Best Credit Cards

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The Best Credit Cards To Help Rebuild Your Credit

By John Csiszar

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How To Use a Credit Card Like a Pro This Holiday Season

Top Picks: The 10 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Available Now

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How to Use Your Credit Card Like a Rich Person

MORE TOP CREDIT CARD PICKS

IF YOU WANT REWARDS

IF YOU LOVE TRAVEL

IF YOU FLY OFTEN

IF YOU WANT CASH BACK

The 10 Best Rewards Credit Cards Available Now

By Gabrielle Olya

The 10 Best Travel Credit Cards Available Now

By Gabrielle Olya

The 10 Best Airline Credit Cards Available Now

By Gabrielle Olya

on October 18, 2021

The 10 Best Cash-Back Credit Cards Available Now

By Gabrielle Olya

Credit Card Use

Save For Your Future

CREDIT CARD QUESTIONS ANSWERED

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5 Reasons Why You Need a Cash-Back Card in Your Wallet

With so many credit cards available, it can be tough to navigate all the different types. For example, hotel and airline credit cards offer great bonuses for those who are loyal to certain brands. On the other hand, travel rewards credit cards tend to come with fees, so they won’t be worth it if you don’t travel much. In that case, you may be better off going with a cash-back credit card, as they often have very few fees, among other benefits. This gallery will walk through some of the benefits of cash-back credit cards. Then, we’ll take a look…

Close-up of a woman getting a credit card out of her wallet.

Why It's a Bad Move To Use the Same Credit Cards Indefinitely

Although credit cards offer a high level of convenience, they're not for everyone. If you have trouble paying off your balance every month, you'll end up paying high interest charges and potentially damage your credit score. However, for those who can use credit cards responsibly, they can be a great financial tool. For starters, proper credit card usage can raise your credit score, which will potentially lower the interest rate on any future borrowings, from auto loans to home mortgages. Credit cards also typically provide a wide range of perks. Here are some reasons why you might want to responsibly…

stack of multicolored credit cards on black background.

Do Hybrid Rewards Cards Make Any Difference in Total Rewards Saved?

When it comes to opening a credit card, there's almost a mind-boggling array of choices, including no annual fee, cash back, balance transfer, rewards, hotel, airline, store, student and business. And because a credit card is a financial tool, it's important to be judicious when opening a new account. If you're looking for a card that's more flexible when it comes to rewards, you may want to consider a hybrid rewards credit card. Learn what it is, how it can help you and whether it's something you should make space for in your wallet. GOBankingRates' Best Credit Cards: See the…

By Cynthia Measom

How Many Credit Cards Should You Have? And More Credit Card Questions Answered

There's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how many credit cards you should have. Like all financial decisions, the right number of credit cards depends on your personal finance profile, from your income and age to your financial objectives and free cash reserves. However, one thing is for certain — you should never open any credit card account unless you have the financial means to pay it off in full before interest charges accrue. Beyond that, there are a number of different scenarios that will help determine how many credit cards you should have, and when you should or…

How To 'Erase' Credit Card Annual Fees

According to a Federal Trade Commission report, annual fees on credit cards have been increasing steadily over the years. The average annual fee in 2020 was $94 per card, according to the FTC report. Higher fees might be more and more difficult for some cardholders to justify. But despite the upward trend in annual fees, many credit cards come with some excellent perks. In fact, credit cards can have such lucrative benefits that an annual fee might be worth it. We Asked: 90-Second Moves To Raise Your Credit Score 200 Points Portal Update: 10 Things To Do Now If You…

How Many Credit Cards Do You Need To Get a Higher Credit Score?

