Credit cards Codes & Coupons Best Credit cards of [December 2024] USA

Pros and cons of credit cards

The pros

Spread the cost of your purchase over time

It's convenient

If you pay off your balance in full, you will not be charged interest

Protection against fraud

Take advantage of rewards and other benefits

Credit is built

Negatives

Rates of interest are high

Fees for late payments

Overspending and debt accumulation are easy

Credit scores can be affected

Credit cards are an incredibly convenient way to make payments. They allow you to pay off your balance gradually, which can be useful for financing a large purchase or handling unexpected situations. Additionally, credit cards provide top-notch fraud protection. Many have zero-liability policies, so if you report any fraudulent charges, you will not be held responsible. These cards can also be beneficial for day-to-day expenses. Using them in a responsible manner and on a regular basis can help establish your credit history, and some may even offer rewards that increase with your spending. As long as you pay off the full amount each month, you will never incur interest fees.

Overspending, however, can easily result from this temptation to spend. This is why most credit cards come with relatively high interest rates, which may make it difficult to repay debt if you rack up a large balance. This is why credit cards are infamous for landing people in unmanageable debt. In addition to costing cardholders a lot of money in fees, high balances and missed payments can also wreck your credit.

Credit card types

There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all credit card, and they come with a variety of features. You need to know what you're looking for and understand the different types of credit cards so you can choose the one that's right for you. There are some credit cards that charge an annual membership fee (typically the ones that offer more generous rewards and benefits), while others don't charge an annual fee.

Typically, you earn bonus rewards on travel-related spending with a travel credit card. Those rewards can be redeemed toward travel, such as airline tickets or hotel accommodations. In addition to trip insurance, airport lounge access, travel statement credits, and more, the best travel credit cards offer additional travel-related perks.

You'll earn cash back on purchases with a cash back credit card. You'll earn it as a percentage of the total purchase price. Some cash back credit cards offer a flat rate while others offer bonus cash back.

Low-interest credit cards: These cards come in two forms: low-interest credit cards, which offer a relatively low ongoing APR, and 0% intro APR credit cards, with 0% introductory APRs on new purchases, or sometimes new purchases and balance transfers. The introductory rate lasts for 12 to 20 billing cycles, then the higher standard rate takes effect.

For an introductory period of up to 21 months, balance transfer credit cards offer an introductory APR of 0% on balance transfers. When you pay off the card's balance before the introductory period ends, you can avoid interest fees and so pay down debt faster with a balance transfer credit card.

It is common for business credit cards to be used for business-related expenses, and activity may appear on your business credit report rather than your personal credit report. It's a great tool for small business owners to separate their personal and business finances, since they often come with relevant features like employee credit cards and bonus rewards on business purchases.

A variety of credit cards are available for people with bad or no credit. Cards for rebuilding credit include secured credit cards, which require a security deposit as a credit limit. For people with no credit or a thin credit file who want to begin building credit from scratch, student credit cards are a good choice.

The difference between a credit card and a debit card

Debit cards and credit cards are both card payment methods -- the key difference lies in the way you fund your purchases. With a debit card, the funds come from your linked checking account, so you can only spend the money you have in your bank account. You pay for the purchase with your credit card issuer, and you then repay it.

There are also some differences in features. Debit cards rarely come with rewards systems or extensive benefits like many credit cards do. Your debit card activity doesn't appear on your credit report or affect your credit score. Also, debit cards offer less fraud protection than credit cards. If a purchase is fraudulently made with a debit card, you can be held liable for up to $500, whereas most credit cards have a $0 liability policy for fraudulent purchases.

Terminology for credit cards

Before applying for or using a credit card, you should understand these terms.

Your credit score is a number that lenders and credit card companies use to determine whether you are likely to repay your debts in the future.

It is the maximum amount of credit that your credit card issuer will extend you. If you try to charge more than your credit limit to your credit card, either the transaction will not process or you will be charged an over-limit fee.

Your available credit is the amount of credit you have left on your card after subtracting your current balance.

The annual percentage rate, or APR, is the cost of carrying a balance on your credit card. In other words, it is simply the interest rate on your card.

The annual fee on your credit card is a membership fee that's charged once a year. Cards that charge an annual fee usually do so because they offer additional rewards and benefits.

Authorized user: An authorized user is a secondary user you can add to your credit card so that they can make purchases on your account. Any activity on that account impacts their credit score. The balance will still be due to you, including any charges made by them.

The billing cycle of a credit card is measured by the amount of time between your monthly statement's closing date and the next month's closing date.

A credit card statement always includes a statement balance, which is the amount you owe at the end of your most recent billing cycle.

Your credit card statement will also show a current balance. This number reflects all unpaid charges, including those made after your most recent billing cycle ended.

Your credit card statement will also display the minimum payment due, and it is the amount you must pay before the payment due date. If you fail to pay this amount, you'll likely be charged a late fee, which can affect your credit score.

