Mariah Ackary

Former Editor, credit cards

EXPERTISE

Credit cards
Small business

EDUCATION

University of South Carolina

About the author

Mariah Ackary is a personal finance writer specializing in small businesses and credit. Her work has been cited by media including Fortune, The New York Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. Mariah is a lifelong writer. She hopes to make personal finance education easier and more approachable through her research and advice.

Mariah earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in business administration from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of South Carolina in 2019.

Mariah's latest articles

Do preapproved credit card offers affect your credit?

Preapproved credit offers help you figure out if you are eligible for a credit card, but do they impact your credit score?

4 min read Feb 28, 2025
Best credit cards for couples

Bankrate’s guide to choosing the best credit card for you and your partner.

5 min read Feb 14, 2024
As gas prices surge, here are the best gas rewards credit cards

You can earn rewards at the gas pump with a gas rewards credit card. We’ve picked some card options that offer impressive rewards rates and that could help you save money, especially with current gas [...]

4 min read Aug 11, 2023
More people are carrying credit card debt, and it costs more than ever

A trio of concerns are affecting credit card borrowers: More people are carrying debt, rates are at record highs and balances are way up, too.

3 min read Jan 20, 2023
How credit cards can help you beat inflation

With inflation running hot, everyone is looking for ways to save, and credit cards can help.

4 min read Jan 13, 2023
Balance transfer competition is heating up

Competition for credit card balance transfers is intensifying, which is good news for anyone looking to get out of credit card debt

4 min read Jan 06, 2023
Credit card debt and interest rates are both heading toward record highs

After plummeting in 2020, credit card balances and rates are moving sharply higher.

5 min read Jan 06, 2023
Northern states tend to have higher credit scores

Your credit score is a measure of financial responsibility. These states have the highest average credit scores.

4 min read Dec 23, 2022