Claire Dickey

Former Editor, Credit Cards

EXPERTISE

Rewards credit cards
Travel credit cards
Credit card news
Building credit

EDUCATION

A.B.J. Advertising, Grady College of Journalism at The University of Georgia

There’s no reason to feel intimidated by a credit card. As long as you pay off your purchases every month, there’s little risk and tons of upside.
— Claire Dickey

Claire Dickey is a credit cards editor at Bankrate, focusing on news, product guides and educational content. Her areas of expertise include rewards and travel credit cards, building credit and credit card news. Always on the lookout for the latest credit cards and card perks, as well as cards-related legislation and regulations, Claire is passionate about demystifying personal finance topics. Her goal is to help readers save money, earn rewards and protect their credit scores.

When she’s not strategizing about how to maximize rewards on her next trip, Claire is an avid runner and day hiker.

Claire wants you to know

If you’re trying to build credit, my best advice is to keep things simple. A credit card is a great way to show your creditworthiness, but picking one can be overwhelming since there are so many options out there and so many features to consider. Stick to the basics: Look for a card with low fees and the option to put down a large deposit and get a matching credit limit. If you pay on time and only charge small purchases to the card, your score can grow surprisingly quickly.

Claire's recommended readings

There’s no reason to feel intimidated by a credit card. As long as you pay off your purchases every month, there’s little risk and tons of upside.
— Claire Dickey

Claire's latest articles

Bad credit can affect your mental and physical health

Bad credit can impact your health, both physical and mental.

5 min read Apr 24, 2023
Debunking important credit myths

Your credit score is an important, but often misunderstood, component of your overall financial situation.

3 min read Apr 19, 2023
How to add an authorized user

Adding an authorized user is easy, but make sure you both consider the pros and cons and how it might affect both your finances.

4 min read Apr 19, 2023
5 ways to build credit with no credit history

There are alternative ways to build credit, like becoming an authorized user, opening a store card or reporting your utility payments each month.

5 min read Apr 18, 2023
Credit card rates continually setting new records

The average credit card rate recently surpassed 20 percent for the first time on record, and it probably won’t dip below that anytime soon.

4 min read Apr 14, 2023
Hard credit check vs. soft credit check: What’s the difference?

Not all credit inquiries are equal. Here’s what you need to know.

5 min read Apr 12, 2023
Guide to The Points Guy App

The Points Guy app can help you with earning, tracking and using your travel rewards.

6 min read Apr 11, 2023
What is a frivolous credit card dispute?

A lender can dismiss a credit report dispute at frivolous, but you do have recourse.

3 min read Apr 06, 2023