Kudos & Community Outreach 2005

"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

We are proud to have helped solicit consumer interviews for an 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.

November

  • Curtis Arnold, our Founder and Public Relations Director, quoted in an article that appeared MSN Money about credit card rebate programs that help consumers save. The article was written by Liz Pulliam Weston. Liz is author of Your Credit Score: How to Fix, Protect and Improve the 3-Digit Number that Shapes Your Financial Future (October 2004, Prentice Hall). She is also a personal finance columnist for MSN Money and author of the question-and-answer column "Money Talk," which appears in newspapers throughout the country.
  • We are proud that our website is referenced in a news article containing credit card tips that appeared in the Money section of USA Today. The article was written by Jenny Clevstrom.
  • We are extremely proud that Curtis Arnold, our Founder and Public Relations Director, is quoted in an article in the December issue of Kiplinger's Magazine about gas rebated credit cards. The article was written by Vera Gibbons, a special correspondent for Kiplinger's.
  • We are proud that our website is referenced in a magazine article about credit scoring that appeared in Medical Economics Magazine. The article was written by Marcy Tolkoff, JD.
  • Special thanks to Future Investors, a non-profit student organization dedicated to teaching students about money issues, for allowing us to speak to students at Hendrix College about credit card debt and other credit issues. Future Investors is the brainchild of Hendrix senior Eric Bell. This speaking engagment was part of our voluntary community outreach program.
  • We are proud that our website is referenced in a news article about student credit cards that appeared in Elizabethtown College Newspaper (PA). The article was written by the Elizabethtown College Students in Free Enterprise, a nonprofit organization that teaches others the principles of free market economics.

October

  • Featured in a news segment about credit card tricks that appeared on WNYW TV (Fox 5 New York).
  • 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.
  • We are extremely proud that Curtis Arnold, our Founder and Public Relations Director, is quoted in an article in the November issue of Money Magazine about credit card teaser rates. The article was written by Carolyn Bigda.
  • Special thanks to Professor Eddie Ary, CPA, CFP, for allowing us to speak to two 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.
  • We are proud that our website is referenced in The Complete "Off-Limits" Library, a publication partially written by credit expert Gerri Detweiler, author of the The Ulitimate Credit Handbook. The publication is affiliated with Weiss Research, Inc.
  • Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about no fee credit cards that appeared on SmartMoney.com (affiliated with Smart Money Mag.). The article was written by Aleksandra Todorova.
  • Featured in an article about student credit cards that appeared on the website of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine. The article was written by Janet Bodnar, deputy editor and a nationally recognized expert in the field of children's and family finances.
  • Curtis Arnold, our Founder and Public Relations Director, quoted in an article that appeared in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Newspaper regarding bankruptcy issues. The article was written by business reporter David Smith.
  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, interviewed by Jason Pederson on KATV's 6:00 News Hour - Channel 7 (ABC t.v. affiliate) regarding consumer tips about credit reports. Jason is the consumer affairs reporter for KATV.
  • Curtis Arnold, our Founder and Public Relations Director, interviewed live on the Joel Riley Radio Show (WTVN- Columbus, OH) regarding various credit card issues.
  • Special thanks to Professor Mary Ann Campbell, CFP for allowing us to speak to one of her family and consumer science undergraduate classes at the University of Central Arkansas regarding student credit issues. Among other accomplishments, Mary Ann has served as the presidentially appointed Chair of the National Women's Business Council. The event was part of our voluntary community outreach program.
  • Curtis Arnold, our Founder and Public Relations Director, quoted in an article that appeared on Dow Jones Newswire regarding a new credit card rewards program offered by American Express. The article was written by David Enrich.
  • We are proud that Curtis Arnold, our Founder and Public Relations Director, is quoted in an article about credit card rebate programs that appeared in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pa. Newspaper). The article was written by Patricia Sabatini, a business reporter.
  • We are proud that Curtis Arnold, our Founder and Public Relations Director, is quoted in the October issue of Young Money Magazine. The article was written by Christina Uss of UCLA. 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.
  • We are proud that one of our credit education articles written by staff writer Amy Cooper-Arnold has been referenced in the September 30th issue of the Southern Digest. The Southern Digest, established in 1928, is the official student newspaper of Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA.
  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and Public Relations Director, quoted in an article about credit card usage at the pump that appeared in The Daytona (FL) Beach News-Journal. The article was written by business reporter Tom Brown.

We are proud to participate in financial education efforts by being a National Partner of the Jump$tart Coalition for Financial Literacy. Jump$tart, a non-profit organization, targets K-12 and college students. We are proud that Curtis Arnold, our Founder, is co-chair of the Arkansas Jump$tart Coalition.

