Credit Cards
Smart Spending Tips breaks down consumer payment trends using 2024 data and explains the pros and cons of today’s most common payment methods so you can make more informed spending choices. Technology and financial innovation are changing the way Americans handle money. Some of these changes provide consumers with more choices and better efficiency. However, some carry risks and additional costs. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta recently updated its annual Survey and Diary of Consumer Payment Choice. It tracks how Americans pay for goods and services, whether with cash, checks, credit cards or other methods. Looking at how these…
The SoFi Essential Credit Card doesn’t earn ongoing rewards on everyday purchases. However, like all SoFi credit cards, it earns 3x back when used for purchases made through the SoFi Travel Portal. It, too, comes with a welcome offer in some cases, based on an applicant’s credit and SoFi member history. SoFi pitches the Essential credit card as a product that offers a reliable credit line for those who want to build or improve their credit scores. It doesn’t charge an over-limit fee or foreign transaction fees, and it reports to all three credit bureaus. But unlike some other credit cards…
For a limited time, the $0-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card has boosted its sign-up bonus for new cardholders, offering plenty of points to use toward future travel goals. Those who apply by Nov. 20, 2024, can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases on the card in the first three months from account opening. That can amount to up to two nights at over 5,700 IHG Hotel and Resort properties. It’s a 20,000-point increase over the card’s previous bonus, and it maintains the same spending requirement. It’s a solid introductory offer for a $0-annual-fee credit card.…
If you pay your credit card balance in full each month, then your card’s ongoing interest rate (aka its annual percentage rate, or APR) is irrelevant, since you’ll never owe any interest.But if you tend to carry a balance from month to month, knowing where your interest rate stands is key to saving money, especially if you’re revolving several balances. Credit card APRs can change periodically based on a variety of factors, such as the general state of the economy and your own creditworthiness, so it’s not always easy to keep up with. (A credit card issuer has the right…
Based in Salt Lake City, Celtic Bank provides financing for small businesses. It issues several credit cards that serve a variety of purposes, from building credit to earning rewards. Celtic’s cards include: Celtic Bank also issued the Deserve EDU and Deserve PRO cards, but those are no longer open to new applicants.Here’s a closer look at the cards issued by Celtic Bank.Celtic Bank credit cards for building creditThe Indigo Platinum MastercardThe Indigo Platinum Mastercard is an unsecured credit card, meaning it doesn’t require a security deposit. Your payment activity will be reported to all three of the main credit bureaus.…
From furnishing your new home to booking last-minute travel to tend to an ill loved one, credit cards can be a helpful tool as you deal with life’s big, expensive stuff. “I just recently had a client who was going through IVF, which was a major purchase,” says Chris Hernandez, an investment advisor in Austin, Texas. The couple signed up for a new card to pay for the cost of fertility treatments, eventually gaining both a sign-up bonus and a baby.Credit cards can earn lucrative rewards, making the money you spend work harder for you. But they can also help…
The Capital One Lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) provides a modern, pleasant atmosphere to relax or work away from the main terminal, in addition to what I consider to be the best food-and-beverage amenities of any lounge at Dulles. A unique selection of small, hot plates at the buffet.A full-service espresso bar, including craft tea and (awesome) baked goods.Complimentary cocktails, wine and beer.Grab-and-go food to take out of the lounge, including sandwiches, salads, fruit, baked goods, coffee and sodas. Two semi-private work areas.A nursing/parents room. I used my new Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to access the Capital…
The Bank of Missouri offers personal and business financial services to Missourians including mortgages, car loans and health savings accounts. Bank members may visit one of nearly 30 branches across Missouri in Ozark, Springfield and more. But despite The Bank of Missouri’s sterling reputation as a trustworthy deposit institution, it issues some terrible credit cards that primarily target consumers with low credit scores. Overall, these cards hit you with a barrage of fees in exchange for very few perks. If you’ve been considering one of these credit cards, know that there are better options — even if you have poor…