Card Type
Low Interest Credit Cards
Balance Transfer Cards
Instant Approval Cards
Cash Back Credit Cards
Student Credit Cards
Business Credit Cards
Prepaid Debit Cards
Charge Cards
Rewards:Airline Credit Cards
Rewards:Points Credit Cards
Rewards:Retail Credit Cards
Rewards:Gas Credit Cards
Rewards:Auto Credit Cards
Rewards: Hotel/Travel Cards
Rewards:Home Improvement Cards
Credit Quality
Excellent Credit
Good Credit
Fair Credit
Bad CreditBank/Issuer
Credit Cards - Current News
How credit cards boost gas prices
By David Goldman, CNNMoney.com staff writerBuying gasoline with a credit card could be hurting your local independent gas station owner - and you may have to pay for it. That's because credit cards charge merchant fees in the form of a percentage of sales - and those fees eat into the fixed per-gallon sum that gas retailers tack onto pump prices. ... more
Credit card help is on the way
By Gerri Willis, CNNQuestionable credit card company practices have been dogging consumers for years. But a Credit Card Bill of Rights is working its way to congress. Here are the details. ... more
JPMorgan: Fed's new rules will hurt
CNN MoneyThe Federal Reserve's proposed rules for credit card lenders could lead the banking industry to lose at least $10.6 billion in interest annually, JPMorgan Chase & Co. said in a letter to regulators, citing a study. In May, the Federal Reserve and other regulators proposed steps to end what they called "unfair and deceptive" practices in the credit card industry. The rules aim to protect people from having their interest rates raised arbitrarily, among other practices. ... more
How to spot a credit-card rip-off
By Donna RosatoIssuers are taking heat for hidden charges, but there's already an easy way to tell if a new card offer is a deal or not. It's the "Schumer Box," a table in every application named for Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY who sponsored the 1988 law that requires it. ... more
Study shows lower credit card use in hard times
Austin Business JournalA new report from Javelin Strategy & Research says Americans are using their credit cards less and shopping more-conservatively. ... more
Credit card rates hustle higher
By Kathy Chu, USA TODAYEven as the Federal Reserve has cut interest rates, financial institutions have sharply raised rates for credit card customers — even those who pay on time — as they grapple with losses from other bad consumer loans. This month, Washington Mutual (WM) told some credit card customers that it was raising their rates by as much as 100%. Discover (DFS) is lifting its penalty rate to 31%, effective May 1, and may apply that maximum to consumers who exceed their credit limit twice in a rolling 12 months. ... more
How to Deal With Credit Card Mumbo Jumbo
By Matthew BandykOwning a small business often means having to wear many different hats—marketer, accountant, building manager, and Web tech whiz, to name a few. But when it comes to figuring out what's behind credit card companies' charges for handling your customers' transactions—known as interchange fees—that can be one hat too many. ... more
MasterCard settles AmEx suit for $1.8 billion
CNN MoneyAmerican Express said Wednesday MasterCard will pay it as much as $1.8 billion to settle an antitrust lawsuit, as it warned credit losses may increase as business conditions deteriorate. American Express had accused the Purchase, N.Y.-based credit and debit card processor of conspiring to stifle some banks from issuing its credit cards. Last year, the company reached a $2.7 billion settlement with Visa Inc in a similar suit. ... more
Make your credit card complaints count
By Gerri Willis, CNNIf you've ever had your interest rate jacked up on your credit card, it's your turn to gripe. Here are top tips on how to make your complaints count. ... more
Credit card companies' evil tricks
By Liz Pulliam WestonSome of the worst offenses: Huge fees exceed card issuers' costs and risks. Interest rates aren't disclosed to card applicants. Rates get jacked up even if you pay just hours late. What makes matters more complicated is that a few credit card issuers are bad to the bone. Some of the companies that have the most consumer-friendly practices in one area turn around and punish their customers unfairly in another. ... more
Credit Card Borrowing Limits Reduced for Tens of Thousands of Consumers
Just as Americans grow more reliant on credit cards to help pay monthly bills, they're being hit with a one-two punch: Card companies are reducing borrowing limits for tens of thousands of consumers, which then can lead to lower credit scores. ... more
Your new best friend in the credit crisis
Interview by Donna Rosato, Money MagazineYour credit-card terms are usurious; your mortgage contract disguises the real cost of your home; and you need a magnifying glass to catch all the fees in your auto loan. As a result, you may be paying thousands more than you should for these products, says Harvard Law professor Elizabeth Warren. ... more
Credit card rewards are a real rip off
