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 17, 2010.
Credit Cards
Rates: 13.42 percent (all fixed); 13.99 percent (all variable)
The mean fixed rate for all credit cards hasn't moved from 13.42 percent, but the average variable rate jumped 24 basis points this week to 13.99 percent. Several issuers either raised or stopped posting their margins, which are added to the index to come up with the APR for purchases.
Three credit card issuers nixed their overlimit fee, while HSBC will allow customers who want overlimit transactions approved to "opt in" to the fee, which rose from $35 to $39.
Out of the top six credit card issuers, only Citigroup saw an uptick in 30-day credit card delinquencies last month to 5.94 percent from 5.75 percent in January. American Express said the number of customers at least a month behind on payments stayed flat from January, at 3.6 percent. Bank of America, Capital One, Discover and Chase all experienced slight declines from January levels.
The charge-off rate increased at four of the top issuers in February, while Chase and Capital One wrote off fewer card loans as uncollectible. Chase said charge-offs fell to 9.21 percent from 10.91 percent in January, and Capital One saw charge-offs decline to 10.19 percent from 10.41 percent.
You can find your best credit card deal -- by type -- at Bankrate's interactive tool.
See all credit card rates content.
-- Leslie McFadden