Credit & Cards
Credit scores, card rewards, and fees explained so you can compare with confidence.
38 articles
Credit & Cards
How to Compare Credit Card Fees, Rates, and Rewards
Choosing a credit card involves more than comparing reward points or looking for a low advertised interest rate. Annual fees, APRs, balance-transfer charges, foreign tran...
Ethan Kim
Credit & Cards
Authorized Users on Credit Cards: What to Know
Adding another person to a credit card account can make household spending easier, provide a family member with access to credit, or help someone begin establishing a cre...
Rachel Bernstein
Credit & Cards
Credit Card Fees: Annual, Foreign Transaction, and Balance Transfer Costs
A credit card's cost is not determined by its interest rate alone. Depending on how the account is used, consumers may encounter annual fees, foreign transaction fees, ba...
Ethan Kim
Credit & Cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Preferred: Travel Rewards, Fees, and Card Features
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® serve different types of travel-rewards users. Both earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, provide travel-related b...
Ethan Kim
Credit & Cards
Credit Card Grace Periods: How Interest-Free Periods Work
A credit card grace period can allow cardholders to use their credit card for purchases without paying interest, provided they meet the conditions established by the issu...
Rachel Bernstein
Credit & Cards
Credit Freeze vs. Credit Lock: What Consumers Should Know
A stolen Social Security number, exposed personal information, or unfamiliar account on a credit report can create a risk that someone will attempt to open new credit in...
Rachel Bernstein
Credit & Cards
Credit Card Cash Advances and Foreign Currency Transactions
Credit cards can be convenient when traveling abroad, making international purchases online, or accessing emergency cash. But transactions outside the usual purchase cate...
Ethan Kim
Credit & Cards
Authorized User Tradeline Renting: Credit Impact, Risks, and Consumer Protections
An authorized user tradeline is a legitimate feature of many credit card accounts. A primary cardholder can add another person as an authorized user, allowing that person...
Rachel Bernstein
Credit & Cards
Charge Cards vs. Revolving Credit: Structural Differences and Credit Utilization
Charge cards and traditional credit cards can look almost identical in a wallet, but their underlying credit structures are different. The distinction affects how balance...
Rachel Bernstein
Credit & Cards
Metal and Ultra-Premium Travel Cards: Evaluating $695+ Annual Fees and Card Benefits
A premium travel credit card can look impressive before it is ever used. Metal construction, airport lounge access, hotel credits, concierge services, travel protections,...
Ethan Kim
Credit & Cards
American Express Gold and Platinum Cards: Premium Rewards and Travel Features
American Express offers two well-known premium rewards cards in its U.S. consumer lineup: the American Express® Gold Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express. Bo...
Ethan Kim
Credit & Cards
Gas Station and Store Credit Cards: Evaluating Retail Rewards
Gas station and store credit cards can look attractive at the checkout counter. A card may offer an instant discount, fuel rewards, cash back, loyalty points, or promotio...
Ethan Kim