Ways your credit card info might be stolen and how to prevent it
Keep an eye out for fraud and take these steps to mitigate the damage if you find any.
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.
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.
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
Keep an eye out for fraud and take these steps to mitigate the damage if you find any.
Compare and contrast these two top of the line rotating bonus category cards.
Mobile payments app Venmo offers a debit card and rewards for spending.
The best card depends on your spending habits and personal preferences.
The Platinum Select World Elite card offers an ample sign-up bonus, no annual fee for the first 12 months ($99 thereafter) and great yearly bonuses that add to your mileage pool.
The program offers personalized tasks and monthly progress checks.
Earn credit card rewards on spending you’re already doing.
Learn more about the card’s fees, features and more.
Find out whether the Chase Freedom Student card is a good match for you.
This program lets you earn and redeem points at more than 600 hotels in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America.
If you’re paying for a large purchase with a credit card, use a card with a low APR or a generous rewards system.
The Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant’s $300 dining credit might be a downgrade from the previous hotel credit. Here’s everything you need to know about this and other changes to this card.
Use the Amex Gold to earn rewards on dining, groceries and travel. Then, take advantage of boosted rewards redemption through the Amex Travel portal.
A starter card can be a great tool for building credit while practicing good habits, like paying off balances each month.
Our updated guide explains refund guidelines and elite status requirements for airlines during coronavirus.
If you don’t travel enough to get a travel card, try a cash back card instead.
Earn generous rewards percentages on your small business necessities with this cash back card.
A card for consumers with fair credit who may not be eligible for the best rewards cards on the market today.
A 0 percent intro APR card can hurt your credit in some instances, so use it well.
This guide is intended to help military families learn about some of the top investments available to them.
The Capital One Spark Cash for Business Plus is ideal for business owners who want rewards for their spending but have no time for rewards categories.
Business owners who have a lot of expenditures in the bonus categories can benefit from owning the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.
Paying rent with a credit card can be a quick way to earn rewards, but beware of the risks before you decide.
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