Low Interests CREDIT CARDS

Chase Platinum Visa® Card
		The Chase Platinum Visa® Card, issued by Chase, is designed for those who have very good credit and are looking for an overall good platinum card with a rewards program. Features: Various Internet account related services. No liability for unauthorized transactions. Lost and stolen card reporting. Emergency cash replacement. Emergency card replacement. Various travel and emergency assistance services. Travel accident insurance. Extended warranty for purchases. Auto rental insurance (Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver). Year-end financial statement (upon request). See website for additional benefits. Certain restrictions, limitations, and exclusions apply. If an account is opened, please refer to the Guide to Benefits for details.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for 12 Months	11.24%		$0	Point

Capital One® No Hassle Points(SM) Rewards - Excellent Credit
	The Capital One® No Hassle Points(SM) Rewards card is a great rewards card for people with excellent credit. Features: $0 fraud liability for any unauthorized use if your card is lost or stolen. 24-Hour Travel and Emergency Assistance. Additional protection on your purchases with an extended warranty program from Visa®. Emergency card replacement or cash advance if your card is lost or stolen. Exclusive savings: up to 40% off featured deals and 10% savings on everything else at Capital One® Saving Zone(SM) on Yahoo! Shopping.
Intro APR		Regular APR	Annual Fee	Reward Type
No Introductory Rate Available		13.90%	$0	Point

IberiaBank Visa® Classic Card
		The IberiaBank Visa® Classic Card, issued by Pulaski Bank, is designed for those with average credit who may occasionally carry a balance. Features: Various internet account services. Lost and stolen card reporting. See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for 6 Months	5.0%		$0	n/app

Discover® More(SM) Card
			The Discover® More(SM) Card, issued by Discover, is designed for those with very good credit who are looking for a cash reward credit card. Features: Various card designs to select from. Various Internet account related services. Up to $500,000 in travel accident insurance. Fraud and security protection services. Auto rental insurance. Discounts on products and services at participating merchants and retailers. See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR	Regular APR	Annual Fee		Reward Type
0% Intro APR*	10.99%	$0		Rebate

Bank of America WorldPoints® Platinum Plus™ MasterCard® Cre
		The Bank of America WorldPoints™ Platinum Plus™ MasterCard® Credit Card, issued by FIA Card Services, N.A., is designed for those with very good credit who would like to take advantage of the reward program. Features: See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for 12 Billing Cycles	9.99% / 15.99%		$0	Point

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
		The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, issued by Citibank, is designed for those with good credit who plan to take advantage of the introductory rates and the excellent services. Features: Various Internet account related services. Identity theft solutions. Price protection program. Optional personal photo on card. Fraud and security protection services. Lost and stolen card reporting. Emergency cash replacement. Emergency card replacement. Automatic bill payments. Year-end financial statement (upon request). Up to $1,000,000 in travel accident insurance. Auto rental insurance. Various travel and emergency assistance services. Medical referral services. Legal referral services. Lost luggage assistance. Discounts on auto rentals. See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for up to 12 Months	As low as 7.24%		$0	n/app

MERRILL+® Card
		The MERRILL+® Card, issued by Bank of America, is designed for those with very good credit who plan to take advantage of the reward program offered through Merrill Lynch. Features: Various Internet account related services. No liability for unauthorized transactions. Fraud protection services. Automatic bill payment. Purchase protection. Extended warranty for purchases. Auto rental insurance. Emergency transportation assistance. Up to $1,000,000 in travel accident insurance. Lost luggage assistance. Personal concierge service. Transatlantic companion ticket offer from British Airways. Save $250 on advance purchase Club World tickets to London on British Airways. Special MERRILL+ rates at The Leading Hotels of the World®. Complimentary spa services at leading resort destinations. Automobile rental upgrades and discounts. Discounts on products and services at participating merchants and retailers. Cardholders whose annual spending on purchases reaches certain levels will have access to additional benefits and services. See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
1.9% APR for 12 Months	9.99%		$0	Point

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Rewards Card
		The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Rewards Card, issued by Citibank, is designed for those with good credit who plan to take advantage of the reward program offered. Features: $0 liability on unauthorized purchases. Various Internet account related services. Identity theft solutions. Price protection program. Optional personal photo on card. Fraud and security protection services. Lost and stolen card reporting. Emergency cash replacement. Emergency card replacement. Automatic bill payments. Year-end financial statement (upon request). Up to $1,000,000 in travel accident insurance. Auto rental insurance. Various travel and emergency assistance services. Medical referral services. Legal referral services. Lost luggage assistance. Discounts on auto rentals. See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for 12 Months	As low as 9.74%		$0	Point

