Credit Card News & Advice

Robinhood Introduces its First Credit Card | Credit Cards

16Apr

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Robinhood Introduces its First Credit Card | Credit Cards

Key Takeaways Robinhood Gold Card earns 3% cash back on every purchase, with no caps or bonus categories to remember. A Robinhood Gold subscription is required to be eligible for the card, which costs $5 per month (or $50 per year). The card features travel perks, purchase protections, virtual card numbers and more. With free accounts and trades starting at just $1, Robinhood has become a popular platform for beginning investors. Expanding on this popularity, the Robinhood Gold Card launched in March 2024. This credit card earns unlimited 3% cash back on every purchase, and includes complimentary perks like travel and purchase protections. However, you must hold a Robinhood Gold account in order to apply. Learn more about the Robinhood Gold Card, including how to earn and redeem rewar...

Which Hotel Credit Cards Offer a Free Night? | Credit Cards

5Apr

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Which Hotel Credit Cards Offer a Free Night? | Credit Cards

Key Takeaways Some free nights can be used at any property, while others are capped at certain levels. Many credit cards include free nights automatically, but others have annual spending requirements to earn the benefit. Depending on your annual spending, you may be able to earn a second or third free night on. Travelers can benefit greatly when they hold a co-branded credit card for their favorite hotel brand. Most hotel credit cards offer higher rewards on paid stays, elite status benefits and other perks. One of the best is the annual free night many hotel credit cards offer when you renew the card or meet certain spending requirements. Learn about the hotel credit cards that include free night benefits and how to activate them.Which Hotel Credit Cards Include a Free Night?World of...

How Can You Get Credit for Paying Rent? | Credit Cards

21Dec

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How Can You Get Credit for Paying Rent? | Credit Cards

Credit bureaus don't automatically collect information about rent payments but will include this data on your credit reports if they receive it. And if you're buying a home, lenders can use your positive rental payment history for loan approval.While building credit by paying rent can take some effort, it is simple to do with rent reporting services and a little help from your landlord. Here's how to get credit for all of those rent payments.Does Paying Rent Build Credit? "Paying rent can build credit if your payments are reported," says Rod Griffin, senior director of consumer education and advocacy for the credit bureau Experian. "Unfortunately, that's not the norm, as most landlord and rent management companies don't report rent payments." Unless you or your landlord have signed up for...

Survey: Nearly 30% of Last-Minute Shoppers Waiting on Next Paycheck to Buy Gifts | Credit Cards

20Dec

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Survey: Nearly 30% of Last-Minute Shoppers Waiting on Next Paycheck to Buy Gifts | Credit Cards

A mid-December survey from U.S. News & World Report shows that panic shopping may be just around the corner for some Americans. There are many reasons people wait until the last minute to buy gifts, but for some it's a necessity. About three in 10 shoppers have to wait for their next paycheck to finish their holiday shopping.Here are other reasons respondents haven't finished shopping: I'm still looking for the perfect gift: 33.5%. I always wait until the last minute: 16%. I'm not looking forward to shopping, so I procrastinated: 10.5%. Other reasons: 10%. I just activated a new credit card: 0.5%. More than 10% say they'll finish shopping on Dec. 24, but 11.3% say they have no idea when they'll be done. Almost a third aren't following a holiday budget for last-minute purchase...

What Is a Purchase APR? | Credit Card News & Advice

19Dec

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What Is a Purchase APR? | Credit Card News & Advice

Every credit card has certain terms and features you should be aware of – and purchase APR is one of the most important. The APR, which stands for annual percentage rate, is the amount of interest you will pay if you carry a balance.While there are a few different types of APR, perhaps the most important is the purchase APR. Learn more about what it is, how it’s determined and how to qualify for a competitive rate.What Is Purchase APR? Purchase APR is a measure of how much interest you pay on a balance from purchases that you make, says Matthew Goldman, founder of Totavi, a fintech advisory service.Though some cards have a single rate for all types of transactions, many have different APRs. The purchase APR applies every time you buy something from a merchant or service provider.Why Purch...

