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

I received my online order after getting a card chargeback for it

Should you return an online purchase you got a refund for?

3 min read Apr 03, 2023
What to do with a grounded airline card

If you have a co-branded airline card that’s no longer getting maximum value, here are a few options to consider.

3 min read Mar 31, 2023
Ness courts health and wellness enthusiasts with premium credit card perks

Health and wellness are emerging lifestyle categories for credit card rewards. Ness launched a new premium card targeting these categories.

3 min read Mar 24, 2023
How to rebuild your finances after experiencing financial abuse

Economic or financial abuse isn’t the typical focus of discussions about abusive relationships, but it’s more common than you might think.

9 min read Mar 17, 2023
Why it’s important for each spouse to have credit in their own name

My wife’s credit score has declined due to a lack of credit usage. Here’s how we’re trying to change that.

3 min read Mar 17, 2023
The history of women and credit cards

Here’s a look at the key changes that have taken place and where we are now regarding women’s access to credit cards.

6 min read Mar 01, 2023
Payment method statistics

Learn about the current payment trends of the retail market.

4 min read Feb 28, 2023
Limited time offer: Earn 100K bonus points or more with these Hilton Honors Amex cards

These three cards from Hilton Honors and Amex have limited time welcome offers of 100K bonus points or more.

4 min read Feb 13, 2023