Best Reward Credit Card – How to Reward Yourself

28-01-2010 by admin



Finding the best reward credit card on the market can be a rather difficult task. There are so many different types are rewards programs available from the various issuers that finding the one that best suits your specific needs isn’t nearly as straightforward as one may think.

Rewards programs are incredibly popular and have been used by banks and card issuers for many years to attract new customers. They come in many forms and are constantly evolving to meet the ever-changing marketplace. Many of these rewards programs are specialized while some of the most popular are more general in nature.

All of the major labels including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express offer rewards cards. They come in various categories that include cash back, travel, gas, entertainment and so. They can be quite enticing and are regularly featured in advertisements to catch the attention of prospective cardholders.

The trick to finding the best reward credit card, if I may call it a trick, is to first identify exactly what type of offer would benefit you the most. In other words, where do you spend your consumer dollars.

Take the time to really think about that and to understand what your spending habits are. If for instance you spend a lot of money on groceries then you’re going to want to find an offer that gives you cash rebates from major grocery stores.

If you travel extensively, whether it be for business or pleasure, then of course cards that feature travel rewards should be of interest to you. If you drive a lot then you will want to check out the cashback on gas rewards programs. There are quite a few of them to choose from.

There are specialized cards that they have the exclusive partnerships with one company. Delta SkyMiles for instance, is offered exclusively through American Express and is of course to be used for Delta Air Lines. Conversely, Discover Escape is a card that allows account holders to use their rewards points on any major airline.

So as you can see there are plenty of choices to be had. Simply concentrate on what your needs are and focus your search on those offers and you will be well on your way to finding the right offer for you.

Also, I would be remiss if I just mentioned the importance of the features and benefits of a card’s rewards program. The consumer must also understand exactly what the cost of carrying a particular card is as well. And the cost can be found in the disclosure statement where the terms for interest rates and fees are spelled out.

Cash Back Reward Credit Cards

08-01-2010 by admin



Let’s take a look at several cash back reward credit cards.

One of the highest rated by a consumer services firm is an American Express cash back reward credit card. Designed for those with at least good, but preferably excellent credit, the cash back reward on these credit cards is exceptional.

Through this card’s rebate program, the cardholder will earn a varying cash award, depending on how much is spent in the past year. Purchases that are considered every day buys, such as at gas stations, grocery stores and
pharmacies, earn five percent back. Other purchases earn the cardholder one and one half percent rebate. The limit on the cash back reward for this particular credit card is $50,000 each year.

Common benefits of its other credit cards are included in this cash back reward program. These include a buyer’s assurance plan, a plan for purchase protection and travel accident insurance up to $100,000.

These cash back reward credit cards have no annual fee, with a six month zero percent introductory rate, not only for balance transfers but for all purchases with the credit cards as well. As long as the initial loan whose balance is
transferred remains unpaid the interest rate paid on its balance after the introductory period has run out is a low 4.99 percent.

The rate on purchases subsequent to the introductory period on this cash back reward credit card is 12.74 percent at this writing, although it is variable. While you can get a cash advance with this credit card, the rate on that
transaction is a hefty 22.74 percent. The payment grace period is 20 days.

Another of the excellent cash back reward credit cards is a Visa. This offer is for those who have very good credit. With this cash back reward credit card the cardholder earns a point for each dollar used for a purchase. The first purchase
using the card gives the cardholder 1000 bonus points. The accrual of 2500 points with this cash back reward credit card means a $25 gift certificate or check from the cardholders choice of retailer or merchant. With this card you can earn up to 60,000 points for the year.

This card’s zero percent introductory interest rate lasts for one year, on both balance transfers and purchases. The card has no annual fee. One of the things that make this one of the best cash back reward credit cards its additional
benefits such as insurance on auto rentals, its extended purchase warranties, and its travel accident insurance coverage of up to $500,000.

Gas Reward Credit Cards

02-01-2010 by admin



The best gas reward credit cards are almost always tied in to one type of gasoline and gas merchant. Let’s look at one of the best gas reward credit cards.

This is a Visa credit card offering gas rewards for Hess, Hess Express and Wilco Hess. You must have very good credit to quality for this gas reward card.

Through the card’s rebate program you earn a rebate of one percent on all purchases but a five percent rebate on purchases – gas and others – made at the Hess stations. In the first 90 days of this best gas reward credit card offer
you will earn not five, but ten percent rebate on the Hess purchases. Best of all, there is no annual limit to the gas reward you can earn on these credit cards. The rebate total is directly applied to the credit card account of the cardholder, too – another plus.

This gas reward credit card has both the best annual fee and the best introductory interest rate anywhere – zero. The introductory period is six months long. The rate of interest on the balance after the introductory period
is 13.74 percent – not the best, but still a reasonable rate. The rate for cash advances, however, is quite high (though this is commonly the case). That rate is 23.74 percent, although it varies.

Another perk that makes this one of the best gas reward credit cards is its excellent reporting system for stolen or lost cards, its insurance offer for auto rentals, its travel accident insurance with a hefty ceiling of $500,000 and
the fact that the card holders is not held liable for unauthorized transactions.

The one disadvantage of this card, which, depending on your spending and payment habits may or may not matter to you, is that its finance charge method is called
a two-cycle average daily balance method. This is more costly than that used by most issuers of credit cards – the method of determining finance charges by the average daily balance.

The various fees which you should always study and compare in detail include a fee for late payment that can be as high as $39 depending on the balance you are
carrying; a $35 fee for charging over your limit; and a balance transfer fee of three percent, although this has a minimum charge of $5 and a maximum of $75.

The best use of this gas reward credit card, therefore, is to pay your balance in full each month after the expiration of the introductory rate, and to make frequent purchases at Hess, Hess Express and Wilco Hess.

Cash Back Credit Cards Or Reward Credit Cards – Which One is Best For You?

13-12-2009 by admin



So, you want a new credit card and figure getting a reward card is the way to go.  But you’re a bit confused about the difference between reward credit cards and cash back credit cards.  It’s not surprising because even many credit card companies use the terms interchangeably.  But they are different.

Make the right choice and you’ll find yourself with “free” gifts or cash.  Make the wrong choice and you might not see any “free” rewards at all.

Invest just a little bit of time online comparing offers and when it comes time to redeem your rewards you’ll get what you want.

Here are some of the more important things to consider:

Would You Prefer Money, Products or Services?

Whereas a cash back credit card will send you cash periodically, a reward credit card issues points or miles for your purchases.  You can then convert the reward points into discounts on travel and/or various services and products.  The rewards vary from one card to the next.

How Do You Get the Most Value?

On the surface nothing beats a financial rebate.  However, reward cards that give you points or miles often offer incentives that  are usually worth  quite a bit more than what you’d get for the equivalent use of your cash back credit card.

Thoroughly scrutinize what you can trade your points for because if you find things you like you will get much better value from reward card cards than from cash back credit cards.

The Big Problem with Reward Credit Cards

Reward credit cards can be a time-sucking hassle because you need to keep track of your points in order to get your rewards whereas cash back credit card companies either send you your money automatically or apply it directly to your balance due.

So, if you don’t want to bother tracking your miles and/or points a cash back credit card would be a better choice.