You have at least 21 days to make your payment if your credit card company offers one. It must be at least 21 days between the end of your billing cycle and the end of your payment due date. New purchases are excluded from this grace period, as are balance transfers and cash advances.

A cash advance is when you withdraw cash from an ATM or bank using your credit card. These transactions do not have a grace period, and the APR and cash advance fees are often higher.

You can transfer existing debt from one account to another by transferring a balance. Typically, this is done in order to secure a lower interest rate or more favorable terms, such as when transferring a balance from a credit card with a high APR to a credit card with a low or 0% intro APR on balance transfers.

When opening a secured credit card, the cardholder pays a security deposit to mitigate the risk of lending to someone with bad credit. The security deposit is the credit limit of the card.

Credit history

The concept of credit, in one form or another, has been around for thousands of years, but it wasn't until the 20th century that modern consumer credit became widely available. In the 1950s, many Americans had access to revolving credit accounts with specific stores, and in 1958, Bank of America launched the BankAmericard (now Visa) -- the first general-purpose credit card. American Express and Mastercard followed shortly after.

Over the second half of the 20th century, credit reporting and scoring evolved, making it widely accessible. In spite of the fact that many populations are still excluded from the credit industry today -- such as young adults, immigrants, and people formerly incarcerated -- new credit scoring models and products are extending access to credit.

What is the purpose of asking for your income when applying for a credit card?

To determine whether your application will be approved and, if so, what credit will be issued to you, credit card companies ask for your income. According to your income, a credit card issuer may approve you for a $1,000, $5,000, or more credit card based on your income.

The Credit CARD Act of 2009 requires credit card companies to ask applicants for their income. It also requires that they only approve an application if they are confident the applicant can afford their monthly payments. There are no specific guidelines provided on how much credit they can issue, however.

In addition to determining the credit limit you get, income can also determine if you're approved for a credit card. It is easiest to explain with an example. Certain types of cards have a minimum required credit limit. This limit is usually set by the payment network of the card, such as Visa or Mastercard.

All three of the most common Visa cards have their own minimum credit limits:

There is no minimum requirement for Visa® Basic

A Visa® Signature is required for $5,000.

$10,000 for Visa® Infinite

The credit card company can't issue a Visa® Signature card with a credit limit under $5,000, so it would need to deny your application if you applied for one.

Although it is possible to get approved for a lower limit, credit card companies usually adhere to the official guidelines.

Credit limit setting by credit card companies

Credit card companies consider not only your income when determining your credit limit, but also other factors, such as:

If you have any monthly debt payments

Rent or mortgage

Credit score

Credit available on other credit cards

In order to set your credit limit, each credit card company uses its own formula. As a result, you cannot predict what credit limit you'll receive from a card issuer. Nevertheless, there are high limit credit cards that have higher limits than others.

In our research on credit limits, we've found that card issuers generally like to keep your total credit limit with them between 25% and 100% of your annual income. If you always pay on time, you can ask them to increase your credit limit later, but some will start with a lower credit limit.

On a credit card application, what is considered income?

When you're at least 21, you can include any income that you have a "reasonable expectation to access." This includes:

Your job income

Freelancing or other independent work income

Income of your spouse or partner

Payments from Social Security

Distributions from retirement funds

Distributions from trust funds

Grants and scholarships

Under 21, you can only include personal income, allowances, scholarships, and grants.

Can a credit card company verify your income?

In most cases, a credit card company will take your word for it and use your reported income as a means of verifying your income.

Since there is no income verification, what happens if you exaggerate your income?

In all honesty, you are unlikely to get into trouble for exaggerating your income alone. However, it is considered loan application fraud, and if you are unable to pay, it could come back to bite you.

A court may not allow you to discharge your credit card debt in bankruptcy if your reported income on your credit card application is much higher than your actual income. It is possible to receive up to $1 million in fines and 30 years in prison for the crime. In some cases, offenders have even received hefty fines and/or imprisonment.

Every credit card application must include this information

Your income needs to be provided when you apply for a credit card, but it shouldn't be too significant. You don't need to be a big earner to get a credit card, since most cards are available to people at every salary range. The credit card company just wants to make sure it gives you the right credit limit.

Check out these credit cards to see what issuers offer, regardless of whether you have a credit history or not.

What is the process of using a credit card?

In order to use a credit card, you have to open a credit account with a financial institution. By using the card, you are borrowing money from the credit card issuer. Credit cards can be used to purchase goods or services at any merchant accepting them. There are some cards that allow you to get a cash advance, but this isn't recommended due to its high fees.

A credit card's balance is the amount you owe. For example, if you spend $100, the balance on the card would increase by $100.

Your credit card has a credit limit, which means the maximum amount you can owe the bank at one time. For example, if your credit limit is $1,000, then your balance cannot exceed that.

Your available credit is the difference between your credit limit and your balance. For example, if your card has a $1,000 credit limit and a $100 balance, your available credit is $900.

If you pay your bill and have available credit, you can use your credit card and borrow again. For that reason, a credit card is considered a revolving line of credit.