Is It Worth Upgrading From the Hilton Surpass to the Hilton Aspire? | Credit Cards

18Dec

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Is It Worth Upgrading From the Hilton Surpass to the Hilton Aspire? | Credit Cards

Some of the links on this site contain offers from our partners. Hilton offers several co-branded credit cards for travelers looking for extra perks when staying at one of its hotels. These cards carry a range of earning power, benefits, elite status and annual fees. For many years, I used the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card but recently upgraded to the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. Although Aspire has a much larger annual fee, the earning power and benefits make it worthwhile. Here's why you should consider upgrading if you like staying at Hilton properties.Why I Upgraded From the Hilton Surpass to the Hilton AspireWhen I choose a credit card, I'm looking to get the most value from the card – even if it means paying a higher annual fee. I want to earn more re...

How Repairing Credit Works | Credit Cards

15Dec

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How Repairing Credit Works | Credit Cards

If you don't have a good credit score, you may have trouble getting approved for loans or credit cards, or you may only qualify for high interest rates. It makes sense to want to improve your situation right away, but fixing your credit requires patience.Companies may offer paid services for repairing credit, but they are frequently untrustworthy. Armed with time and the right information, you can figure out how to fix credit yourself."The difference is the time and the education," says Stephanie Yates, director of the Regions Institute for Financial Education and chair of the department of accounting and finance at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "Frankly, that's how some less reputable firms make a lot of money – kind of preying on that lack of knowledge and lack of time."How t...

These Credit Cards Offer Free In-Flight Wi-Fi | Credit Cards

12Dec

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These Credit Cards Offer Free In-Flight Wi-Fi | Credit Cards

Some of the links on this site contain offers from our partners. The cost to access the internet in the air varies by airline. However, several credit cards offer free in-flight Wi-Fi as a benefit – plus, savvy travelers can take advantage of other opportunities to cover the cost of Wi-Fi in the sky.How Much Does In-Flight Wi-Fi Cost?Here's a breakdown of the cost of Wi-Fi by airline. Alaska Airlines: From $8 to $24.99, depending on aircraft. American Airlines: As little as $10 per flight, and monthly subscriptions starting at $49.95 or $599 annually. Delta Air Lines: Free to all SkyMiles members or $5 per flight. JetBlue Airways: Free for all travelers. Southwest Airlines: $8 per device per flight. Spirit Airlines: Starting at $3.99 for browsing and $6.99 for streaming. United A...

Does Checking Your Credit Score Lower It? | Credit Cards

30Nov

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Does Checking Your Credit Score Lower It? | Credit Cards

There's a persistent myth that checking your credit score damages your credit. You'll be happy to know that checking your credit score doesn't lower it. In fact, keeping tabs on your credit status helps you make more informed money decisions. Sometimes, checking your credit score is lumped in with reviewing your credit report under the umbrella term, "checking your credit." But checking your score and reviewing your report are two different actions. Credit Report vs. Credit ScoreThere are three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. If you've had credit-related accounts that report your payment history, you have a credit report at one or more of the bureaus. Your credit report shows your accounts, balances, payment history, identifying information and any negative items, ...

How to Get Free Weekly Credit Reports | Credit Cards

29Nov

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How to Get Free Weekly Credit Reports | Credit Cards

The three major U.S. credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – have made their offer of free weekly credit reports to consumers permanent. The reports, available on AnnualCreditReport.com, are being made available to all Americans to "empower consumers to more regularly review their credit history and better understand their financial data," the companies announced in a statement. The free weekly reports began in April 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 crisis. The service was initially in place for a year, but it had been extended several times since then. Most recently, in September 2023, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion made the service permanent.Before the pandemic, you could get one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each credit bureau. Lenders a...