Here's a look at the state of credit card rates from Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large banks and thrifts conducted Dec. 16, 2009.
Credit Cards
Rates: 13.47 percent (standard fixed); 11.48 percent (standard variable)Variable rate averages for credit cards haven't changed from last week. The average variable APR for all cards remained at 11.68 percent and at 11.48 percent for standard cards.
The mean fixed APR on standard cards held at 13.47 percent. Across standard, gold and platinum cards, the average fixed rate increased to 12.43 percent, but the 9 basis point-hike was due to the addition of a new credit card in our survey from BB&T.
Most U.S. credit card issuers reported an uptick last month in credit card charge-offs, which are debts that have been written off as uncollectible. According to a Reuters report, charge-offs at JPMorgan Chase & Co. rose from 8.02 percent in October to 8.81 percent in November, and at Capital One, from 9.04 to 9.6 percent. Citigroup also posted in increase in charge-offs, from 8.79 percent in October to 10.29 percent in November.
Bank of America saw charge-offs decline from 13.22 percent to 13 percent in November, but retains the highest default rate. American Express saw its rate drop for the sixth consecutive month.
You can find your best credit card deal -- by type -- at Bankrate's interactive tool.
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-- Leslie McFadden