By Doresa Banning
Editor's Note: Thank you for your interest, this offer expired and is no longer available.
If you're looking for a significant no-interest period to chip away at an existing credit card balance or new purchases, Citi Dividend Platinum Select Visa Card offers this. If you're looking for rewards in the form of cash back, it offers that too...
Read the full article »By Justin Boyle
There's almost nothing better to do with leisure time than travel. The world is huge, and global trends in media and commerce are making it more accessible than ever to regular working people like you and me.
The warm season is a popular time to get away from home for a while, whether it's to the balmy summer beaches of the Mediterranean or the autumns and winters of Argentina, Australia and other destinations in the southern hemisphere. The right credit cards can help you pay smart for your travels abroad, earning you miles, points and other rewards while helping you avoid surcharges and fees that might surprise less savvy travelers.
There are two types of travel plastic to keep at hand: credit cards with miles promotions and credit cards with no foreign transaction fee.
The first step in any vacation to foreign soil is getting there, and using a card with no foreign transaction fee airline credit card or a bank-sponsored card that offers a strong airline benefits package can make that first step a breeze. Some cards offer double and triple points for flights booked through certain carriers, and more cards than ever are allowing points redemption for international travel.
Foreign transaction fees snuck up and surprised quite a few friends of mine who studied abroad in college. When a charge has to switch currencies -- from dollar to euro, Read the full article »
By Doresa Banning
Editor's Note: Thank you for your interest, this offer expired and is no longer available.
If you're a frequent Costco shopper, consider the TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express, which can earn you cash back rewards on your purchases and doubles as a Costco membership.
Offers a 0 percent introductory APR on purchases for 6 months after that your APR will be a variable rate currently 15.24%.
As with all credit and charge card offers be sure to read all the disclosures on the issuers online card application page before you apply. Because rates and offers from advertisers shown on this website change frequently, please visit referenced sites for current information. For more information or to fill out an application, visit the application page TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express.
Read the full article »By Doresa Banning
The United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase is ideal if you fly often on United Airlines and want to earn travel rewards from your credit card and other travel benefits.
Features:
Fees:
United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase
Read the full article »By Megg Mueller
Did you know JPMorgan Chase offers a credit card made out of gold and palladium? No? Not surprising, as the Palladium Card is only offered by invitation to a select few. Reading about it in a recent Bloomberg story, I found myself wondering, "Who does Chase think it is, American Express?" Well apparently, AmEx is thinking the same thing.
The Street reports American Express vice chairman Ed Gilligan told a group of investors recently that "...Chase in particular certainly has been executing well their strategy, but their strategy seems to be to follow American Express's strategy from a couple of years ago."
AmEx has long had the reputation of being the card of the rich and famous, but Chase now appears to be chasing that same affluent customer. While the Chase Palladium comes with many perks (deals on private jet service, anyone?) it also has a steep annual fee of $595. But that still doesn't even come close to the American Express Black Card which has not only a $5,000 initiation fee, but an annual fee of $2,500.
But for those of us not quite so highbrow, how do the two companies' ordinary flagship rewards credit cards stack up? For those with a healthy budget, a look at the JPMorgan Select Visa and the American Express Gold Card reveals a couple of similarities: travel insurance offers, and no blackout dates for travel booked with rewards points. But that's where the comparable features end:
JPMorgan Select Visa
Editor's Note: Thank you Read the full article »
By Megg Mueller
Still walking around with a no rewards credit card? Yeah, me too, until just about a month ago. I could no longer write about credit cards and still get zero return on my purchases. But the choice of what rewards card to get is a big one; from cash back points to gift cards to free gas at your favorite pump, the types of rewards are seemingly endless. One of the biggest categories is travel rewards: You can earn points for hotel stays, car rentals, airfares and more each time you shop. What could be simpler? Well, all cards are not created equal, so in that vein, I offer a look at the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred gives cardholders access to Ultimate Rewards, Chase's rewards point program. Points can be redeemed for merchandise, cash back, experiences and travel. The company website touts its claim that cardholders can book flights for an average of 20 percent fewer rewards points if booked on the reward program website, plus there are no blackout dates or restrictions. Chase's travel partners include British Airways, United's Mileage Plus program, Hyatt Hotels and Marriott Hotels. Points can be transferred to any partner program at full value, according to the company website.
For starters, new cardholders earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of the account. Balance transfers don't apply. Standard rewards tiers for purchases on Chase Sapphire Preferred are: