Credit Cards & Rewards
New card launches, reward program changes, sign-up bonuses, annual fee comparisons, cashback and travel cards, and how to use credit cards strategically.
Latest in Credit Cards & Rewards
Credit card annual fees just crossed $800 at Amex and Chase — and people are still paying them
The American Express Platinum card now costs $695 a year. The Chase Sapphire Reserve sits at $550. And both issuers have layered on so many...
A new credit card charges zero interest, zero fees, and requires no credit check or deposit — here’s how OnePay’s Builder Card actually works
Most credit-building cards come with a catch; secured cards want a deposit upfront and subprime cards pile on annual fees and interest rates north of...
The Credit Card Competition Act has bipartisan backing and Trump’s public support — but banks say it would kill your rewards
If you earn cash back, airline miles, or hotel points every time you swipe a credit card, a bill moving through Congress right now could...
A credit card startup just applied to become a national bank for the first time in 20 years — and it only serves people with bad credit
Mission Lane has spent the past eight years issuing unsecured credit cards to people most banks won’t touch. Now the Richmond, Virginia-based fintech wants to...
Credit card annual fees are soaring past $800 — and people keep paying them even as perks shrink
The annual fee on the American Express Platinum Card has climbed three times since 2019, landing at $695 in 2023. Each time, cardholders complained online,...
Premium credit card annual fees are now past $800: here’s when the math stops working
When finance giant American Express raised the Platinum Card’s annual fee to $895, it framed the move as an upgrade. New perks arrived alongside the...
The 5 credit card moves that save the most money in 2026, ranked by dollar impact
If you are carrying $6,000 on a credit card at roughly 23% interest, as reported in the Federal Reserve’s G.19 consumer credit statistical release, you...
Credit card annual fees are soaring past $800 — why people keep paying
Last year, American Express raised the Platinum Card’s annual fee to $895, and the backlash was immediate. Social media lit up with cancellation threats. Personal...
Visa’s Level 2 interchange program dies April 18 — small businesses already paying 75 bps more
Starting April 18, 2025, small businesses that accept Visa commercial cards lost access to a pricing tier that had saved them money on business-to-business transactions...
Credit card APRs averaging 23.7% despite three Fed rate cuts — Boston Fed says it’s hurting spending
Three Federal Reserve rate cuts were supposed to make borrowing cheaper. For the roughly half of American credit card holders who carry a balance month...
Visa’s Level 2 interchange program sunsets TOMORROW — merchants face higher fees under new AI-audited rules
A mid-size office supply distributor processing half a million dollars a month in corporate card payments could see roughly $1,250 in new interchange costs appear...
Credit card annual fees top $800 as Amex Platinum hits $895 — should you cancel before renewal?
When American Express raised the Platinum Card’s annual fee to $695 in 2021, longtime cardholders grumbled but mostly stayed. Now Amex is testing that loyalty...
Chase Sapphire Reserve raises annual fee to $795, adds new perks
The Chase Sapphire Reserve now costs $795 a year. That is a $245 jump from the card’s previous $550 annual fee, and it marks the...
Credit card rewards lose value faster than many users realize
More than 90 percent of general-purpose credit card spending has flowed through rewards cards since 2019, according to the CFPB’s report on the consumer credit...
The ideal number of credit cards for your credit score according to FICO data
Credit cards can be powerful financial tools when used responsibly. They help build credit history, provide fraud protections, and often offer rewards that can make...
The average American household now carries over $10,000 in credit card debt at 21% interest
Credit card debt has quietly crossed another troubling milestone for American households. Recent data shows that the average household now carries more than $10,000 in...
The CFPB tried to cap credit card late fees at $8: the rule was struck down and here is what you still pay
A federal judge in Texas vacated the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) rule that would have capped most credit card late fees at $8, ending...
How to get approved for your first credit card in 2026 with zero credit history
Getting approved for a first credit card without any credit history can feel like a frustrating catch-22. Many lenders want to see a credit record...
Credit cards earning up to 6% cash back on groceries in 2026
Groceries remain one of the largest recurring expenses for many households, which makes the right credit card surprisingly valuable. A strong grocery rewards card can...
How to get a credit limit increase without triggering a hard pull on your credit
Increasing your credit limit can improve your credit score, expand your spending flexibility, and lower your credit utilization ratio. However, many cardholders hesitate to request...