Blue from American Express®
		Blue from American Express® is an ideal credit card for those with good credit who already have an established credit history and are looking for a card with access to a reward program. Features: Access to Blue's Membership Rewards Express(SM) program for no additional annual fee. Built-in ExpressPay feature that lets cardholders make purchases without having to swipe their card. Various Internet account related services. No liability for unauthorized Internet transactions. Year-end financial statement. Return protection. Extended warranty for purchases. Purchase protection. Auto rental insurance. Emergency card replacement. Medical referral services. Legal referral services. Lost luggage insurance. Up to $100,000 in travel accident insurance. Various travel and emergency assistance services. See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for up to 15 Months	10.99%		$0	Point

AT&T Universal Savings Platinum Card
		The AT&T Universal Savings Platinum Card, issued by Citibank, is designed for those with good credit who desire a credit card with platinum cardholder benefits. Features: $0 liability on unauthorized purchases. Secure, free online account management. Card can be used as a calling card. Receive 2 free directory assistance inquiries per month. Receive up to 30 free phone minutes per month. Wireless phone loss and theft insurance reimbursement for replacement coverage. Various Internet account related services. Identity theft solutions. Fraud and security protection services. Year-end financial statement. Up to $1,000,000 in travel accident insurance. Lost luggage assistance. Auto rental insurance. Emergency card replacement. Emergency cash replacement. Lost and stolen card reporting. Medical referral services. Legal referral services. Various travel and emergency assistance services. Automatic bill payment. Up to 10% Savings on AT&T Purchases. See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for 12 Months	As low as 9.24%		$0	n/app

Capital One® Platinum Prestige
		The Capital One® Platinum Prestige card is designed for those with excellent credit who want a credit card with a very low interest rate. Features: $100,000 Worldwide Automatic Travel Accident Insurance. 24-hour Roadside Assistance with lock-out service, towing, and flat repair. Emergency card replacement or cash advance if your card is lost or stolen. Exclusive savings: up to 40% off featured deals and 10% savings on everything else at Capital One® Saving Zone(SM) on Yahoo! Shopping.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
No Introductory Rate Available	7.90%		$0	n/app

Pulaski Bank Gold Visa® Card
		The Pulaski Bank Gold Visa® Card, issued by Pulaski Bank, is designed for those with good credit who are looking for a very low cost credit card. Features: Various Internet account related services. Auto rental insurance. Various travel and emergency assistance services. Emergency cash replacement. Emergency card replacement. Lost and stolen card reporting. No liability for unauthorized transactions. See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for 6 Months	8.00%		$0	n/app

Citi® Platinum Select® Card
		The Citi® Platinum Select® Card, issued by Citibank, is designed for those with good credit who would like to take advantage of the various standard services and benefits provided by Citibank. Features: Various Internet account related services. Reports to all major credit bureaus to help you establish your credit history. Citi Identity Theft Solutions. $0 liability on unauthorized purchases. Secure, free online account management. Up to $1,000,000 in travel accident insurance. Auto rental insurance. Fraud and security protection services. Lost wallet service. Lost and stolen card reporting. Emergency card replacement. Emergency cash replacement. Optional personal photo on card. Various travel and emergency assistance services. Medical referral services. Legal referral services. See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for up to 12 Months	As low as 7.24%		$0	n/app

Bank of America Rewards™ American Express® Card
	The Bank of America Rewards™ American Express® Card, issued by FIA Card Services, N.A., is designed for those with average credit who want to participate in the reward program. Features: See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR		Regular APR	Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for 12 Billing Cycles		9.9%	$0	Point

Capital One® Platinum Prestige - Visa®
		The Capital One® Platinum Prestige - Visa® card is designed for those with excellent credit who want a credit card with a very low interest rate. Features: 24-Hour Roadside Assistance with lock-out service, towing, and flat repair. $100,000 Worldwide Automatic Travel Accident Insurance. Emergency card replacement or cash advance if your card is lost or stolen. Collision, Damage, and Loss Insurance on rental cars. Exclusive savings: up to 40% off featured deals and 10% savings on everything else at Capital One® Saving Zone(SM) on Yahoo! Shopping.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
No Introductory Rate Available	7.90%		$0	n/app

Pulaski Bank Visa® Card
		The Pulaski Bank Visa® Card issued by Pulaski Bank, is designed for those with an average credit history who are looking for a very low cost credit card. Features: Various Internet account related services. Emergency cash replacement. Emergency card replacement. Lost and stolen card reporting. No liability for unauthorized transactions. See website for additional benefits.
Intro APR	Regular APR		Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for 6 Months	6.50%		$35	n/app

Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Visa® Card
	The Bank of America® Platinum Plus® Visa® Card, issued by FIA Card Services, N.A., is designed for those with very good credit who will take advantage of the introductory offer and the platinum benefits. Features: See website for card benefits.
Intro APR		Regular APR	Annual Fee	Reward Type
0% APR for 6 Billing Cycles		APR Varies*	$0	n/app

