FIRST FINANCIAL®

 

Credit Card Deals	Student Card
Balance Transfer	New to Credit
Business Card	Rebuild Credit
Cash Advance	Prepaid Card
Cash Rewards	Poor Credit
Low Intro Rate	Rewards Card

 

Unsecured Credit Cards When anyone mentions the term “credit card,” usually, the unsecured credit card is what they are talking about. This means that a bank or lender offers you credit based on your history and their belief that you are reliable. However, they have nothing to fall back on if you fail to do so. There is, of course, the opposite type of “secured” credit card. Simply put, this type of card is financially secured by funds deposited into a savings, checking, money market account or certificate of deposit. Unsecured credit cards are very common, and often misused. Read this guide before you decide if you want this type of card or who you want to get it from. Student Credit Cards Student credit cards can be a big help for people starting college. There are many expenses related to starting school, such as books, room and board, etc. and a student credit card can make the difference between being able to purchase what is needed and not being able to attend classes. Of course, it is necessary to understand that you will eventually have to pay for any purchases made on student credit cards so do not overextend yourself with purchases that you cannot afford. Secured Credit Cards Secured credit cards are made specifically for people that have zero or bad credit due to whatever circumstances. It’s not a good idea to have poor credit simply because it can limit your opportunities in life, and a secured credit card can help you fix that. Any other credit card can also help repair poor credit, but you may not be eligible for them immediately. A secured credit card is a great way to get the ball rolling. Travel Credit Cards Travel credit cards can be very advantageous for people who travel or want to travel, because the rewards you earn let you enjoy great travel perks for free. Typically, what sets travel credit cards apart from other types of rewards cards is the fact that you can choose to reap your rewards from airlines, hotels or even in the form of restaurant meals. The flexibility of travel credit cards means that you work towards that dream vacation you’ve been wanting; but if reality or a shaky economy gets in the way, you can still use your rewards for other very useful and necessary purchases. Sports Credit Cards Sports credit cards are a great way to show your enthusiasm for a sport or team. Whether you’re a soccer mom or a diehard sports fan, there is a sports credit card waiting for you. Many credit cards today allow you the choice of personalizing a credit card with an image of your choosing, such as a sport logo. You also have a wide selection of professional teams and sports credit cards for which you can apply. Retail Credit Cards Retail credit cards can be good to have for many reasons. Most retail stores send coupons to cardholders every month for exclusive discounts. Retail cards are also a great way to build credit if you are a responsible card holder. Typically, retail credit cardholders get access to additional services like free delivery, online discounts, and pre orders for hot new items. Points Credit Cards Many financial institutions offer points credit cards. To find the right one for your needs, the first step is to consider the various offers that are available. Then you will be able to find credit cards that will let you collect points for rewards on things that you want. Rewards and points credit cards are only as good as you make them. Here’s what you need to know to make them work in your favor. Hotel Credit Cards Hotel credit cards are almost always co-branded cards, meaning a company like Hilton teams up with Visa to offer a targeted credit card product. These cards are targeted to those consumers who are frequent patrons of specific hotel brands. For the hotels, this can be a really productive means of keeping and building customer loyalty. For the consumer it can mean discounted or free hotel stays, special services during a hotel stay, and other niceties. As good as it sounds, you need to be aware of exactly how any type of reward based credit card works, or you may not get the great deal you think you are getting. Take a few minutes to review some of the details of hotel credit cards before comparing your options. Home Improvement Credit Cards Home improvement credit cards are a good way to get much needed work done to your home. There are some home improvements that can’t wait and if money is an issue, a credit card might be the way to go. Home improvements can also be an investment. If you are looking to sell you home, you can get back the cost of many of those home improvements if you spend wisely. If you are considering a home improvement credit card, here are some of the choices available. Gas Credit Cards Gas credit cards are a popular choice among consumers who are looking to save money on fuel costs. When you are looking for credit cards with gas rewards, it pays to read the fine print so that you understand all the terms and conditions before you fill out the application. Many of the same advice that replies to responsible credit card use like knowing the terms and making timely payment are also critical in managing reward credit cards. Entertainment Credit Cards Of the many different types of credit card products out there, one of the most interesting is the entertainment credit card. Within this category the primary focus is on accumulating reward points that can be used toward leisure and travel purchases when you use the card to make leisure and travel purchases. Some of these cards can be very similar to more standard credit products, while some can be extremely extravagant and loaded with features and benefits. When considering an entertainment credit card you need to consider the benefits, rates and the lifestyle and goals you already have. Dining Credit Cards If you, like so many people today, spend more time eating out than you do eating at home then you may want to consider using one of the many dining credit cards that are available. There are credit cards offering rewards for everything from hobbies to shopping, and dining credit cards have become one of the major offerings from credit card companies and banks. While this may seem odd, if you consider the large amounts of people who eat out, either out of necessity or because they want to, it becomes very easy to imagine how dining credit cards can be popular. Charity Credit Cards Charity credit cards donate portions of money that you spend to a charity of your choice. For those folks who already give on a regular basis, or for those who are looking for a convenient way to give back, this type of reward credit card may be a good solution. Charity credit cards offer a small dose of being helpful to other people through spending money and paying on your credit card bill. Auto Credit Cards Auto credit cards are a very wise choice in the world of rewards cards. By using such credit cards, you accumulate reward points that you can use towards the purchase of a new car. Auto credit cards provide you with a solid way to reduce the amount of money you need to put down when you are buying one of your most costly purchases. For this reason, credit cards affiliated with car companies are a great choice amongst rewards cards. Reward Credit Cards Reward credit cards are an increasingly popular choice among credit card offers today. Although reward credit cards tend to carry a higher APR (Annual Percentage Rate), they offer various reward incentives