By Jessica Dickler, CNNMoney.com staff writerYou got burned with frequent flier miles, which were nearly impossible to redeem and hardly worth the hassle, so credit card issuers turned to other kinds of incentives to entice you to charge more. But most rewards programs aren't much better, and consumers are still eager to sign up for them despite the same old traps. About 85 percent of U.S. households participate in at least one rewards program, according to a study released Monday by Consumer Reports. And though rewards do spur consumers to spend more, the study found that confusing rules and restrictions make most reward cards more trouble than they're worth. ... more
Consumer debt jumps $8.9 billion
By Kenneth Musante, CNNMoney.com staff writerAmericans' personal debt jumped to a more-than-expected $2.6 trillion in April, according to a report from the Federal Reserve released Friday. The total debt held by individuals rose $8.9 billion from the prior month. Analysts polled by Briefing.com had expected personal debt to increase by only $7 billion. ... more
How credit cards boost gas prices
By David Goldman, CNNMoney.com staff writerBuying gasoline with a credit card could be hurting your local independent gas station owner - and you may have to pay for it. That's because credit cards charge merchant fees in the form of a percentage of sales - and those fees eat into the fixed per-gallon sum that gas retailers tack onto pump prices. ... more
Retailers: credit card fees detrimental
CNNMoney.com staff writermericans' increasing preference for paying with plastic has pitted retailers against credit card companies in a dispute over the cost of the billions of transactions. Retailers accused Visa and MasterCard during a congressional hearing Thursday of levying excessive fees, while the card company executives countered that retailer-supported legislation would simply push more of the cost onto consumers. ... more
FTC: Half-million tricked by telemarketers
CNNMoney.com staff writerThe Federal Trade Commission unfurled Tuesday results of an enormous telemarketing fraud sweep, saying it had filed more than 180 cases that represent thousands of alleged victims and millions of dollars in losses. The agency said the sweep, named "Operation Tele-Phoney," was the largest telemarketing sweep it had ever coordinated. ... more
Consumer spending jumps in March
By Catherine Clifford, CNNMoney.com staff wriConsumer spending jumped in March, even as income grew at a slower pace, according to a government report released Thursday. The Commerce Department said personal spending by individuals in current dollars rose 0.4% in March, exceeding the 0.2% increase expected by economists surveyed by Briefing.com. February's gain was 0.1%. The report showed personal income increased 0.3% in March, less than the 0.4% increase expected by economists. February's gain was 0.5%. ... more
Surprise jump in consumer borrowing
By Kenneth Musante, CNNMoney.com staff writerAmericans' personal debt took a huge leap in March, according to a report from the Federal Reserve released Wednesday. The total debt held by individuals rose $15.3 billion from the prior month, to $2.6 trillion. Analysts polled by Briefing.com had expected personal debt to rise by only $6 billion. ... more
Barely surviving on credit cards
By Tami Luhby, CNNMoney.com senior writerThese days, more and more people are saying "Charge it." Finding themselves strapped for cash and unable to use their home as an ATM, Americans are increasingly turning to credit cards to cover gas, groceries and other living expenses. But many find themselves struggling to pay the burgeoning bills at a time when even the basic needs are growing costlier. ... more
How to battle credit card fees
By Gerri Willis, CNNGerri Willis explains the ins and outs of those little credit card extras that can leave you in the hole. ... more
Fed moves on credit card crackdown
By David Ellis, CNNMoney.com staff writerBank regulators approve proposal to eliminate industry practices like 'double-cycle billing' as banks push back. New rules could be in place by end of year. ... more
The credit card party is officially over
By Liz Pulliam WestonBank of America customers haven't been the only ones affected. Issuers that last year ravenously pursued folks with troubled credit and proffered 0% rates to people with good credit have made abrupt changes in course, including: * Sharply raising rates and lowering credit limits for customers with no obvious blotches on their credit. * Making balance-transfer offers less generous, with higher rates, shorter terms and bigger fees. * Shutting down accounts that haven't been regularly or recently used. * Throttling back direct-mail solicitations and becoming pickier about extending credit. ... more
New credit cards allow hands-free theft
By Liz Pulliam WestonMillions of so-called contactless credit cards have been mailed to Americans on the theory that we just don't spend money fast enough. While you're absorbing that little nugget, consider this as well: The cards, which wirelessly communicate information about you and your account, don't have an "off" switch. ... more
Credit cards can make you fat
By Bankrate.comToday, credit cards make those unhealthful eating habits easier than ever to adopt -- and that can help you pack on the pounds. In years past, fast-food restaurants accepted only cash, largely because credit card transactions took too long to process, impinging on the concept of "fast" food. Consumers who didn't have enough cash on them would bypass the local fast-food joint and head on home, where the dining choices were bound to be somewhat healthier. ... more
