Your Credit Cards Guide

UNITED STATES — Before you send your child off to college, you might want to sit them down and discuss the dangers of credit cards. Many unsuspecting students fall prey to credit card debt because they lack the proper education regarding financial responsibility. It’s also the reason why big credit card companies camp out on college campuses.

Though college students can’t legally apply for a credit card without parental consent unless they are 21 years old or older, that doesn’t mean that credit card companies aren’t allowed to market them on college campuses. Why is it so easy for credit card companies to hang out on college campuses? Most colleges receive a monetary kickback for their kindness. In fact, the Penn State Alumni Association received more than $4.2 million in marketing dollars in 2010.

Don’t assume that your kids will be taking a college course on financial responsibility and credit cards. Teach them the rules before they leave the house. From the lo Read more…

Verdict: BCU offers an impressive range of choices with their Visa Platinum card. The regular version of this credit card features a non-variable rate as low as 8.5%, no annual fee and travel benefits. The other two versions add a rewards program for no additional cost. The cash back version of the card is the only one with a variable rate but it allows the cardholder to earn up to 2% cash back on purchases. Overall, this credit card is a great option for most consumers who want to be rewarded for spending or want a card that is free to carry and has no hidden fees. Because the APR may be very high for those with poor credit, however, this card is not a good choice for those who carry a balance month to month.

Overview: The Visa Platinum card from BCU has three distinct versions: the Platinum, Platinum with CURewards and Platinum with Cash Back.

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For all the recent talk about greed and moving money away from big banks, especially with unpopular debit card fees and rising savings account fees, there’s one thing banks are doing that may take you by surprise: cutting fees.Which Fees Are Being Cut?According to the Wall Street Journal, the big fee on the chopping block lately is foreign-transaction fees.  As a rule, if you use a credit card overseas, you’ll pay a fee to offset the costs of using two separate transaction networks, usually between 2 and 3%, especially as Europe has very different security protocols.  That’s not true anymore: Discover, Chase, and Citigroup have all completely axed those fees.Also seemingly approaching extinction is the balance transfer, which banks are starting to do away with if customers meet certain conditions, like transferring balances within the first thirty days after you open a new card with them.  Only Chase has done it so far, but other banks are considering it, and other fees might not be far behind.Just as surprising is the rise of rewards programs, at least in certain sectors.  Even as rewards programs are being cut for some customers, new and surprising ones are coming out.  For example, several companies, like Capital One, are offering rewards incentives when a customer switches balances. Some a

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CoreLogic’s CoreScore Report supplements credit data

In early October, CoreLogic, a leading provider of credit information, announced they have a report that assesses credit risk and could be used as a a supplement to the traditional credit report.  It is called the CoreScore Credit Report and is compliant with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). It merges CoreScore consumer information and credit report data into one report. It

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Capital One customers are preparing to rack up some additional rewards this Black Friday as the credit card issuer increases rewards over Thanksgiving week on the companys Perk Central shopping portal.

Consumers who use their Capital One credit cards to shop using the Perk Central site between 25 and 28 November will be eligible for additional rewards from a large number of the retailers who are part of the shopping portal. Just a few of the many deals already announced for this Black Friday promotion are as follows:

The increased rewards promotion announcements follow Capital Ones previous decision to offer reward redemption special offers for those Capital One customers who are looking to redeem their current rewards points.

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Waterbury Connecticut Teachers Credit Union gives back to members of the Connecticut education field with a savings account rate of 0.60% APY. Foster and develop a healthy savings habit with a reliable and effective savings account.

Savings Account Rate Terms and Conditions

Depositors interested in joining Waterbury Connecticut Teachers Credit Union must meet membership eligibility requirements to obtain this savings account rate. Once membership into the institution has been granted, members are required to provide a minimum $5 initial deposit to begin earning dividends. All savings account dividends are paid quarterly.

About Waterbury Connecticut Teachers Credit Union

Since 1934, Waterbury Connecticut Teachers Credit Union has provided financial service and guidance to Connecticut teachers, administrators and other eligible personnel. Their field of membership has vastly expanded to include 27 local towns, supporting their deposit needs with savings accounts, checking accounts and more.

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