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate.

APR, or annual percentage rate, is the interest rate that the card issuer charges on any outstanding balance after your due date.

If you pay off your card's full statement balance, you won't be charged interest on any purchases you make.

The following is an example of how APR works:

There is a 20% APR on your credit card.

There is a balance of $1,000 on your account.

This balance would grow to $1,200 after one year if you don't incur any fees (20% of $1,000 = $200, added to the original balance).

Interest will not be charged if you pay off the $1,000 balance by the due date.

To avoid fees and keep your account in good standing, you'd need to make minimum payments every month. That was just an example to explain how interest works on credit cards.

Credit building

You need to use your credit card in a way that will improve your credit score once you've been approved for one. Here's how.

Make your payments on time

In order to get excellent credit, you should always pay on time. Your payment history is the most important factor in determining your credit score.

You can set up an autopay feature with most credit card issuers. This ensures that you will not miss a payment. Alternatively, you can set a monthly reminder.

Keep an eye on your FICO® score

The FICO® Score is one of the most common types of credit scores used by lenders. You should check yours at least once every few months to ensure you're heading in the right direction. Some credit cards come with a FICO® Score tracker, but if yours doesn't, there are also free ways to check your score.

Maintain a low balance

Your credit score will suffer if your credit card balance gets too high. You can calculate this by multiplying your credit card's limit by 30%. To avoid a drop in your credit score, try to stay below 30%. Try to keep your balance below $300, for example, if your credit card has a $1,000 limit.

Increase your credit limit

If you have been using your card and making on-time payments for nine to twelve months, ask your card issuer for a credit limit increase. You will be better able to keep your balances below 30% if you have a higher credit limit.

Don't close your account

Keeping older accounts around helps boost your credit score. Your oldest credit card, in particular, should not be closed since it is your oldest credit card.

Don't apply for new cards too often

Credit cards with more benefits become available as credit is built. There's nothing wrong with opening a new card that could save you money, but don't go overboard.

Credit card applications have a small impact on your credit score. Too many applications can prevent you from improving your credit score. Apply for a new card once every year or once every six months at most to improve your score.

How should I choose my first credit card?

Here are a few features to look for when choosing the best first credit card for beginners.

There is no annual fee

With each passing month, you should extend the age of your credit history by keeping your first credit card open forever. As a first credit card, we recommend one that does not charge an annual fee, so you don't have to pay it every year.

Track your FICO® Score for free

Keeping track of your FICO® Score from your online credit card account is free with some credit cards.

Security deposit is not required or is low

Credit cards with a refundable security deposit are popular with first-time credit card applicants. Since the credit card issuer receives a deposit upfront, they can be more flexible about who they approve.

There are other options than secured cards, so you may be able to avoid paying a deposit. If you choose a secured card, find one with an affordable deposit. It is ideal for cards that offer a $200 credit limit in exchange for a $200 or less deposit.

CHECK OUT THE BEST SECURED CREDIT CARDS

The rewards

The primary purpose of a beginner credit card is to build a credit score and qualify for better terms on loans and cards in the future, so rewards aren't a big deal. It's not a bad thing to have rewards from your first credit card, however.

Get The Ascent's take on credit cards.

You may find the following resources helpful if you are applying for your first credit card:

Here's how to get your first credit card

First-time credit card users should know these things

Is a credit card required?

There are several reasons why you should get a credit card, even if you don't need one:

It is much more difficult to build credit without a credit card. You will have a harder time getting approved for a loan if you ever want to borrow money if you have a limited credit history. In addition, it can result in you getting rejected when trying to rent a home, and in many states, it can even result in higher car insurance rates.

When it comes to security, credit cards are the best payment method. You can contact your credit card issuer to have the fraudulent charges removed and to receive a new card if a thief uses your credit card fraudulently. Credit card fraud has a maximum liability of $50, and most card issuers offer zero-liability policies so you can't be held responsible for fraudulent charges.

Credit cards often offer cash back, travel points, or some form of reward. This allows you to earn value back on your purchases.

Debit cards vs. credit cards

In order to help you distinguish between credit cards and debit cards, we're going to take a closer look at their similarities and differences.

Identicalities

You can use both credit cards and debit cards to pay for goods and services. They are both physical cards that are tied to a financial account. The way you use them for transactions is also the same. When you make a physical payment, you insert your card, swipe it in a card reader, or use contactless payment. When you make an online payment, you enter your card details.

The differences

Despite the fact that both debit and credit cards are tied to financial accounts, the accounts to which they are linked are different. A credit card is linked to a revolving line of credit from your bank.

In a credit card transaction, the card issuer pays, and you repay them later. In a debit card transaction, you pay with funds from your bank account. When there's a fraudulent charge on your credit card, you can call and request that the charge be removed, and you won't be out of money. The bank may need to investigate if you have been a victim of debit card fraud before they can reimburse your account.

Credit card fraud is easier to handle because the money never leaves your bank account, unlike debit card fraud.