Credit card companies' top 10 money-grabbers
By Bankrate.comCredit cards. It may seem very difficult to get by without them in this day and age, but the fact of the matter is it's becoming more and more expensive to live with them. That's because credit card companies have managed to stack the deck in their favor, thanks to obliging lawmakers and regulators who have allowed them to gouge consumers for exorbitant fees and unconscionable interest rates. ... more
Credit card companies' evil tricks
By Liz Pulliam WestonThat sense of fair versus foul, though, tends to get tangled up in the world of credit cards. Some practices that seem egregious at first glance actually make sense when you understand their rationale. Other policies don't hold up so well to scrutiny, even though they're widely accepted in the industry. What makes matters more complicated is that a few credit card issuers are bad to the bone. Some of the companies that have the most consumer-friendly practices in one area turn around and punish their customers unfairly in another. ... more
The truth about credit card debt
By Liz Pulliam WestonYou've probably heard that the average American carries more than $8,000 in credit card debt. Its a figure frequently cited by politicians, journalists and pundits as a sure sign of impending economic collapse. They argue that consumers, already struggling under this massive burden of debt, soon will have to stop spending like drunken sailors. The economic recovery, therefore, is doomed! ... more
The best credit cards
From low fees to frequent-flyer miles: 6 cards that give you something back. ... more
Living paycheck to paycheck
By Gerri Willis, CNNCheck out mint.com. This site let's you input your user name and password for each of your bank, credit card and investment accounts, and Mint automatically draws in all your transaction and balance information. You'll be able to review your spending in a pie chart. And you'll receive an alert when there is unusual activity, a low bank account balance or an upcoming bill. ... more
Avoid hassle at the airport
By Gerri Willis, CNNWhen buying your airline ticket, don't write a check or use a debit card. If you buy a ticket with a credit card, and your flight was cancelled or the airline declared bankruptcy, you stand a good chance of getting your money returned. ... more
Congress tackles credit card reform
By David Ellis, CNNMoney.com staff writerConsumers, public interest groups and some federal regulators pushed lawmakers to enact sweeping changes to the credit card industry, aimed at remedying what they view as questionable practices of the credit card industry that keep consumers mired in debt. ... more
Nuuvoo.com Announces Launch Of Its Beta-site
By nuuvoo.comnuuvoo.com a newly launched startup that provides tools to search, filter and find the perfect credit card that meets your needs, has announced that its beta site is live. While there are numerous sites that essentially offer the same information, nuuvoo.com is definitely innovative in its approach. ... more
Get out of credit card debt
By Gerri WillisTo get a grip on your credit card debt, prioritize, rethink rewards and roll over debt with caution. ... more
Good credit? Here's your reward
By Walecia KonradIf you've been (mostly) an angel in managing your credit, you could soon get some props in your FICO score. Fair Isaac, the company that calculates consumer credit ratings for lenders, is rolling out a new formula that promises to favor responsible credit holders. Your FICO score could benefit. ... more
When credit cards put you in jeopardy
By Jen HaleyConsumers have racked up more than $2.2 trillion in purchases and cash advances on major credit cards in just the last year. And it's become a habit for them to spend more than they have. ... more
The Smartest Way to Miss a Credit Card Payment
By Sonja RystThere are effective ways and not-so-effective ways to deal with missing a credit card payment. ... more
Neiman Marcus Credit Cards Could Soon Be Canceled
By Jack FinkHundreds of thousands of Neiman Marcus customers could soon see their credit card accounts canceled. ... more
Pasta, Meatballs and Credit Card Theft
By Scott MayerowitzThe next time you go out for some pizza, a nice steak dinner or even a trip to the salad bar, you might get something else with your meal: identity theft. The most common place for credit card information to be stolen is at a restaurant, according to Visa. ... more
The 15-minute tip: Your credit-card rights
By Jennifer OpenshawIf you care about the games credit card companies play then read on to find out what's coming up and what you can do. ... more
Crack the credit card code
By Gerri WillisYour credit card interest rate could shoot past 30 percent, even if you have good credit. Here's what you can do about it. ... more
Do your credit cards have a holiday hangover?
By Jean ChatzkyIt was fun while it lasted, but if you spent too much money over the holidays, you might be having second thoughts about it now that those credit card statements are showing up in the mail. Most of us go through life - especially at the holidays - spending mindlessly. ... more
