Credit Cards
- 13.36% (all fixed)
- 14.43% (all variable)
Here's a look at the state of credit card rates from Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large banks and thrifts conducted June 1, 2011.
In Bankrate's latest survey, the average purchase annual percentage rate for all variable-rate credit cards edged down 3 basis points this week, as one credit union relaunched an old card offer. The average APR for fixed-rate cards hasn't budged from 13.36 percent at any point in 2011.
On Tuesday, Bankrate.com released its 2011 Credit Card Fees Study, which examined the credit card fees charged by the 50 largest issuers. Bankrate also collected data on the fees, deposit requirements and other conditions on secured cards from the 50 largest card issuers. It turns out that the law known as the Credit CARD Act of 2009 tamed certain fees that cardholders might encounter, such as fees for missed payments and over-the-limit transactions, while other fees not restricted by the CARD Act were not up dramatically from the 2010 study.
Bankrate.com makes it easier to find balance-transfer credit cards and low-interest cards. You can search by issuer, card type or credit score.
-- Leslie McFadden