Your credit score is the product of a complex algorithm that factors in numerous variables. The number of credit cards you have is a portion of that mix, but it's not one of the most important. In fact, the actual number of your credit cards is practically irrelevant compared to the big movers of your credit score, like how you use them. Here's a look at what exactly goes into a credit score, along with an explanation of what you need to do to get or maintain top-tier credit. Get Started: Make a Debt-Free Future Your Reality Credit Score:90-Second Moves…

DID YOU KNOW

The Top Do's and Don'ts of Opening and Using Credit Cards During the Holidays

The holidays can be expensive and chaotic. It might be tough to stay on budget as a result, both due to buying expensive gifts or unforeseen circumstances such as a missed flight. We've Got You Covered: GOBankingRates' Smart Holiday Spending Guide Tips: How To Use a Credit Card Like a Pro This Holiday Season Even if you would strongly prefer to stay on budget, opening a new credit card during the holidays might seem like such an easy solution to budgetary constraints during these crazy times. However, credit cards can also be a slippery slope. Hence, it's important to know the…

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Jaw-Dropping Stats About the State of Credit Card Debt in America

Most Americans have some credit card debt. A recent GOBankingRates survey found that 30% of Americans have between $1,001 and $5,000 in credit card debt, 15% have $5,001 or more in credit card debt and about 6% have more than $10,000 in credit card debt. Although 6% may seem like a small amount, that means that based on the survey results, 14 million Americans have over $10,000 of credit card debt. GOBankingRates’ Best Credit Cards: See the Top Cards and Get Helpful Tips See: The Biggest Problems Facing Social Security Here's a look at even more jaw-dropping stats about the…

4 Discontinued Credit Cards That We Miss

By Andrew Lisa

The 10 Best Travel Credit Cards Available Now

The 10 Best Airline Credit Cards Available Now

GOBankingRates’ Best Rewards Credit Cards

How To ‘Erase’ Credit Card Annual Fees

Save For Your Future

MORE ABOUT CREDIT CARDS

New Survey Reveals What Americans Hate Most About Credit Cards

Credit cards have many benefits, from providing a financial cushion in case of emergencies, to helping build credit scores to accumulating rewards and perks. While there are endless cards to choose from, there is one aspect many Americans agree on: Annual membership fees are the worst, according to a new survey. The new GOBankingRates survey, which questioned over 1,000 Americans, found that annual membership fees took the top spot in two ways: It was the top thing people tried to avoid when signing up, and 36% of those surveyed deemed it the fee they hate the most. More Findings: 44%…

By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy

How To Cancel a Credit Card Without Hurting Your Credit Score

There are plenty of reasons to cancel a credit card. But canceling can have a negative impact on your credit score, so you'll need to do more than just cut up the card and throw it out if you don't want to ding your score in the process. The good news is you can minimize the damage or, in some cases, avoid it entirely. Here's how to cancel a credit card without damaging your credit score. When It Makes Sense To Cancel a Credit Card Any number of circumstances might warrant canceling a credit card. For example: Your credit card rewards…

By Daria Uhlig

Should I Contribute To My 401(k) or Pay Off My Credit Card Debt?

It's been over a decade since the Great Recession swept through the nation, yet two-thirds of Americans said they still feel haunted by its effects in the way they work, live, save and spend, according to a study from Allianz Life Insurance Co. Many of the 2,000 baby boomers and Gen X-ers studied also said they had lower confidence in their ability to achieve financial security. This has only been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic and its affect on unemployment in the U.S. See: 20 Investments That Are Recession-Proof Check Out: A $180K Pokémon Card and the Geekiest Stuff That Could…

By Roger Wohlner

Lesser-Known Credit Card Perks You Should Be Taking Advantage Of

Cash back and flight miles are some common benefits to having a credit card, but you could be missing out on some hidden perks that could really come in handy. From travel insurance to shopping bonuses, there's a whole lot having a credit card in your wallet can do for you. GOBankingRates' Best Credit Cards: See the Top Cards and Get Helpful Tips See: 4 Credit Cards That Are Great for Day-to-Day Errands Travel Insurance Lost a bag? Had to cancel a trip due to extenuating circumstances? Need to cancel a hotel at the last minute? These are all instances that…

By Sam DiSalvo

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The Quickest Ways To Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt

Credit card debt is a financial scourge, as it can rapidly spiral out of control due to high interest rates. However, sometimes it can be difficult to avoid going into debt. This has been particularly true for many Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, as spiraling unemployment and stay-at-home orders have created widespread financial difficulty. If you find yourself weighed down by credit card debt for any reason, take a look at these tips to help you pay it off more rapidly. See: Why It's Still Better To Use Your Credit Card Over Your Debit Card Learn: The Top Purchases You Should Always…