Q: Does this website give me a list of the cards that best fit my credit?

Q: Does this website give me a list of the cards that best fit my credit?

A: The short answer is yes. The CardRatings.com database lets you search for credit card offers in five broad consumer categories based on a credit score.

Since the passage of the Credit CARD Act, the Federal Reserve has required banks to lock in aspects of their credit card offers that can only change if a cardholder misses a payment or otherwise breaches their contract. As a result, American lenders now issue hundreds of distinct credit card offers every year, designed to entice new customers while luring borrowers from their competitors. The CardRatings.com research team reviews the vast majority of these offers, sorting into rankings based on five broad credit categories:

• Credit cards for excellent credit. If your credit score's 800 or above, prepare for lenders to woo you with some of the very best offers on the market. The CardRatings.com database highlights niche cards for consumers with high credit scores, like the PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express Card and the Simmons First Visa Platinum Travel Rewards card.

• Credit cards for good credit. More than a third of Americans have FICO scores in the 700s, earning access to the popular Capital One No Hassle Cash Rewards card or the Citi Forward Card.

• Credit cards for fair credit. Everyone hits some bumps in the road now and then. If your credit is in the middling range, check out solid offers for credit cards like the Capital One Classic Platinum card.

• Credit cards for limited credit. A "thin file" for students and stay-at-home spouses doesn't mean settling for a bad credit card. Sample offers include Citi mtvU Visa and the Discover Student Card.

• Credit cards for bad credit. If the sagging economy has taken its toll on your credit, you can rely on the CardRatings.com database to separate ethical subprime credit card issuers from predatory lenders. 

Credit card deals change weekly, so our researchers and editors work hard to keep the CardRatings.com database updated with the very latest information on finance charges, annual fees and card perks. Likewise, your credit score can fluctuate from month to month based on your relationship with current lenders and on the number of credit card applications you make in a short period of time. Researching offers using CardRatings.com can help prevent the "hard pulls" of your credit report that can reduce your credit score.