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"It is a mistake for a sculptor or a painter to speak or write very often about his job. It releases tension needed for his work."

Henry Moore








 




 
Featured Credit Articles

5 Things You Need To Know About Criminal Justice School Accreditation
When deciding which criminal justice program to attend, the accreditation issue is very important. There are certain things that you should know about accreditation. 1. What is accreditation? Accreditation means that a school and its programs have been ...

Debt: Self-Help or a Credit Lawyer?
"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen shillings and sixpence, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds and sixpence, result misery". Mr. Micawber's remarks on debt remain just ...

Discover What to do When Your Credit Worth is Damaged Due to Circumstances out of Your Control
First of all, let's examine exactly what credit worth means and how it affects your financial life.Your credit worth, as defined by the financial industry, is the overall picture of your financial health that is used by lenders to determine your ability ...




0% APR Credit Cards: Use Them To Your Advantage!
 
The era of 0% APR credit cards is still with us. Yes, you can obtain a spanking new credit card featuring a very low introductory interest rate and take advantage of what amounts to "free money" for you for up to one year. You can use your new card to your advantage, but you must be careful that you fully understand how a 0% APR credit card works to order to maximize its effectiveness. I will show you how, so please keep reading for all the informative details!

Soon after the new millennium started, interest rates began to drop to historically low levels. By 2002, loan rates for government funds dipped to just less than one percent, pushing consumer loan rates down with it as well. Credit card providers, seeing a terrific opportunity unfolding, immediately began to offer 0% APR credit cards to new card holders and even extended the offer to their current customers.

Today, interest rates have been climbing for two years, but 0% APR credit card offers are still available to you. Quite frankly, the entire lending business is very competitive and credit card providers are willing to forego interest for up to twelve months in order to get your business.

To maximize the effectiveness of 0% APR credit cards, there are a few things that you must know:

Limited Time Offer. 0% APR credit cards contain an introductory period lasting typically from six to twelve months. This means that anything you charge during that time will not accumulate interest. Go ahead and spread out your payments over several months: If you purchase something for $1000, you can make four equal payments of $250 interest free. Keep earning interest on your savings and let the credit card company fund your purchase!

Transfer Balances and Save Big! Many 0% APR credit card offers will allow you to transfer balances from your existing credit cards to your new card and waive transfer fees. If you owe $3000 on your current credit cards and are paying 19% interest on your balances, you could save nearly $600 in interest payments over twelve month's time!

Pay On Time. Do not be lulled into thinking that a 0% APR credit card doesn't require monthly payments. If you miss a payment or are late, you could find that your remaining balance is subject to interest charges and penalties as your card shifts to a default rate. Pay on time or kiss your 0% APR credit card rate goodbye!

Pay It All Off. In some cases, you must pay off your balance before the introductory rate period expires. If you don't, the default rate kicks in. Make certain that you clearly understand your card's terms.

Clearly, a 0% APR credit card has strong advantages for the person seeking to make new purchases as well as someone who wants to transfer their balances. Use a 0% APR credit card to your advantage and put some money back in your pocket!

About the author:

Ed Vegliante runs www.Credit-Card-Surplus.com,a credit card directory enabling the consumer to compare and apply for credit card offers including 0% APR Credit Cards .



Credit News


Bloomberg

Credit Suisse slumps to Q4 loss
Reuters
By Katharina Bart | ZURICH (Reuters) - Credit Suisse (CSGN.VX) posted a surprise fourth-quarter net loss after taking almost 1 billion Swiss francs ($1.1 billion) of charges to speed cost cutting and offload risky assets to meet stiffer capital rules.
Credit Suisse Posts First Loss in Three Years on Investment BankBloomberg
Credit Suisse Posts First Loss in Three Years on RevampBusinessWeek
Credit Suisse Reports First Quarterly Loss in Three YearsNew York Times
The Associated Press -San Jose Mercury News
all 380 news articles »

Bloomberg

Consumer credit surges in December
MarketWatch
By Greg Robb, MarketWatch WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Consumer credit popped for the second straight month in December, a sign that consumers are feeling more confident about their prospects and the economy. US consumers increased their debt in ...
Rising Consumer Credit-Sign of Improving Economy?Zacks.com
Consumer credit jumps by $19.3 billion in DecemberLos Angeles Times
US Consumer Credit Climbed by $19.3B in Dec.Bloomberg
Business Insider -BusinessWeek
all 283 news articles »

Kansas City Star

GOP targets child tax credits
Vineland Daily Journal
AP WASHINGTON — Republicans are looking to deny child tax credits to illegal immigrants — refund checks averaging $1800 — in an effort that has roused anger among Hispanics and some Democratic lawmakers. The proposal, which would require people who ...
GOP targets child tax break for illegal immigrantsThe Associated Press
Republicans want to deny child tax credit to illegal immigrants to pay for ...Washington Post

all 226 news articles »

European Stock-Index Futures Rise; Alpha Bank, Credit Suisse May Be Active
Bloomberg
Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN), the second-biggest Swiss bank, may be active after posting an unexpected quarterly loss. Futures (VGU7) on the Euro Stoxx 50 Index, a benchmark for the euro region, rose 0.5 percent to 2526 at 7:05 am in London.

and more »

Bank Credit Ratings, 'Zombie Banks', PepisCo Fined: Compliance
BusinessWeek
9 (Bloomberg) -- Banks may be forced to strengthen capital buffers if regulators toss out credit ratings now used to calculate how much they need to cover possible trading losses, according to financial industry trade groups.

and more »