Nicole Dieker

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.

3 weeks ago | bankrate.com | Ted Rossman |Madison Hoehn |Nicole Dieker

Paying your credit card twice a month is good because it allows you to check in with your spending and get ahead of your bills. If you’re carrying credit card debt, making a credit card payment every other week could also save you money on interest. Even if you aren’t carrying credit card debt, making a credit card payment every other week could reduce your credit utilization ratio and improve your credit score.

2 months ago | bankrate.com | Nicole Dieker |Liza Carrasquillo

This page was originally published in mid-2021 and still contains relevant interview quotes from that time. The rest of the article has since been updated. Tana Williams and her husband found themselves in nearly $27,000 in debt after a series of emergency expenses came up, coupled with years of overspending. To get out of debt, they came up with a new budget, started taking on side hustles to earn extra income and found a debt management method that worked for them.

2 months ago | bankrate.com | Nicole Dieker |Liza Carrasquillo |Holly Johnson

This article was originally published mid-2021 and reflects the writer’s financial decisions at that time. The card details and the rest of the article have since been updated. Using a 0 percent introductory APR credit card can be a smart way to fund a large purchase or vacation, as long as you’re able to pay it off before the promotional period ends. The Discover it® Cash Back card offers an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, which is why I decided to use it for my cruise.

Jan 15, 2025 | bankrate.com | Nicole Dieker |Madison Hoehn

Most major credit card issuers offer the option to easily lock and unlock cards through their online accounts or mobile apps. Locking a credit card can prevent impulse purchases and keep the account safe from fraud. Recurring transactions will still go through while a credit card is locked. Did you know you can lock your credit card any time you don’t want anyone to use it?