September

  • Mentioned in a segment about gas rebate credit cards on The Early Show on CBS. The segment featured Vera Gibbons, special correspondent from Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine.
  • Special thanks to Denise Fisher, for allowing us to speak to one of her family and consumer science undergraduate classes at Harding University about credit card debt. This speaking engagment was part of our voluntary community outreach program. In addition to a full teaching load, Denise is enrolled in a PhD program at Iowa State University.
  • We are proud that our website was referenced in a segment that appeared on KQTV- Joseph, MO (ABC affiliate) about gas rebate credit cards.
  • We are proud that one of our credit education articles written by staff writer Pammila Phillis has been referenced in the September 9th issue of the Southern Digest. The Southern Digest, established in 1928, is the official student newspaper of Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA.

August

  • Curtis Arnold, our Founder and Public Relations Director, interviewed in a segment about credit monitoring services that aired on CNN Headline News. The interview was conducted by Valerie Morris, correspondent for CNN Business News. Valerie anchors CNN Headline News' personal finance segment Smart Assets.
  • We are extremely proud that our website was referenced in a "Money Matters" segment about minimum credit card payments on The Early Show on CBS. The segment was hosted by Ray Martin, CBS News financial adviser.
  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, interviewed in a segment about student credit cards that aired on ABC 13 (Houston). The interview was conducted by consumer reporter Jeff Ehling.
  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, quoted in an article about subprime credit cards that appeared on the front page of the Atlanta Business Journal. The article was written by Jill Lerner.
  • 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$tart seminar held at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. We are proud that Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, serves as the co-chair of the Arkansas chapter of Jump$tart. This event was part of our community outreach program.
  • We are proud that one of our credit education articles written by Amy Cooper-Arnold has been published in the July/August 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.
  • We are proud that Ira Stoller, a senior member of our message board, was interviewed by ABC NewsNow (a national broadcast) for a "Money Matters" segment about rebate credit cards.
  • Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about credit card reward programs that appeared in U.S. News & World Report. The article was written by Nisha Ramachandran.
  • Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about "credit card tricks" that appeared on SmartMoney.com (affiliated with Smart Money Mag.). The article was written by Aleksandra Todorova.
  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, quoted in Consumer Action's 2005 Credit Card Survey. This survey is one of the most highly regarded consumer surveys in the industry. The survey was led by Linda Sherry (Editor, Consumer Action News), who has testified before Congress regarding consumer credit issues. Consumer Action is a non-profit, consumer advocacy organization founded in 1971.
  • We are proud that one of our credit education articles by Amy Cooper-Arnold is referenced in the July/August issue of E/The Environmental Magazine. Now in its 16th year, E/The Environmental Magazine is carried by some 6,000 public, college and school libraries. The article was written by Stephanie White.

July

  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, quoted in an article about rising interest rates that appeared in the Money section of USA Today. The article was written by Kathy Chu.
  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, quoted in an article about subprime credit cards that appeared in the Miami Herald. The article was written by business columnist Harriet Brackey.
  • We are proud to have been referenced in a consumer credit segment that appeared on KXLY (ABC affiliate in Spokane, WA).
  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, quoted in an article about credit card mergers that appeared on the front page of The New York Times. The article was partially written by Eric Dash.
  • We are very proud to have been referenced in an article about rebate credit cards that appeared in The Washington Post (Sunday Edition). The article was written by Caroline E. Mayer.
  • Curtis Arnold, our Founder and public relations director, quoted in an article in Smart Money Magazine (The Wall Street Journal Magazine of Personal Finance) regarding reward 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 Maggie Dunphy.
  • Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about credit card mergers that appeared on SmartMoney.com (affiliated with Smart Money Mag.). The article was written by Aleksandra Todorova.
  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, interviewed by Chuck Fishman, producer of the The Wall Street Journal This Morning (Radio Show) regarding credit card mergers. "The Wall Street Journal This Morning" is the leading early-morning business radio program broadcast on 70 stations throughout the U.S.
  • We are proud to be listed as a Financial Education Resource by the State of New York Banking Department.
  • We are very proud to have been referenced in an article about minimum credit card payments that appeared in Richmond Tmes-Dispatch (VA). The article was written by consumer reporter Iris Taylor.
  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, quoted in an article about gas reward credit card reward programs that appeared in the The Houston Chronicle. The article was written by Purva Patel.

Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, interviewed on WS Radio by nationally recognized credit expert and author Gerri Detweiler (author of the Ulitimate Credit Handbook) regarding consumer credit card tips. This event was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program. Click the button above to listen to the interview! We are also proud to be official sponsors of Gerri's radio show.

June

May

  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, quoted in an article about balance transfer offers that appeared in the Wall Street Journal (online edition). The article appeared in the a column entitled "Fiscally Fit" written by Terri Cullen.
  • Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, interviewed by BJ Sams on KTHV - Channel 11 (CBS t.v. affiliate) regarding free credit reports and rebate credit cards. This interview was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.
  • 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.
  • We are proud to have assisted with the research for an article by Eric Dash that appeared in the New York Times regarding credit bureau practices.
  • We are proud to have assisted with an article about credit card traps that was published in The New Jersey Star-Ledger (Newspaper). The article was written by Dorianne Perrucci.
  • Special thanks to all of the consumers that stopped by our booth at the 2nd Annual Arkansas Health and Living Expo. We hope that the advice that we dispensed was helpful! We were also proud to be the official sponsor for the various free seminars at the expo, such as the seminar on geriatrics led by author Dr. David A Lipschitz, MD., PhD., who serves as Chair of the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics and Director of the Center on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. This event was part of CardRatings.com's community outreach program.