that can be quite appealing to the savvy spender. Depending on your shopping interests and financial responsibility, reward credit cards can help you build good credit while earning points or dollars for many of the purchases you make. Prepaid & Debit Cards When you can’t get approved for a credit card because you don’t have a credit history, you have bad credit, or you have filed for bankruptcy in the past, both prepaid and debit cards are a good alternative. Prepaid and debit cards work differently than credit cards. You can only use them for the amount that is in your bank account or the amount you load onto a prepaid card. Low Interest Credit Cards Low interest credit cards are one of the more popular types of cards because you can save a significant amount of money in both the short and long term. Most companies offer a low interest credit card in addition to their other more advanced cards. These cards are also valuable tools to help rebuild a bad credit score, which helps you get loans and other financial aid. You can also use them to leverage a larger credit card debt, which is also helpful to repair a bad credit score. Consider the cost and benefits of the low interest credit cards offered, and be sure to compare your options before making a choice. Instant Approval Credit Cards Instant approval credit cards exist because, sometimes getting a credit card is an urgent matter. You may need one to open up an account, open a membership at a local store, reserve a hotel room, or make an online purchase right away. Instant approval credit cards can help you to get the credit you need quickly. These types of cards have different criteria and eligibility requirements that must be met for instant approval to be given. Learning a little bit more about the types of cards available can help you decide if an instant approval card is right for you.  Cash Back Credit Cards One of the most popular promotional tactics is the cash back credit card. This is a promotion popularized by the Discover® card, and honestly a category where they still dominate. But as a consumer, what you most need to know is how this product type works, and how it can work best for you. Now that many different providers offer this option, you will want to compare the choices before selecting a specific card. Balance Transfer Credit Cards Balance transfer credit cards are a tool that can be very efficient if you’re careful with them. When people get into credit card debt they tend to look for any way to help them get out of it. Unfortunately, the downside is that with a poor economy, balance transfer credit cards are harder to get a hold of than they used to be. This is especially true if your credit is poor. However, if you qualify, assess the true cost and savings up front, and manage them wisely, balance transfer credit cards can open up a window of opportunity to help you maintain or rebuild your credit. Business Credit Cards No matter what size business you own, you probably utilize business credit cards virtually everyday. Business credit cards allow your business to have greater buying power without spending everything that you have in the bank all at once. Also, if you are using business credit cards for their reward options, then your spending may enable you to fly to meet with clients, take a vacation, or purchase items for your business at a discount (or even for free). Regardless of your reasons for using business credit cards, it is important that you choose the right card for your business that offers you the most rewards for the least amount of cost. No Credit History Credit Cards If you have no credit history, credit cards are difficult to obtain. Credit history is used to record the borrowing and repayment history of a person or company, which then, based on a number of factors, mathematically calculates your credit worthiness and or credit risk. By not having a credit history, you are considered a higher credit risk. However, there are ways of obtaining no credit history credit cards and ultimately building your credit score. Bad Credit Credit Cards Bad credit credit cards are a special tool developed by the banking and lending industry that are designed to help consumers reestablish a good credit rating. When you have bad credit, there are many important things that you can lose access to such as a checking account, affordable car insurance, and even a job. Good credit is needed when you want to purchase a home, buy a car, or get a loan. Unfortunately, this is a cycle that is hard to break. The more you try to get out of the situation created by bad credit, the deeper it gets. But there are credit cards available specifically for those with bad credit that can help you reestablish credit. Here is some basic information about bad credit credit cards that can help you decide if one is right for you. Fair Credit Credit Cards Even if your credit record could use some improvement, you can still qualify for fair credit credit cards. Credit cards offered to people with mediocre credit scores still have a number of benefits. A person has fair credit if their credit score, also known as a FICO score, is between 650 and 699. If you don’t know your credit rating, you can easily obtain this information online. Understanding what fair credit credit cards do and don’t provide can help you understand the rates and benefits you will receive. Good Credit Credit Cards One of the benefits of keeping your credit score on track is being able to get good credit credit cards with rewards and lower interest rates. Credit scores are a collection of points based on how well you manage your credit. Events like making a late payment or going over the limit will subtract points from your credit score. Events like making payments on time, simply using your credit cards, and paying off your balance monthly will increase your credit score. Credit scores are then labeled bad, poor, fair, good, or excellent. Typically, a FICO score or 700 or more is considered a good rating. These labels determine what types of cards and benefits you can get. Here are some options for those who are eligible for good credit credit cards. Excellent Credit Score Cards Excellent credit score cards are available for those who have earned a high credit score with an excellent credit report. Excellent credit score cards reward their card holders with low interest APRs (Annual Percentage Rate), cash back incentives, fee-free cash advances, higher credit limits, and reward programs that surpass the credit cards reserved for those with lower credit scores. Not only will an excellent credit score give you the most advantageous credit cards, but it will also ensure that you get the lowest rates on mortgages and auto loans, reduce your premiums on home and car insurance, and can even help you obtain employment where credit score is a factor. Airline Credit Cards If you love to travel then airline credit cards might have the best rewards package for you. Airline credit cards come in three main categories. The first category is Frequent Flier Mile Credit cards. These allow the cardholder to earn miles with a specific airline and their partners. The next category is Travel Reward Credit Cards. Purchases made with these cards earn various travel related benefits like hotel stays, cruises and car rentals. The last category is Consumer Airline Mile Credit cards. These are cards whose rewards are given in the form of points that can be redeemed for tickets on a variety of airlines, car rentals, or hotel stays. Review the facts, and then use the no fee credit card chaser above to find airline credit cards that work for you.