Monday, November 20, 2006

Online Credit Card Offers: So Many Choices!

Most people are hitting the internet to find the best credit card offers they can. It can be a little bewildering after you take a dive into the sea of incentives; there are offers everywhere. Even if you have bad credit, it seems that there is an offer for every conceivable incentive, financial goal, or personal association. Credit providers have really done their research and sliced and diced the market into specific, targeted niches. So, make sure to compare offers to find the best credit card for you.

Popular Credit Card Offers

A quick survey of credit card vendors shows there are some common categories for card offers. We’ll have a quick look at the usual suspects:

Cash Back Cards – Cash back cards are becoming more and more common. Every major vendor offers them, and you can earn as much as 5% back on specific purchases. Many cards focus on particular types of spending habits (gas, entertainment, everyday purchases, etc). Have an idea of what your money is most frequently going toward to maximize your return on these great cards.

Airline Miles Cards – Ah, yes, the ubiquitous frequent flyer cards. These cards were all the rage in the 1990’s, and they are still quite popular today. Frequent flyer cards operate much like cash back card offers, except your rewards are obviously tallied in rewards miles. Be sure to read the fine print to uncover flight restrictions and bonus plans. Airline cards more typically have annual fees, but for heavy users these plans more than pay for themselves.

Balance Transfer/Low APR Cards – This is the way to go for the fiscally minded among us. If you tend to carry a balance on your card, then getting into a nice balance transfer or low APR card can drastically cut your monthly payments. The vast majority of balance transfer cards give you a 0% APR grace period, and a typically low APR after that. This should give you a nice chance to pay down your debt without paying more interest than necessary.

Bad Credit Credit Cards – These cards, when used wisely, can be a great tool for improving your credit score. Now, naturally, bad credit credit cards do not typically come with many bells and whistles, but there are still some great options out there. Check out Orchard Bank’s Platinum or Gold cards. The other option to consider is a Secured Card. A secured card requires you to establish a savings account for collateral, and that you pay your balance in full each month. If you do that for a while you can work your way into something more traditional.

Instant Approval Offers – The name explains it all. Instant approval cards offer a quick and easy opportunity to get you started. You can apply online and usually receive a credit decision within seconds of filling out an online credit card application. There are many banks that offer instant approval.

We have touched on the four most common categories of credit cards. There are, of course, even more. Whatever your fancy is, there is likely something for you. Your best option is to take your time and shop around for the card just right for you.
Most people are hitting the internet to find the best credit card offers they can. It can be a little bewildering after you take a dive into the sea of incentives; there are offers everywhere. Even if you have bad credit, it seems that there is an offer for every conceivable incentive, financial goal, or personal association. Credit providers have really done their research and sliced and diced the market into specific, targeted niches. So, make sure to compare offers to find the best credit card for you.

Popular Credit Card Offers

A quick survey of credit card vendors shows there are some common categories for card offers. We’ll have a quick look at the usual suspects:

Cash Back Cards – Cash back cards are becoming more and more common. Every major vendor offers them, and you can earn as much as 5% back on specific purchases. Many cards focus on particular types of spending habits (gas, entertainment, everyday purchases, etc). Have an idea of what your money is most frequently going toward to maximize your return on these great cards.

Airline Miles Cards – Ah, yes, the ubiquitous frequent flyer cards. These cards were all the rage in the 1990’s, and they are still quite popular today. Frequent flyer cards operate much like cash back card offers, except your rewards are obviously tallied in rewards miles. Be sure to read the fine print to uncover flight restrictions and bonus plans. Airline cards more typically have annual fees, but for heavy users these plans more than pay for themselves.

Balance Transfer/Low APR Cards – This is the way to go for the fiscally minded among us. If you tend to carry a balance on your card, then getting into a nice balance transfer or low APR card can drastically cut your monthly payments. The vast majority of balance transfer cards give you a 0% APR grace period, and a typically low APR after that. This should give you a nice chance to pay down your debt without paying more interest than necessary.

Bad Credit Credit Cards – These cards, when used wisely, can be a great tool for improving your credit score. Now, naturally, bad credit credit cards do not typically come with many bells and whistles, but there are still some great options out there. Check out Orchard Bank’s Platinum or Gold cards. The other option to consider is a Secured Card. A secured card requires you to establish a savings account for collateral, and that you pay your balance in full each month. If you do that for a while you can work your way into something more traditional.

Instant Approval Offers – The name explains it all. Instant approval cards offer a quick and easy opportunity to get you started. You can apply online and usually receive a credit decision within seconds of filling out an online credit card application. There are many banks that offer instant approval.

We have touched on the four most common categories of credit cards. There are, of course, even more. Whatever your fancy is, there is likely something for you. Your best option is to take your time and shop around for the card just right for you.

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