Credit Card Usage | Credit Card Topics

Is Discover a Good Credit Card?

By: Eric Bank, 10/12/2021

We wax poetic whenever we are asked, “Is Discover a good credit card?” It’s a very good card, with rewards that are easy to use and customer service nothing short of excellent. If you are looking for a straightforward, convenient credit card that never charges an annual fee, check out the lineup of cards sporting the Discover logo. Why Discover Is a Good Credit Card Company Discover is the third-largest payments network (after Visa and Mastercard but ahead of... read more »

Best Secured Credit Cards For Car Rentals of 2021

By: Eric Bank, 8/30/2021

If you have bad credit, our review of the best secured credit cards for car rentals can help you avoid myriad hassles the next time you try to rent a car. You’ll find very few rental agencies that don’t demand a debit or credit card before handing over the keys. With one of these secured credit cards in hand, you can confidently request a rental car and enjoy the rewards and benefits each card offers. Best Overall | More Options | FAQs ... read more »

Instant-Approval Credit Cards With Instant Use in 2021

By: Eric Bank, 7/29/2021

If you navigate your life at warp speed, you’ll love these 15 instant-approval credit cards with instant use. Instant approval isn’t unusual, but not all credit card companies allow you to use your card instantly. That’s a shame because when we need a card, we need it now! Am I right, people? The cards reviewed here, for the most part, provide you with your actual card number instantly. This is separate from any temporary virtual account number issuers give you for added... read more »

Best Credit Cards After Buying a House in 2021

By: Adam West, 6/30/2021

The best credit cards after buying a house can help you move into your new home with style. Whether you need to upgrade old appliances, furnish your new living room, or give your bedroom a modern makeover, these cards can increase your spending power and pay you rewards in return. After all, purchasing a new home is a defining moment in your life. So why not take that moment to redefine your financial portfolio by adding a new and improved credit card to your wallet? With the cards... read more »

What Does It Mean For a Credit Card to Be in Good Standing?

By: Marcie Geffner, 6/21/2021

If you're confused about what it means to be "in good standing" on your credit card accounts, you're probably not alone. Confusion naturally arises when terms aren't well defined, and "in good standing" should be on any list of terms that lack a clear, consistent definition. Issuers Use Different Definitions of "Good Standing" One reason for the confusion is that card issuers don't all define being in good standing the same way. In the broadest sense, this term may be used to... read more »

How to Leverage Credit Cards to Build Wealth in 2021

By: Erica Sandberg, 6/17/2021

Whether you currently have a negative or positive net worth, credit cards can help you create and increase your wealth when used the right way. All cards have credit lines you can use to your economic advantage, and many have valuable rewards programs that can result in a bigger bank account balance. Here are nine proven strategies that can leverage the power of credit cards. Put even a couple of them into action, and your net worth can grow faster than you think. 1. Maximize Big... read more »

Credit Cards With Disposable Numbers in 2021

By: Eric Bank, 6/9/2021

If you prioritize cybersecurity (and you should!), this review of 15 credit cards with disposable numbers should soothe some of your concerns. Disposable (or virtual) card numbers are designed to frustrate the efforts of hackers and shady merchants because any credit card information they steal will be of little or no use. Read on to see how five different credit card issuers implement their disposable card number strategies, followed by descriptions of their top-rated cards. ... read more »

Credit Cards You Can Customize in 2021

By: Ashley Dull, 6/1/2021

Credit cards you can customize let your personality shine. You can upload your own photo or choose from several designs so your credit card matches your unique style. Card customization has become less common over the years. Some card issuers have removed the option altogether, whereas other banks only allow debit cardholders to customize their cards. Read on to see which issuers still allow custom card designs and on which cards. Major Issuers | Bad Credit | FAQs Discover is... read more »

