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Featured Credit Cards Articles

Advanta Business Credit Cards: A Closer Look
The credit card wars continue to heat up and that spells “good news” for consumers. Despite rising interest rates, many issuers are continuing with their popular 0% introductory APR plans, giving new card holders a great way to save money and pay off ...

Pros And Cons Of Credit Cards
Credit cards are very convenient. There's no need to carry any cash; you can just take a credit card with you to the shop and charge for your shopping. When you shop on the Internet or over the phone, it's the only good way to make purchases online. This ...

Understanding Credit Cards before Applying Online
It is important that you understand all the details of credit cards, including the laws, to help you find the best rates. You will also need to compare companies, since few companies offer more for your money. Notice I said money? Yes, when you own ...




0% APR Credit Cards: A Tool To Eliminate Debt
 
It is interesting to note that what started off as a marketing gimmick has now become an almost permanent part of the credit card industry in America and today 0% APR credit cards can in fact play a significant role in helping a person reduce or get out of debt.
What Is A 0% APR Credit Card?
APR is the annual interest rate known in industry jargon as the Annual Percentage Rate. It is a reflection of the cost of credit. In the old days everybody paid a standard APR based on bank rates. It was usually about 18 per cent. The use of low APR came with the emergence of the monoline bank. These were banks that only issued credit cards and did not take any deposits or issue conventional loans. For their business model to work well large numbers were important for these breed of pioneering bankers and credit cards issuers so low APR teaser rates were successfully used to lure as many new card users as possible.
The gimmick seemed to have worked so well that today it is difficult to find a credit card company that does not offer some type of incentive APR during the first 6 months or one year. The more popular credit cards offer 0% APR for the first year.
Usefulness Of A 0% APR Credit Card In Reducing Debt
A 0% APR credit card can be extremely useful for somebody who wants to reduce their large credit card debt. For instance if you have a credit card debt that remains at about $10,000 and the APR is 20% then you will end up paying a whooping $2,000 in interest payments alone. With a 0% APR credit card the $2,000 could all go towards reducing that crippling debt. It is therefore clear that 0% APR credit cards can offer much needed financial breathing room for somebody in a serious credit card debt situation.
Consolidation Or Transfer Necessary To Benefit From 0% APR Credit Cards
Transferring a credit card debt or credit card debt consolidation are all-important first steps that will need to be taken before a person in deep credit card debt can enjoy the benefits of a 0% APR credit card. The objective here would be to have all the person's outstanding debt payable to one credit card company and at a 0% APR rate.
The importance of 0% APR credit cards in helping an individual or business to get out of credit card debt cannot be understated.
Although many potential card users place a lot of importance in being able to obtain a 0% APR credit card, the truth of the matter is that it is only attractive and beneficial to two groups of people. Firstly persons able to settle their credit card balances on a month to month basis to whom the 0% APR rate means that their cost of maintaining a credit card is very minimal. Secondly those in debt also benefit because the 0% APR credit card greatly assists them in their efforts to reduce their debt.
Copyright 2005 Ed Vegliante.
About the Author
Ed Vegliante is the owner of http://www.credit-card-surplus.com , a well organized credit card directory enabling the user to compare and apply for a variety of credit credit card offers. Find links to secure online credit card applications.



Credit Cards News


Rate survey: Credit card rates hold steady for 2nd week
CreditCards.com
By Kate Tomasino The average interest rate on a new credit card offer remained unchanged this week, according to the CreditCards.com Weekly Credit Card Rate Report, though issuers are still tweaking APRs. For a second straight week, the average annual ...
Consumers Opt for Credit Building Credit Cards to Improve Credit ScoreMarketWatch (press release)
CreditCards.com Weekly Rate Report: Rates Hold Steady for Second WeekSYS-CON Media (press release)

all 13 news articles »

Bloomberg

Visa Profit Exceeds Estimates as Credit-Card Spending Rises
BusinessWeek
8 (Bloomberg) -- Visa Inc., the world's biggest payments network, said fiscal first-quarter profit climbed 16 percent as consumers increased use of credit and debit cards. Net income for the three months ended Dec. 31 rose to $1.03 billion, ...
Visa 1Q Profit Rises 16.4% As Transactions JumpWall Street Journal
Visa 1Q profit rises 16 percent as card use risesSan Jose Mercury News

all 195 news articles »

Financial Times

China OKs Citi Credit Card Biz
Zacks.com
Citigroup Inc. (C) will launch its own credit card business in China. Its Chinese subsidiary Citibank (China) Co. Ltd. has received approval from the China Banking Regulatory Commission. The company will launch both retail and commercial cards before ...
Citigroup to issue China credit cardsFinancial Times
China Credit Cards, Danish Loans, Mortgage Deal: ComplianceBusinessWeek
Citigroup Gets Approval for China Credit CardsWall Street Journal
San Francisco Chronicle -AFP
all 250 news articles »

Bloomberg

Credit-Card Borrowing Surged Over Holiday Period
Wall Street Journal (blog)
By Jeff Bater and Jeffrey Sparshott US credit-card debt posted the second solid increase in a row during December, an indication Americans stuck with meager wage gains borrowed to pay for their holiday celebrations. The increase helped raise the level ...
US consumer credit rises $19.3 bln in DecemberReuters
Consumer borrowing surged for second month in December with credit cards and ...Washington Post
Consumer Borrowing Increased In DecemberNew York Times
NASDAQ
all 283 news articles »

Wallet Blog

Which Credit Card Rewards Does the IRS Care About?
DailyFinance
Even if you weren't part of that promotion, it's reasonable to wonder whether the frequent flier miles or other credit card rewards you collect are going to cost you, too, come tax time. The answer appears to be no. The two scenarios are different.
Do You Have to Pay Taxes on Your Rewards?Wallet Blog (blog)

all 3 news articles »