Credit Cards

Most travelers are happy to use their credit cards to receive points and miles that can be used for future award travel. But some business travelers would prefer to be compensated for their time away from home with cash back, rather than rewards that would only require further travel. In addition, many business travelers purchase… Read More

Did you know there are nearly 10 million households in the United States that don’t have a bank account? For them, basic items such as cashing a check or paying bills can become difficult and very expensive tasks. Prepaid debit cards can be an option, allowing customers to enjoy the ease of direct deposit, the… Read More

Credit cards that offer interest-free promotional balance transfers can seem too good to be true. These balance transfers allow cardholders to transfer their debt from an existing account with high interest rates to a new account with a 0% APR for a limited time. But like the large cash-back sign-up bonuses some cards offer new… Read More

More states are hopping on the bandwagon, as 18 are considering banning retailers from including credit card surcharges, according to American Banker. The states proposed the ban after new rules that would allow merchants to impose surcharges on MasterCard and Visa purchases. The states considering the move are Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania,… Read More

The experts at Credit.com recently received this email from a reader who experienced several unpleasant — and confusing — credit surprises. Here, we help unravel the mystery of the closed credit account and the shrinking credit score: My husband and I short sold a rental home about 18 months ago. We had an unpaid 2nd… Read More

Credit cards that offer airline miles are some of the oldest and most popular types of reward cards, and people are lured into these products by the tantalizing prospect of a free flight. But how do cardholders pick the right reward credit card? Here are a few of the most important questions to answer when… Read More

The battle for rewards credit card users is as fierce as ever, with banks looking to attract those with good credit and responsible spending habits. These banks want to use every trick in the book to retain existing customers, yet reduce the rewards they actually pay out. And the latest tactic seems to be offering… Read More

Do you deserve a reward for being responsible? If you are paying your credit card’s balance in full every month, the credit card market is set up to offer you valuable rewards for your spending. All you have to do is choose one of the many reward credit cards. And just like savvy savers choose… Read More

Delinquency by consumers declined in the fourth quarter of 2012 and bank card delinquencies hit an 18-year low, according to the Consumer Credit Delinquency Bulletin by the American Bankers Association. The ABA tracks delinquencies, or accounts at least 30 days past due, in eight loan categories to create a composite ratio. This ratio dropped 17 points to a 1.99 percent… Read More

While the majority of American will expect a tax refund this year, there are still a sizable fraction of us who will have to scrounge up their savings to pay Uncle Sam what they owe. And while some are vaguely aware that there are ways to pay taxes with their credit cards, few really understand… Read More