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 March 23, 2011.
Average interest rates for purchases on fixed-rate and variable-rate credit cards held steady from last week. The mean APR for all fixed-rate cards kept to 13.36 percent and the average variable rate stood at 14.43 percent for the second week in a row.
On March 18, the Federal Reserve Board clarified aspects of previous rules implementing the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009. One of the new rules requires issuers to request an applicant's individual income or salary, rather than "household income." The change could make it harder for stay-at-home moms and other consumers without independent income to obtain credit cards in their own names.
Bankrate.com makes it easier to find cash-back credit cards and low-rate cards. You can search by issuer, card type or credit score.
-- Leslie McFadden