Credit card interest rate cap is a midterm issue: here's what's real
News. Candidates in both parties are promising a 10% cap on card rates, but no cap has passed and the average card APR is still above 21%.
Credit card debt cooled in August, but serious delinquencies stay high
News. New Fed data shows card borrowing shrank in August, yet nearly 13% of card balances are 90+ days late, with young adults and people over 70 under the most strain.
How travel rewards credit cards work: points, miles and perks
Travel rewards cards. Travel cards pay in points or miles, not dollars. Here's how the two main kinds work, what perks and fees to expect, and who they actually suit.
Is a travel card's annual fee worth it? Run the break-even math
Travel rewards cards. A simple formula, two worked examples and a checklist for credits show when a travel card's annual fee pays for itself, and when to downgrade instead.
Flat-rate vs category cash back cards: which earns more?
Cash back cards. Flat-rate cards pay one rate on everything; category cards pay more in a few places. Example math shows which wins for different spending patterns.
How cash back is paid out and redeemed, from credits to taxes
Cash back cards. Statement credit or deposit? Minimums, expiration rules and what happens at account closure, plus how cash back is generally treated at tax time.
When a no annual fee card is the right choice, and when it isn't
No annual fee cards. A card with no annual fee costs nothing to keep open, which makes it the quiet workhorse of a long credit history. Here is what you trade away for that, and who comes out ahead.
Downgrade instead of cancel: keeping your credit history
No annual fee cards. If an annual fee card no longer earns its keep, a product change to a no annual fee card can keep your account, credit limit and history in place. Here is how it works and what to ask.
How balance transfer cards work, with the fee math
Balance transfer and 0% APR. A balance transfer card moves high-interest debt onto a low or 0% intro APR for a set time, for a one-time fee. It works only if you clear the balance before the intro period ends.
0% intro APR on purchases vs deferred interest: know the difference
Balance transfer and 0% APR. Both promise no interest for a while. Only one charges you interest back to the purchase date if a dollar is left when the promotion ends.
Do you need a business credit card? Who qualifies and what to know
Business credit cards. Freelancers and side businesses can usually qualify for a business card. The catch is the personal guarantee and weaker CARD Act protections.
How credit card rewards work: points, miles and cash back
Card basics. Rewards are a rebate worth roughly a cent or two per dollar for most people. Here is how they are earned, how to value points, and why interest wipes them out.
Business card rewards, employee cards and personal liability
Business credit cards. How business card rewards are structured, how employee cards and spending limits work, who owes the bill and when a business card shows up on your personal credit.
APR, grace periods and minimum payments, explained
Card basics. How credit card interest is calculated day by day, how the grace period lets you avoid it, and what the minimum payment warning on your statement really means.
Secured credit cards explained: deposits, limits and graduating
Building credit. How secured credit cards work, from the deposit and credit limit to bureau reporting, fees to watch and how to move up to an unsecured card.
How applying for a credit card affects your credit score
Card basics. A hard inquiry usually costs a few points for a few months. Utilization and account age can matter more, and prequalification lets you check first without a hit.
How to build credit from scratch with your first credit card
Building credit. What FICO Scores weigh, how utilization and on-time payments work, and how student cards, secured cards and authorized user status compare as a first step.
How to find award seat availability: search, timing and alerts
Points and miles. Award seats are out there, but rarely on the first search. Here is how to search the right programs, use flexible dates, set alerts and time your search to release dates.
Award charts vs. dynamic pricing: how airlines price award seats
Points and miles. Some programs publish fixed award prices. Others let the price float with demand. Knowing which is which changes how you search, and when you book.
How airline miles work: a beginner's guide
Points and miles. Miles are a currency each airline controls. Here's how you earn them, what they're worth, and how to spend them without wasting a single one.
Airline shopping portals: how to earn more miles shopping online
Points and miles. Start at your airline's shopping portal instead of the store's website and you earn miles on purchases you were making anyway. Here's how portals work, why miles go missing and how to get more of them.
Award travel glossary: 34 terms explained in plain English
Points and miles. From saver awards and open jaws to carrier-imposed surcharges and status matches, here's what the award-travel jargon actually means.