Credit Cards Blog

When I was 25, I finished an 18-month paydown of $20,000 in student loan debt. I committed myself to this goal, not because I was thrilled to practically endorse my paycheck over to Citibank, but because I saw the long-term impact of the decision. Debt’s effects can be felt over a lifetime. I wanted to

In my weekly appearance with Gary Goldberg’s “Money Matters” radio program, we discussed the advantages of credit cards over debit cards for disciplined consumers. Here’s a partial transcript of my comments. Credit card rewards programs are more than twice as generous as debit rewards. And they’re growing, whereas we’ve seen a 30 percent decline in

Location-based gifting is where it’s at this season, whether you’re giving or receiving. Send a personalized virtual gift card that unlocks when the recipient is at the store through the new phone app Clingle Gifts. Or, get a $10 statement credit from American Express via Foursquare. The former, Clingle Gifts, allows consumers to dress up

What part of the holidays do you hate the most? Waiting in long lines or carrying a dozen packages to the car? What about thinking of the perfect gift only to find it sold out in every store? The list could go on, but the common theme is shopping. Not so for American Express Platinum

Despite sweeping changes to credit card practices in the last two years, Americans are still stumped by the terms of their cards. That’s one of the key findings this week from the new federal watchdog group, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The agency analyzed more than 5,000 complaints it received from credit card holders from

Debt is a major issue for many American families. And when it comes to juggling credit card debt, mortgages, car loans and student loans, many Americans are making the wrong financial moves. Staring at multiple debts, many consumers pay off smaller debts first even when larger debts have higher interest rates, according to a new

Cyber Monday proved that more Americans are doing their shopping online. And that means there are more opportunities for thieves to snatch your credit card information from the Internet ether. Online sales on Monday leapt 33 percent in the U.S., compared with the same period last year, according to an IBM report released Tuesday. Consumers

American Express is playing Santa this year, delivering surprise presents to cardholders. Starting Cyber Monday, American Express credit card holders can sign up for “The Gift Chain” program to receive surprise gifts (up to 10) when they spend $25 or more at participating online retailers, such as American Eagle Outfitters, Nike, Neiman Marcus, Bed Bath

If you’re basking in post-Black Friday fracas euphoria (despite blowing your budget on the first “official” holiday shopping day), I bet you paid with a credit card. Consumers focus on the benefits of a purchase — while ignoring the price tag — when they pay by credit card, according to a new article by professors

As you camp out for the midnight opening of Black Friday at your favorite retailer, remember to keep a good grip on your plastic. The number of reported lost or stolen debit and credit cards jumps about 19 percent in November and December, compared with the rest of the year, according to a study released this