Credit Cards You Can Use at an ATM in 2021

By: Eric Bank, 5/25/2021

If you’ve ever needed cash when your bank account was low, you’ll be interested in credit cards you can use at an ATM. These cards let you use an ATM to borrow money without ever touching the balance in your checking account. The credit cards that have this superpower use one of the big four payment networks (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Amex). Store credit cards that use secondary payment networks don’t offer ATM-based cash advances. You’ll need a PIN to unleash an... read more »

Best Credit Cards For Purchase Protection in 2021

By: Eric Bank, 5/18/2021

If you find peace of mind in short supply, check out our rundown of the best credit cards for purchase protection. It, along with other consumer-oriented benefits like price protection and extended warranties, can save you money on items you purchase with your card. While purchase protection doesn’t receive the same attention as flashier benefits, you’ll be exceedingly grateful to have it if you ever experience theft or damage to a recent purchase. Unfortunately, many credit... read more »

8 Credit Card Protections You Didn’t Know About

By: Marcie Geffner, 4/20/2021

Every time you make a purchase with a credit card, you get the basic benefits that all cards offer: fast, easy credit, and convenience. Depending on which card you use, you may also be getting a long list of very valuable transaction protections, including some you may not even know exist. The details vary from one card to the next, so it pays to read the disclosures when you apply for and use your cards. Some cards offer a lot of protections, while others only offer a few or none... read more »

Credit Cards With Free Credit Monitoring in 2021

By: Eric Bank, 4/8/2021

Credit cards with free credit monitoring are a big assistance to consumers interested in building, rebuilding, or maintaining their credit scores. These cards let you stay on top of changes to your credit score and are often augmented with credit alerts for factors that can impact your score. When choosing one of these cards, make sure you understand exactly which free credit score is being monitored and what other information you will receive for free. Cash Back | Travel | Students |... read more »

Ways to Make Money Using Credit Cards in 2021

By: Eric Bank, 3/29/2021

It’s amazing to discover how many ways you can make money using credit cards. We think of credit cards primarily as a convenient alternative to cash when we shop in stores, in apps, and online. But these nifty plastic rectangles can actually help you earn and save money without creating credit card debt, as long as you pay your full balance each billing cycle and only charge what you can afford. Earn a Signup Bonus Earn Cash Back Convert Points to Cash Plan Purchases... read more »

Best Credit Cards For Building Credit in 2021

By: Adam West, 2/25/2021

The best credit cards for building credit won’t just help you improve your credit score — they’ll also provide benefits that last long after you’ve achieved the excellent credit you strive for. And whether you’re a student, consumer, small business owner, or all of the above, you can maximize your credit-building potential while developing a positive relationship with a bank and possibly earn some rewards along the way. Every one of the cards below will report your payment... read more »

What Happens to the Balance of a Closed Credit Card?

By: Erica Sandberg, 2/16/2021

There are a few circumstances when a credit card may be closed even when an outstanding balance remains on the account. As nice as it would be for the debt to disappear with the terminated credit line, the cardholder remains liable for the balance until it is paid. Here is how and why a card with an amount still due can be closed, what it means to your credit rating, and how you can deal with the balance you owe (and the rewards balance that’s owed to you) appropriately. You Are... read more »

Best Credit Cards Accepted Everywhere in 2021

By: Eric Bank, 2/2/2021

If you’ve ever tried to pay for dinner with a credit card that the restaurant didn’t accept, then you’ll be very interested in our rundown of the best credit cards accepted everywhere. As it turns out, not all cards are accepted by all merchants. Most often, the reason why some merchants say no to cards from particular payment networks boils down to relatively high fees charged by those networks. Fees are the lifeblood of the four payment networks: Visa, Mastercard, American... read more »

Credit Card Ownership By Age, Income, Gender & Race in 2021

By: Erica Sandberg, 1/19/2021

Data on who applies for and receives certain credit cards and what they do with credit cards once they’re activated reveals interesting consumer trends. Credit card holders have different characteristics that vary in scope. All the collected facts and data paint a fascinating story about U.S. consumers and their credit cards. Here are the most recent statistics on account ownership broken down into key demographic measures: age, income, gender, and race. Credit Card Ownership By... read more »

