Understanding Your Credit Card Needs
Before selecting a credit card, assess your financial habits and goals by considering:
- Do you pay off your balance monthly? Rewards cards may be beneficial
- Do you carry a balance? Focus on low interest rates
- Are you a frequent traveler? Look for travel perks
- Building or rebuilding credit? Consider secured or student cards
Travel Rewards Cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- 5x points on Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on other travel purchases
- Transfer partners including United, Hyatt, and Southwest
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Annual Fee: $695
Key Benefits:
- $200 airline fee credit
- $200 hotel credit
- $200 Uber credit
- $189 CLEAR® credit
- Access to over 1,200 airport lounges
Cash Back Credit Cards
Citi Double Cash
Earn 2% on every purchase - 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill
Chase Freedom Unlimited
- 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
- 5% on travel booked through Chase
- 1.5% on everything else
Discover it® Cash Back
- 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 14 months
- No annual fee
Low Interest and Balance Transfer Cards
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months
- No annual fee
Wells Fargo Reflect℠
- Up to 21 months 0% intro APR on balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Cell phone protection
Business Credit Cards
American Express Business Gold
- 4x points in top two spending categories each billing cycle
- Up to $150,000 in combined purchases annually
- Categories include airfare, advertising, shipping, and more
Chase Ink Business Cash
- 5% cash back on office supply stores
- 5% on internet, cable, and phone services
- 2% on gas stations and restaurants
Building Credit Options
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
- 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Path to graduate to unsecured card
- No annual fee
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
- No annual fee
- Automatic credit line reviews
- Free credit monitoring through CreditWise®
- Access to higher credit line after first five monthly payments
Important Considerations
When choosing a credit card, evaluate:
- Your spending patterns
- Desired rewards type
- Annual fee vs. benefits
- Your credit score
- Additional perks you'll actually use
Always remember to:
- Pay your balance in full when possible
- Monitor your credit score
- Review your benefits regularly
- Compare offers before applying
For the most current rates and offers, visit NerdWallet or The Points Guy.
Note: Credit card terms and conditions are subject to change. Always verify current offers directly with the card issuer before applying.