Information and Advice on Five Different Types of Credit Cards
How can you find the right credit card for you with so many different types of cards available? The first thing you need to do is start thinking about how you plan on using credit and for what. After you do this, you can start comparing all the different charge cards and credit cards available. Some cards offer you excellent value, and then there are others, which may cost more in finance and interest charges, provide incentives you may find useful. My advice is to research all the varying card rates, fees and benefits before making a decision.
Depending on your needs, you’ll find several different options which can fit what you are looking for. There are some cards aimed toward individual consumers, while others are built specifically for small business needs. To help you figure out what type of credit card would fit your needs, here is some information on five of the most common credit cards available:
- Standard credit cards – These types of credit cards are the most commonly used. They let the user hold a balance on the card all the way up to a set credit limit. After you make a purchase for an item such as a new TV, credit from that balance is used. After you make payments on that balance, that credit is made available to you once again. Keep in mind that finance charges and interest rates will be applied at the end of the month to your balance. You should also be aware of your card’s minimum payment that needs to be paid by a certain due date or be charged late-payment penalties.
- Premium credit cards – Premium credit cards are very similar to regular credit cards except these offer incentives and benefits. I’m talking about those Gold and Platinum credits cards. These offer incentives such as cash back, reward points, or travel upgrades along with many other different types of rewards just for using the card. However, they tend to come with higher fees and you will need minimum income and credit score requirements before you can be qualified for one.
- Prepaid credit cards – These credit cards require money to be uploaded onto the card before it can be used for a transaction. You do not have a renewing credit limit on these either since you are responsible for how much of a balance is loaded up on the card. They work very similarly as debit cards do, but are not dependent on the balance of your checking account.
- Business credit cards – These cards are intended specifically for business use. These cards allow business owners to keep all of their transaction separated between personal and business. They work nearly identical to a standard credit card does with mostly all the same rules and fees.
- Charge cards – Charge cards are basically credit cards without a limit to how much you can charge. The only requirement is that the entire balance must be paid in full at the end of the month. Since the balance is always paid in full monthly, they tend not to come with any finance charges or minimum payments. They ares however, subject to fees, charge restrictions, or card cancellations if you are late on your monthly payments.