9 Trends: Credit Cards During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Marcie Geffner, 1/4/2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected just about everything in 2020, and credit cards were no exception. From account balances to rewards offered and customer satisfaction among credit card issuers, the pandemic has altered the way consumers utilize credit. Here's a quick summary of what you need to know about credit cards during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1. Credit Card Balances Decreased Consumers paid down credit card debt in the early months of the pandemic. Credit card balances for... read more »

Best Virtual Credit Cards of 2021

By: Eric Bank, 12/23/2020

Identity theft shows no signs of abating, which explains the usefulness of the best virtual credit cards as protective tools. Most cardholders can access virtual account numbers these days thanks to digital wallets. Using virtual card numbers provides you with an extra layer of security without compromising your ability to pay for, return, exchange, or earn rewards on the items you buy. Normally, there is no monthly fee for generating virtual account numbers. Capital One | Chase |... read more »

Cash Advance Limits by Issuer in 2021

By: Eric Bank, 12/15/2020

It’s a good idea to know the cash advance limits on your credit cards before asking an ATM to start spitting out money. As it turns out, each card and card issuer has set limits on the maximum cash advance you can get, further tempered by factors such as your current balance and daily ATM withdrawal limit. Read on for a rundown on how several popular credit card companies control how much cash you can borrow from their cards. Amex | BoA | Capital One | Chase | Citi | Wells Fargo 1.... read more »

The Average Number of Credit Card Transactions Per Day & Year

By: Erica Sandberg, 11/9/2020

Credit card users make a mind-boggling number of daily transactions every year. The figures are astounding, whether you're looking at what’s happening in the United States or in countries across the globe. Credit card payments in 2018 totaled $44.7 billion in the U.S. alone, according to The 2019 Federal Reserve Payments Study. The speed at which these transactions process is awe-inspiring. Credit cards can settle 5,000 transactions per second. To further illustrate the... read more »

9 Best Credit Cards for Home Improvement Projects

By: Ashley Dull, 10/23/2020

Whether you're doing necessary maintenance like replacing moisture-damaged wood or you're adding a cool new addition to your home, homeowners have to put some cash into their domicile from time to time. In this article, we'll take a look at our choices for the best credit cards for home improvement. No matter how outdoorsy you are or how much you like to paint the town, just the time you spend sleeping can add up to more than 2,900 hours a year at home — and that's likely the... read more »

5 Ways to Use Your Credit Card for Social Action

By: Marcie Geffner, 7/1/2020

Credit cards may not seem like an obvious tool for social action. But in fact, credit cards provide multiple opportunities to make a difference and support causes you care about every day. Whether your aims are social, political, or charitable, here are five ways to use your credit cards to promote a cause. 1. Donate Your Cash Back or Card Rewards One way to support a cause with your credit card is to donate your cash back, miles, points, or other rewards to an organization that... read more »

10 Best Starter Credit Cards to Build Credit

By: Eric Bank, 3/4/2020

In this article, we review the 10 best starter credit cards to build credit. Using a starter credit card is an efficient way to create and build your credit profile. Many consumers who’ve never used credit are candidates for these cards, including students and unbanked millennials. In addition, you can work to rebuild a low credit score by getting a starter credit card and using it responsibly. These cards are easy to acquire and most offer cash back rewards. Whichever one you... read more »

13 Best Credit Cards for Electronics Purchases

By: Adam West, 12/17/2019

Many consumers struggle over whether to purchase a store’s extended warranty plan when buying a new electronic gadget. But, if you carry one of the best credit cards for electronics, you can confidently decline the offer and still feel safe. That's because you can automatically extend your warranty without having to pay an extra fee when you use any of the cards listed below to make your purchase. Some cards will even offer price protections that refund part of your purchase price... read more »

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