Nouri Zarrugh

Senior Editor, Credit Cards
Ribbon Icon EXPERTISE
  • Rewards credit cards
  • Travel credit cards
  • Credit card comparisons
  • Building credit
Education Icon EDUCATION
  • B.A. Comparative Religion, The University of Texas at Austin
  • M.F.A. Writing, The Michener Center for Writers, The University of Texas at Austin

About the author
Nouri Zarrugh is a senior editor at Bankrate who focuses on product reviews and comparisons. Since joining Bankrate in 2019, Nouri has written and edited hundreds of credit card reviews and led the development of methodologies for credit card scoring and point-and-mile valuations. His areas of expertise include credit card strategy, rewards programs and credit scores, and his stories on building credit have been cited by Mic.com, LifeHacker, People.com and more.

Through his thorough card reviews and product comparisons, Nouri strives to demystify personal finance topics and credit card terms and conditions to help readers save money and protect their credit score.

Before joining Bankrate, Nouri worked as a writer and editor in digital marketing and health care technology. Also a fiction writer, Nouri is a graduate of the Michener Center for Writers and won the Keene Prize for Literature.
Nouri wants you to know
When I first got into credit card rewards, I got a little carried away. I applied for a ton of cards and was constantly juggling them to make sure I was maximizing my points on every single purchase. I kept every receipt and even tracked my earnings in a spreadsheet. It was a fun hobby, but it got to be more trouble than it was worth.

Now I keep things simple and mostly just focus on earning rewards in a few key categories. I use one card for general purchases, one for dining, one card for travel, one for online shopping and one for groceries. That covers the vast majority of my spending and feels easy to manage. Sure, I’m leaving some rewards on the table, but I’d rather save myself some time and energy.
Nouri's recommended readings

How Bankrate rates credit cards
How much are credit card points and miles worth?
Find a card based on where you spend most

Nouri's latest articles

  • Nav Prime Card review

    The Nav Prime card may make sense if you’ve struggled to qualify for a small-business loan or other business credit cards, but the high cost of Nav Prime membership makes this card a stop-gap option at best

    10 min read Jan 29, 2024

  • United Business Card Review

    Small business owners who are loyal to United Airlines can rejoice with the United Business card.

    7 min read Jan 18, 2024

  • United Explorer Card Review

    The United Explorer card helps you earn frequent flyer miles with every purchase. Read more to learn how you can boost your travels with the Explorer card.

    9 min read Nov 09, 2023

  • Citi Double Cash Card Review

    The Citi Double Cash has a simple rewards structure that offers great value on everyday spending.

    17 min read Nov 06, 2023

  • Citi® Secured Mastercard® review

    No annual fee and a comparatively low ongoing APR make it a good choice for Citibank members, but there are more competitive cards.

    3 min read Oct 24, 2023