Should I Consider a Bank Credit Card Offered By My Local Bank?

Take a close look at your Visa or MasterCard and you’ll see the name of a bank on the card. Visa and Mastercard do not issue their own credit cards, and if you applied for either card, you probably submitted your application to a major bank, such as Capital One, Citibank or Chase.  But while these banks are popular and well-known credit card issuers, they aren’t the only option for credit cards. Local banks...

What is the Best Credit Card?

When applying for a new credit card, choose a credit card that best fits your spending style. Your spending style may differ from your friends. For this reason, don’t select a credit card based solely on recommendations from others. True, other credit card users are likely familiar with different products and they can offer insight. But to benefit the most from your plastic, you’ve got to identify your needs and...

Best Credit Cards for Travel

Whether you’re traveling abroad or exploring within the United States, you may choose to pay for your food, transportation and entertainment with a credit card.  Several credit cards are designed specifically for travel.  As you double-check your passport, make sure you’re taking along one of the best credit cards for travel.  There are benefits to traveling with a credit card. You don’t have to look for an...

Credit Card Payment Options

Several factors determine creditworthiness; and if you’re looking to apply for a mortgage or another type of loan, you can demonstrate creditworthiness by always making your credit card payment on time. Credit cards are one of the easiest types of credit accounts to obtain. You can build a solid credit history with credit cards and this opens the door to other financing opportunities. But if you start a pattern of...

What are Bank Credit Cards?

You need credit to build credit and getting your first credit card is one way to get your foot in the door. Several types of companies issue credit cards, such as financial institutions and banks. If you have a bank account and you’ve been a loyal customer for years, you might start with your bank and apply for a bank credit card. With a good credit history and credit score you can apply for mortgage loans or get...

What is a Credit Card?

Look inside anyone’s wallet today and you’ll probably find one or two credit cards. In fact, many working adults have at least one credit card in their name. Credit cards are rectangular plastic cards that serve a valuable purpose in today’s society. They come in handy when you’re short on cash; and if you want to build your credit history, getting your first credit card is a good start. But while many...

CFPB – Chief Enforcer for Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) makes it illegal for debt collectors to employ “abusive, unfair or deceptive practices.” The FDCPA applies to collection agencies, firms that buy delinquent accounts and attempt to collect the obligations and attorneys who attempt to collect debts. When the U.S. Congress passed the FDCPA in 1977, it gave the primary responsibility for FDCPA enforcement to the...

What are Bad Credit Credit Cards?

Having good credit today doesn’t mean that you’ll always have a high credit score. Job loss, an illness, divorce and other personal issues can negatively impact your personal finances. This can affect your ability to pay your credit cards, mortgage or auto loan, which can lower your credit score and ruin your credit history. But there’s light at the end of every dark tunnel, and with the help of bad credit...

Should I Open a New Line of Credit?

Opening a new line of credit is a good way to build your credit history, but it comes at a cost. When you open a new line of credit, you are announcing, “I need more money.” Creditors and employers expect you to open a new line when you experience great change: the start of college, taking a new job, or the birth of a child. If you open a new line for no apparent reason, it is an indication that you cannot...

Can I Get a Credit Card for No Credit

Apply for a credit card or loan without a credit history and you’re likely to get turned down. Getting approved for a credit card is a Catch-22. You need credit to establish credit, but you can’t establish credit if companies won’t approve your application. This is a problem that’s plagued young adults for years. But while it’s frustrating and discouraging, rest assured that you can get a credit card with...