Below is the hand picked list of hottest and best credit card offers for 2012. This is just a quick summary. To see more deals, simply click on the card. Finding a great credit card deal is as easy as 1,2,3…
The Best Cash Back Credit Cards of 2012
CHERRY PICK: Chase Freedom® Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back – One of our favorite cash back credit cards is the Chase Freedom Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back. Immediately following $500 in purchases every cardholder will receive a $100 statement credit. The card also comes with 1% cash back on all purchases and the opportunity to earn 5% cash back on select purchases every quarter. The Chase Freedom Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back has a low interest rate for consumers with great credit and does not require an annual fee.
Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card – Another card that provides $100 cash back, the Citi Dividend Platinum Select Visa Card offers 5% cash back on rotating categories every year as well as a flat 1% cash back on all other purchases. 5% cash back categories for the months of April, May and June are Home Depot, Home Furnishing purchases and Home & Garden purchases and the Citi Dividend Platinum Select Visa Card is free to own; no annual fee is charged.
The Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards of 2012
CHERRY PICK: New Slate® from Chase – No Balance Transfer – An offer which is so good it could expire any day now, the New Slate from Chase – No Balance Transfer gives Americans a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months without charging a balance transfer fee. As most cardholders know, a balance transfer fee can eat into the savings these cards were meant to provide. The New Slate from Chase – No Balance Transfer does not have a rewards program (so use only for the interest free perks) but does not charge an annual fee. This is the only card of its kind.
Citi® Platinum Select® Visa® Card – A credit card which defines the value of a balance transfer, the Citi Platinum Select Visa Card currently offers the longest 0% duration … 18 months on both balance transfers and purchases. That gives a cardholder a year and a half to pay their balance off without paying a penny in interest but the card does have a 3% balance transfer fee. The Citi Platinum Select Visa Card also has no rewards program (similar to Cap One and Chase cards) and has no annual fee.
Discover® More® Card – Long Duration Balance Transfer – The only balance transfer card with a rewards program to make the list, the Discover More Card – Long Duration Balance Transfer has a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months with a 3% balance transfer fee. 0.25% cash back is earned for the first $3,000 spent annually at which point the cash back level is increased to 1% for all purchases. There is the opportunity to earn 5% cash back on rotating categories every month and the Discover More Card – Long Duration Balance Transfer also has a 0% intro APR on purchases for six months with no annual fee.
The Best Travel Credit Cards of 2012
CHERRY PICK: Chase Sapphire PreferredSM Card – A card which offers the biggest bonus on our list, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card gives consumers 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. Those points are good to be redeemed for $500 in travel purchases or $400 in cold hard cash. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card charges a $95 annual fee waived during the first year, offers one rewards point for every dollar spent and an annual bonus of 7%, and gives every customer a live telephone operator the second they call in; 24/7/365.
The Best Low Interest Credit Cards of 2012
CHERRY PICK: Citi Simplicity Card – One of the newer credit cards in the market today, the Citi Simplicity Card has the best intro offer on our list with a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months. There’s no annual fee to own the Citi Simplicity Card and the regular APR is 12.99% – 21.99% variable depending on the applicants credit history. One of the most attractive perks of this card is that it does not charge over limit or late payment fees.
Discover More Card – Discover happens to be the only issuer on our list to offer a rewards program with their low interest rate cards. The Discover More Card is known for offering 5% cash back on select categories each month as well as 1% cash back on all purchases (after you spend $3,000 annually) but it also carries a low interest rate of 10.99% – 20.99% variable depending on your credit history. The Discover More Card also has a great intro offer of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months and charges no annual fee.
New Slate from Chase – No Balance Transfer Fee – The New Slate from Chase – No Balance Transfer Fee rounds out our list because the card includes a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, without charging a balance transfer fee. This low interest card charges an 11.99% – 21.99% variable APR (depending on your credit history) after the intro rate expires and has no annual fee.
Best Prepaid Debit Cards of 2012
CHERRY PICK: You can now get a $25 bonus from American Express Prepaid Card when you pre-load your prepaid card with $200 or more by June 30, 2012. You can see the $25 gift card bonus promotion, so click on the picture to order. There is no credit check to get the card and no monthly or annual fees. Also, you’ll pay no purchase fees or overdraft fees. How to order: Order Amex Prepaid Card > Load the Card with at least $200 by June 30, 2012 > Get $25 Bonus Amex gift card. The Amex Prepaid card comes with loaded benefits, but not with fees. Members can access to world-class Cardmembership benefits, like Purchase Protection1 on eligible purchases, Roadside Assistance2, Fraud Protection, and Global Assist Services3. Don’t wait much longer and sign up today for this American Express Prepaid Card $25 cash bonus offer.
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Essentials of Prepaid Cards
Prepaid debit cards are similar to both ATM debit cards and regular credit cards, yet offer a different kind of card that is especially helpful to those with bad credit. Prepaid credit cards are also helpful to parents wanting to give their kids a credit card with “training wheels” to teach them how to handle credit card debt. Most prepaid debit cards are available to anyone, even if they do not have a bank account or credit history. The credit limit extended to you is based on how much money you deposit into the account ahead of time – or how much you “prepay” the card. Prepaid debit cards work by the cardholder prepaying an amount of cash into their card account. Then they can use the card the same way that they would use a debit or credit card, and can make withdrawals or purchases against the cash balance in the account. If you use up your cash then the card limit runs out – and at that time you can recharge or resupply your card by making another cash deposit. Check the details of each prepaid debit card, because they all charge various fees and apply different rules. Some companies limit the number of transactions you can make without paying a fee, while others charge fees on every transaction – including when you deposit money to your account. They may have application fees that are not refundable, customer service fees, ATM fees, and money transfer or wire fees. Most prepaid card companies require that you make a minimum deposit amount – which could range from $50 to $300, depending on the prepaid debit card that you sign up for. Many also offer helpful cash management and bill paying tools through convenient online account access which can assist with establishing an improved credit history.
The best prepaid card will generally be the one that offers good prepaid card features but without lots of miscellaneous fees and charges. Study the FAQ section of the prepaid card’s website or look for the terms and conditions page – which companies sometimes sneakily hide or bury where you have to look long and hard to find it. There you’ll see their fee schedule. Compare the charges levied by the most attractive prepaid cards you are considering, including monthly maintenance fees, transaction fees, and account set-up costs. The best prepaid card will be the one that charges you the least money to use, based on your individual spending habits and purchase patterns. (Courtesy: Chris Mettler, comparecards.com)
* Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the “Card Image” button you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the credit card issuer’s web site.
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