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3 weeks ago | 
bankrate.com | India Davis |Reena P Thomas
I was 19 when I received my first credit card and I had no idea what I was doing — and I’m not alone. In fact, according to a recent Bankrate survery, over half of Americans have not received a strong financial education, affecting their ability to build positive money habits. If you are a parent or a guardian, then teaching your children about credit cards may take a backseat to teaching them how to drive or make their bed.
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3 weeks ago | 
bankrate.com | Nicole Dieker |India Davis |Ryan Flanigan |Courtney Mihocik
Credit card issuers may choose to reject your application even if you have a good or excellent credit score. Factors like previous credit mistakes, too many applications and too many cards can affect your approval odds. If you were denied a credit card with good or excellent credit, the issuer is required to tell you why you were denied. You may be able to contact the issuer’s customer service and argue for reconsideration.
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4 weeks ago | 
bankrate.com | Courtney Mihocik |India Davis
Data breaches, financial fraud and internet crime have increased in recent years, so now’s the time to review how to protect your finances. If you haven’t already frozen your credit to prevent financial fraud, now may be the time to do it. Freezing your credit is free and has no impact on your credit score. Falling victim to a scam can be debilitating for your personal finances, and worryingly, financial fraud is becoming more common.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | Ana Staples |India Davis |Holly Johnson
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a flat rate of 1.5% cash back with no annual fee, making it a solid choice for those looking for a simple cash back credit card. New cardholders can earn a cash bonus of $200 after spending $500 on new purchases within three months of account opening.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | Holly Johnson |India Davis |Garrett Yarbrough
Although credit cards are one of the safest ways to pay, you may be stuck with unwanted purchases if you lend your card to family or friends — including children, authorized users and joint cardholders. You can dispute unauthorized charges through the issuer’s website or phone number on the back of your card. If the issuer sides with you, it may close your card, credit the purchases and send you a replacement card.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | India Davis
A second credit card can benefit you in more ways than one, although the right card for you depends on your goals. You can opt for a second card that earns more or different rewards than you’re earning now, or you can pick a card with 0 percent APR to save on interest. A second credit card can also help you build credit when you pay your balance in full, make on-time payments and use credit responsibly.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | India Davis |Ana Staples |Liza Carrasquillo |Stephanie Zito
You can link your accounts, including credit cards, to PayPal to easily send and receive money. Using a credit card on PayPal might seem convenient, especially if you’re looking to score some credit card rewards; however, that convenience comes with rates and fees. PayPal charges fees when you use a credit card to make a transfer, and your card issuer might categorize such transactions as cash advances.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | Ben Luthi |India Davis
Your student credit card may be one of the first tools you use to begin building your credit history, which makes what you do with it after graduation all the more important. When you graduate, you can either continue using it as is, upgrade your card to a new card or cancel it and close your account — although that last option is rarely recommended.
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2 months ago | 
bankrate.com | Andy Shuman |India Davis
The BankAmericard® credit card comes with a great introductory APR, making it a solid option for people to pay off credit card debt over time. The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card offers good long-term value with access to cash back, the ability to earn a welcome bonus and a nice introductory APR offer. Both credit cards come with basic benefits like free FICO score access, $0 fraud liability, account alerts and access to Museums on Us and BankAmeriDeals.
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2 months ago | 
bankrate.com | Garrett Yarbrough |Aja McClanahan |India Davis |Nouri Zarrugh
Credit cards aren’t generally seen as the best option for borrowing money due to their high interest rates if you don’t pay your balance in full and on time. But a credit card can give you a lucrative edge over a personal loan if you need to finance a large purchase around the corner and don’t need long to pay it off. The key is to use the right card for both the upcoming purchase and for your long-term needs.
