or want to work to improve homeownership in the Delta. The workshop was sponsored by The Family Service Agency (Consumer Credit Counseling Service) and Enterprise Corporation of the Delta. This event was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, interviewed by Sharon Epperson on CNBC TV's Street Signs about reward credit cards.

June

• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an segment on NPR's Morning Edition program (National Public Radio) about fixed rate credit card offers. Morning Edition is the most listened-to morning radio program in the country.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted extensively in an article that appeared on the website of CNN/Money(Magazine) about reward credit cards. The article was written by Jeanne Sahadi, senior staff writer.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared in Physicians Financial News about reward credit cards. Since 1983, Physicians Financial News has been a leading non-clinical professional medical publication. The article was written by Janice Rosenberg, a Chicago-based freelance writer specializing in health and business.
• Quoted in an article in the July issue of Money Magazine about innovative credit card reward programs. The article was written by Megan Johnston.
• Referenced in a personal finance segment by Gerri Willis about travel reward credit cards on Money.com. Willis is a personal finance editor for CNN Business News.
• Received multiple references in an article about new credit card reward programs written by Aleksandra Todorova that appeared on SmartMoney.com (affiliated with Smart Money Mag.).
• Received multiple references in a free publication about credit repair written by nationally recognized consumer advocate Gerri Detweiler. Gerri is an accomplished author. She has written numerous books including The Ultimate Credit Handbook, which was featured in Money magazine as one of the five best new personal finance books of the year when it was released.

May

• Featured in a segment about gas rebate credit cards on CNN Headline News. The segment featured Vera Gibbons, special correspondent from Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared in The Wall Street Journal Sunday (Sunday Edition) regarding redeeming credit card reward points. The article was written by Kelly Spors.
• Referenced extensively in a personal finance segment about reward credit cards that aired on CNN Headline News. The segment was conducted by Gerri Willis. Willis is a personal finance editor for CNN Business News.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared in The Washington Post regarding redeeming gas rebate credit cards. We are also proud that Ira Stoller, a senior member of our message board, was quoted in the article. The article was written by Don Oldenburg, who writes about issues of consumer interest.
• Featured on a segment about gas rebate credit cards on MSNBC's Economy Watch. The segment featured Vera Gibbons, special correspondent from Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an newspaper article in The Charlotte Observer about credit card acceptance among fast-food establishments. The article was written by Andrew Shain, aka Mr. Watchdog. Mr. Shain is a columnist that writes about consumer issues.
• Mentioned as a consumer resource in an article about credit card interest rates by the Akron Beacon Journal.
• We are proud to featured as a consumer resource by The National Endowment for Financial Education® Arkansas High School Financial Planning Program® (HSFPP). HSFPP is a six-unit curriculum designed to help teach high school students the basics of sound money management. Judith Urich, Ph.D., CFP, a Family Resource Management Specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, helped develop the curriculum.
• Referenced extensively in a personal finance segment about reward credit cards that aired on CNNfn TV. The segment was hosted by Gerri Willis. Willis is co-host of CNNfn's "The FlipSide".

April

• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared in The Wall Street Journal (Sunday Edition) regarding gas rebate credit cards. The article was written by Kelly Spors.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article in Smart Money Magazine (The Wall Street Journal Magazine of Personal Finance) regarding cash back credit cards. The article was written by Anne Kadet.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an interview on ABC News Radio regarding airline reward credit cards. ABC News Radio has affiliate stations throughout the country. The interview was conducted by Pamela Coulter.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared on BankRate regarding preapproved credit card offers. BankRate began more than 25 years ago as a print publisher of the newsletter "Bank Rate Monitor." The article was written by Dana Dratch.
• Listed as a resource by the National Education Loan Network (Nelnet). Nelnet is one of the top educational finance companies in the U.S. and is focused on providing quality student loan products and services to students and schools nationwide.
• Listed as a resource by the The Clara Abbott Foundation. The foundation, affiliated with Abbott Laboratories, is a not-for-profit organization, managed and funded separately from Abbott, which provides financial consulting, education and need-based loans and grants to Abbott families.
• Our credit education articles have been listed as a resource for teaching teens about responsible credit usage by Consumers For Responsible Credit Solutions (CRCS), a national advocacy group representing consumers benefiting from credit counseling.

March

• Special thanks to Professor Eddie Ary, CPA, CFP, for allowing us to speak to three personal finance undergraduate classes at Ouachita Baptist University about credit card debt and other credit card issues. These speaking engagments were part of our voluntary community outreach program.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared in The Wall Street Journal Sunday (Sunday Edition) regarding fixed rate credit card offers. The article was written by Kelly Spors.

February

• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an newspaper article in The Charlotte Observer about debit credit cards by Andrew Shain, aka Mr. Watchdog. Mr. Shain is a columnist that writes about consumer issues.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared on BankRate regarding credit score issues. BankRate began more than 25 years ago as a print publisher of the newsletter "Bank Rate Monitor." The article was written by Dana Dratch.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared on Dow Jones Newswire regarding a new credit card rewards program offered by Providian. The article was written by Tara Siegel Bernard.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared on BankRate regarding building credit after bankruptcy. BankRate began more than 25 years ago as a print publisher of the newsletter "Bank Rate Monitor." The article was written by Dana Dratch.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared in The Charlotte Observer (newspaper) regarding credit card late fees. The article was written by Sree Roy.

January

• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article that appeared in The Wall Street Journal Sunday (Sunday Edition) regarding credit card reward programs. The article was written by Kelly Spors.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, interviewed on The Wall Street Journal This Morning by Karen Moskow regarding credit card reward programs.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, interviewed on MSNBC's Economy Watch Show regarding credit card reward programs.
• Received multiple references in an article about credit card reward program pitfalls written by Aleksandra Todorova that appeared on SmartMoney.com (affiliated with Smart Money Mag.).
• Mentioned in an article about credit card company tricks that appeared in The Arizona Republic (Phoenix Newspaper). The article was written by Brahm Resnik, a business and consumer reporter.
• Mentioned in an article about credit card debt that appeared in The Kansas City Star (newspaper). The article was written by Paul Wenske, a consumer affairs reporter. The article also appeared in The Lexington Herald-Leader, The Rutland (Vermont) Herald, and The Charlotte Observer.
• Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, was interviewed by Dolores Kong of Boston's Business 1060 AM, WBIX regarding credit card rebate programs. Dolores, a former Boston Globe personal finance reporter, is a financial planner with Financial Perspectives Planning Services in Boston.
• Special thanks to Dr. Judith Urich, Professor-Family Resource Management Specialist with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, for allowing us to teach a group of high school students about credit issues. The presentation was a community outreach effort hosted by Jump$tart. We are proud that Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, is currently serving as the co-chair of the Arkansas Jump$tart Coalition.

We are proud to be mentioned as a resource site by the Jump$tart Coalition for Financial Literacy's website. Jump$tart is a non-profit organization that provides personal finance education to K-12 students, including teens. We are also proud to be active particpants in Jump$tart. We hope you visited our booth at the Arkansas State Capitol during the 2003 legislative session!

Find us at your local newsstand! We are featured in Web's Best Bank & Investment Sites.
(Part of the award-winning PC Novice Learning Series)