April

March

February

  • Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about credit card arbitration that appeared in the L.A. Times- Sunday Edition and the Baltimore Sun. The article was written by Eileen Ambrose, personal finance columnist.
  • We are proud that our website is referenced in an article containing personal finance tips that appeared in the The Fort-Worth Star Telegram. The article was written by Teresa McUsic, a business columnist.
  • Curtis Arnold, our public relations director, quoted in an article about 0% balance transfer credit card offers that appeared on SmartMoney.com (affiliated with Smart Money Mag.). The article was written by Aleksandra Todorova. We are also proud that Ira Stoller, a senior member of our credit forum, is quoted in the article.
  • We are proud that our website is listed as a consumer resource in an article about frequent flier miles by Ed Perkins, a nationally recognized travel columnist and author. Ed is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004) and he was co-author of the "Consumers Union's annual Best Travel Deals" series.
  • We are proud that our website is listed as a recommended consumer resource by Liz Pulliam Weston, an award-winning, nationally-syndicated personal finance columnist. Liz is one of the most-read columnists on MSN Money, where her twice-weekly columns reach more than 6 million readers each month. Millions more read her question-and-answer column “Money Talk,” which appears in newspapers throughout the country. Her book, “Your Credit Score: How to Fix, Improve and Protect the 3-Digit Number that Shapes Your Financial Future” was recently published by Prentice Hall.
  • Congrats to Ira Stoller, a senior member of our credit forum, for appearing in an interview on 10 News in San Diego (ABC affiliate). The segment was about double-cycle credit card billing. Curtis Arnold, our founder and public relations director, and Gerri Detweiler, helped to arrange the interview.
  • Our website was referenced in an article about student credit card debt that appeared in The Roanoke Times (VA). The article was written by Erica Hampton, a student at Virginia Tech.

January

We are also very proud that our website has been referenced in several books relating to personal finance issues, including The ABC's of Getting Out of Debt: Turn Your Bad Debt to Good Debt (part of Robert Kiyosaki's NY Times bestselling Rich Dad Poor Dad Book Series), Live Well on Less Than You Think: The New York Times Guide to Achieving Your Financial Freedom by bestselling author Fred Brock (multiple references in the credit card chapter), Deal with Your Debt: The Right Way to Manage Your Bills and Pay Off What You Owe by Liz Pulliam Weston, one of MSN Money's most-read columnists and author of the Q&A column "Money Talk" which appears in newspapers nationwide, Financing College: How Much You'll Really Have to Pay and How to Get the Money & Raising Money Smart Kids: What They Need to Know about Money and How to Tell Them from the editors of Kiplingers Personal Finance Magazine, Coach Yourself to Success: Winning the Investment Game by Joe Moglia, CEO of Ameritrade, Money $marts: Personal Financial Success in 30 Days! by Dr. Judith Briles, Credit Hell: How to Dig Out of Debt by Howard S. Dvorkin, CPA, founder of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. (non-profit), For Richer Not Poorer: The Newlywed's Financial Survival Guide by Deborah Wilburn, contributing editor for Elegant Bride magazine and former financial columnist for Modern Bride magazine,The Quarterlifer's Companion by Abby Wilner and Catherine Stocker, Physician's Guide to Investing, The A Practical Approach to Building Wealth by Dr. Robert M. Doroghazi, and edited by Dan French, PhD, Moolah or Bummer!: A Humorous Look at Finance and Investing by Moget Africa, Microsoft Money 2006 For Dummies by Peter Weverka, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finance in Your 40s and 50s by Sarah Young Fisher, CFP, and Susan Shelly, CashCow Kids: The Guide to Financial Freedom At Any Age by Lisa Jordan and Sheri Provost, Evil Money- Evil Credit by Alton J. Jones, Getting Loaded: A Complete Personal Finance Guide For Students And Young Professionals by Peter G. Bielagus, The Hip Girl's Handbook: For Home, Car, & Money Stuff by Jennifer Musselman, and Net Worth, Using the Internet for Personal Financial Planning by Carrie Mauriello.

On a related note, we are extremely proud to announce that we will be publishing our own book about credit cards soon- more details forthcoming!

While we would like to take credit for the success of the site, we realize that we owe a great deal of our success to consumers like you (click here to learn why our site is much more consumer friendly than other credit card related sites that are strictly advertising based). Thank you so much for helping to make our site a trusted source of reliable consumer information!

We are proud to be featured by The Open Directory Project, the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web (and the source for the Google Directory). We are also very proud that our credit news articles will soon be included in the Google News index.

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)