A Checklist For Card Holders
posted: 338 DAYS 23 HOURS AGO
filed under: Credit Cards
To help compare and evaluate your existing credit cards, as well as card offers, you may wish to set up a checklist.
A checklist includes the basic and essential features of a credit card discussed in this educator.
You may wish to expand the checklist to evaluate introductory offers and rewards cards.
Although the checklist may contain other features, it should include, at a minimum, the following information:
| Â Feature |
Example A | Example B | Your Card |
| Regular interest rate: |
14.50% | 17.50% | Â |
| Index rate: |
Prime | Prime | Â |
| Interest rate spread: | 4.00% | 9.00% | Â |
| Cash-advance charges: |
21.00% | 21.00% | Â |
| Over-the-limit charges: |
21.00% | 21.00% | Â |
| Annual fee: |
$35 | $30 | Â |
| Grace period (days): |
25 | 25 | Â |
| Teaser rate: |
Yes | No | Â |
| On new purchases: |
3.90% | -- | Â |
| On transfer balances: | 3.90% | -- | Â |
| Introductory period: |
6 months | -- | Â |
| Regular rate on transfer balances: |
16.50% | 17.50% | Â |
| Rewards card: |
No | Frequent-flier | Â |
| Reward earned: |
-- | Miles | Â |
| How reward is earned: |
-- | 1 mile/$1 purchases |
 |
| Reward on transfer balances: |
-- | 500 miles each $1,000 |
 |
| Bonus offer: | -- | 1,000 miles first 3 years |
 |
| How many needed for reward: |
-- | 25,000 miles | Â |
| Reward description: |
-- | Round-trip ticket (domestic) |
 |
The above information is educational and should not be interpreted as financial advice. For advice that is specific to your circumstances, you should consult a financial or tax adviser.
2008-07-21 15:31:37
COMMENTS ( 0 )
Credit
PERSONAL FINANCE
- Bargains
- Banking
- Budgets
- Calculators
- College Finance
- Community
- Credit
- Deals
- Debt
- Economizer
- Fraud
- Insurance
- Loans
- Mortgages
- Recalls
- Recession
- Retirement
- Saving
- Simplification
- Specials
- Taxes
FROM THE BLOG
- Ask WalletPop
- Buyer Beware
- Celebs & Money
- Fantastic Freebies
- Kids and Money
- Loose Change
- Ripoffs and Scams
- Sex Sells
- Stimulate US
- The Dolans
- Video
INVESTING
- Stock Quotes
- Stock Charts
- Stock Ticker
- Portfolio
- Stock Screener
- Broker Center
- Mutual Fund Center
- ETF Center
- Money
- 24/7 Wall St.
- Financial Glossary
SMALL BUSINESS
Basics for Credit Cards
Interest Rates
| Type | Current | APR |
|---|---|---|
| 30 yr fixed mtg | 5.34% | 5.57% |
| 5/1 ARM | 4.56% | 4.61% |
| $30K HELOC | 5.06% | 0.00% |
| 36 month new car loan | 7.14% | 0.00% |
| 1 yr CD | 1.73% | 1.74% |
Banks vs. consumers: Demand a new protection agency now!
If you want to see a consumer financial protection agency, now is the time to let your Congressman know how important that protection will be for you....
15 million Citibank card holders will pay more, bank evading Fed's rules
Got a Citibank credit card, or any one of the co-branded cards, including Sears and MySpace, among many others? You may have hoped you'd be safe from...
Credit card companies have until 2010 to stop ripping you off
When President Obama signed the credit card bill in May, there was one stipulation included for the benefit of the credit card companies: The changes...
Supreme Court gives states rights to protect consumers
The Supreme Court opened the door for states to enforce fair-lending laws and other consumer protection measures when it struck down a rule that limited...
Ask Me About Debt
Lita Epstein
Do you have a question about getting out of debt? Ask our personal finance expert Lita Epstein.
