The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Eric Bank
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About The Author

Eric Bank is an M.B.A. who has covered financial and business topics since 1985, appearing regularly on Credible, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Zacks, Chron, BadCredit.org and dozens of other outlets. Eric specializes in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences, particularly in the world of personal finance. Eric holds a Master's in Business Administration from New York University and a Master's in Finance from DePaul University.

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Latest Posts

321 posts written/edited to date
What is Revolving Credit? A Guide to Credit Limits, Repayment Terms, and Flexible Borrowing

An Educational Guide to Revolving Credit

The thing about revolving credit is that if you aren’t careful, your financial... read more »

Eric Bank 12/31/2024
Experts Share the 7 Best Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping (2025)

Experts Share the 7 Best Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping

I love the holiday season. It’s a chance to reconnect with family members and enjoy... read more »

Eric Bank 12/23/2024
What is Debt Consolidation? How Credit Card Balance Transfers Can Help Streamline Debt

How Credit Card Debt Consolidation Works

Wouldn’t you just love to bury your debt six feet under? Finish it off, set it... read more »

Eric Bank 12/4/2024
What is a Virtual Credit Card Number? How VCC Technology Helps Consumers Avoid Fraud

What is a Virtual Credit Card Number?

Now, if you buy into the premise behind The Matrix, we’re all living in some... read more »

Eric Bank 12/3/2024
What is Overdraft Protection? How to Safeguard Your Finances When Using Prepaid or Debit Cards

What is Overdraft Protection on Prepaid or Debit Cards?

Is overdraft protection a convenient safety net or a slimy way to separate you from... read more »

Eric Bank 11/25/2024
What is a Personal Identification Number? How PINs Add Security to Select Card Transactions

What is a Credit Card Personal Identification Number (PIN)?

In the cult TV classic “Secret Agent,” our hero lives in a world where “they’ve... read more »

Eric Bank 11/20/2024
What is a Soft Inquiry? How Card Issuers Check Your Credit Without Affecting Your Credit Score

What is a Soft Inquiry and How Does it Impact Your Credit?

Now, the softest inquiry I ever made was when I asked my sweetheart to marry me —... read more »

Eric Bank 11/19/2024
What is a Credit Card Processor? A Guide to the Networks That Power Transactions

A Look at How Credit Card Processors Work

I figure it’s one of those things most folks don’t give a second thought to — how... read more »

Eric Bank 11/7/2024
What is a Card Verification Value? Why Your Credit Card Has a CVV or CVC Number

What is a Card Verification Value? How CVVs and CVCs Work

What on God’s Green Earth is a Card Verification Value? And why does your credit... read more »

Eric Bank 10/30/2024
What is a Secured Credit Card? A Guide to Deposit-Backed Credit Options

What is a Secured Credit Card? Deposit-Backed Credit Basics

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “secured?” Maybe... read more »

Eric Bank 10/22/2024
What is a Credit Card Issuer? More About the Institutions That Extend Credit to Consumers

What is a Credit Card Issuer?

Wouldn’t you love to rip the masks off of the institutions responsible for issuing... read more »

Eric Bank 10/21/2024
What is a Credit Limit? How Credit Card Issuers Determine the Maximum Amount You Can Borrow

How Credit Limits Work & How They're Determined

When I was 13 years old, I clearly remember my mother sitting me down and telling... read more »

Eric Bank 10/17/2024
What is an Outstanding Balance? A Guide to What You Owe on Your Credit Card

What is an Outstanding Credit Card Balance?

When I was young, I always thought outstanding only meant something great — like my... read more »

Eric Bank 10/8/2024
What is a Minimum Payment on a Credit Card?

What Is a Minimum Payment on a Credit Card?

I wouldn’t advise only making minimum payments on your credit cards, but it can... read more »

Eric Bank 10/3/2024
What is Credit Card Preapproval? How to Gauge Your Approval Odds Without a Hard Credit Pull

What is Credit Card Preapproval?

So, you received an unsolicited credit card preapproval in the mail and wonder... read more »

Eric Bank 10/2/2024
What are Credit Card Rewards? A Guide to Earning Points, Miles, and Cash Back

What are Credit Card Rewards? How to Earn Points, Miles & Cash Back

I’ve always had a soft spot for iconic TV westerns like “Gunsmoke.” As a young... read more »

Eric Bank 10/2/2024
What is a Variable APR? Why Credit Card Interest Rates Can Fluctuate

What is Variable APR on a Credit Card?

Some of my friends love trading high-flying growth stocks, while my other friends... read more »

Eric Bank 10/1/2024
What is a Credit Card Balance Transfer Fee? 

What is a Credit Card Balance Transfer Fee?

Perhaps you like to carry a credit card balance from month to month and have a plan... read more »

Eric Bank 10/1/2024
What is Creditworthiness? How Your Credit History Affects Credit Card Approval

What is Creditworthiness? How it Impacts Credit Card Approval

Creditworthiness is all about trust. It’s about having confidence that you will... read more »

Eric Bank 9/30/2024
What Does “No Credit Check” Mean?

What Types of Credit Cards Have No Credit Check?

A credit check occurs when a lender reviews your credit report and score to... read more »

Eric Bank 9/26/2024