How Secured Card works

Your new Bank of America credit card can help you establish a credit history that will benefit you now and in the future. You deposit anywhere from $300 up to $10,000 into a Bank of America security deposit account. Your credit line will directly reflect the amount of your deposit. You can then make purchases with your card up to the amount you have in your security deposit account. You must pay at least the minimum payment before the due date each month. Paying off your credit card balance in full each month instead of carrying a balance may help. Your security deposit does not cover minimum payments. Based on your credit and payment history, you may qualify for an unsecured card at a later date.2 Value and pricing Credit lines available from $300 to $10,000 $29 annual fee Secured benefits Online Banking service*** Total Security Protection®, our free package of security features, including zero liability from unauthorized card use if you notify us promptly*** Travel and emergency assistance*** Automatic auto rental insurance*** Purchase Replacement*** Purchase Guard*** Convenience checks at no extra charge*** Additional cards at no extra charge We reserve the right to change your terms, rates and fees at any time, for any reason, in accordance with the cardholder agreement and applicable law. Please see terms and conditions for important information concerning this offer.

Photo Expressions® Terms and Conditions Bank of America reserves the exclusive right to determine whether to use any submitted photo on the Photo Expressions card. Upon submitting your photo to Bank of America, you represent and certify that you have sole rights to use the photo and have obtained any necessary consent to allow Bank of America to alter, copy, print, distribute, prepare and to use the photo or derivative works of the photo on the Photo Expressions card. You agree to return the Photo Expressions card to Bank of America immediately upon the request by Bank of America. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Bank of America from all claims that arise from Bank of America using the Photo Expressions card. There is no charge to add Photo Expressions to your card nor is there a charge to request a different photo be added to your card. Credit Protection Plus Terms and Conditions Credit Protection Plus ("the Plan") is an optional product available on your Bank of America credit card account. Whether or not you purchase the Plan will not affect Your application for credit or the terms of any existing credit agreement You have with Us. Benefits: In return for a Monthly Program Fee, the Plan can credit up to 18 Monthly Benefit Amounts in the event You incur an approved Hospitalization, Disability, Involuntary Unemployment, or Family Medical Leave. You can also receive Three (3) Monthly Benefit Amounts for any approved life Event. in the event of Your Loss of Life, the Plan can credit a lump sum benefit amount equal to the outstanding balance on the Date of Loss or $25,000, whichever is less. Cost: The Monthly Program Fee is 95¢ per $100 of Your Plan Balance up to $25,000. For your convenience, the fee is automatically billed to Your credit card account. During months when there is no balance and no activity Your credit card statement, there is no charge for the Plan that month. Eligibility Exclusions: There are eligibility requirements, conditions and exclusions that could prevent You from receiving benefits under the Plan. Please refer to the Addendum to the Credit Card Agreement for a full explanation of all requirements, conditions and exclusions. Termination: If, at any time during the first thirty (30) days after the date Your protection begins, You cancel the optional Plan, all Plan fees billed to Your account will be refunded via a credit to the protected card. You have the right to cancel the Plan at any time by making a telephonic or written request to the Plan Administrator. The Plan will automatically terminate under the following circumstances: You no longer have the Enrolled Account; Your Enrolled Account is closed due to account charge-off; You suffer a Loss of Life; Your Enrolled Account becomes 4 payments past due, You enter into a repayment plan for the Enrolled Account, or You conduct or attempt to conduct fraud relating to Plan benefits. The Plan Administrator is CSI Processing, LLC at Credit Protection Plus, P.O. Box 34888, Omaha, NE 68134-0888; (800) 242-6806 Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Central Time.

AT&T UNIVERSAL CARD DISCLOSURES

* AT&T Universal Savings Platinum Card Program Information

• Your AT&T Universal Savings Platinum Card account (Card Account) will receive a savings based upon eligible transactions appearing on your current month's billing statement. The savings will show on your Card Account as a statement credit as long as your Card Account is open and current. However, if your Card Account is no longer open or current, you will not be able to earn these savings.
• The only eligible transactions for which you earn savings are AT&T consumer products and/or services and Cingular bill payments. AT&T consumer products and services must be purchased through 1-800-222-3111, 1-866-246-4852, www.att.com, www.telephones.att.com, www.cingular.com, Cingular Company owned stores or AT&T customer service centers. Purchases from independent Cingular dealers are not eligible, unless they are for payment of Cingular service. We do not determine whether AT&T consumer products and/or services are correctly identified and billed to us as qualifying transactions, but we do reserve the right to determine which purchases qualify for the savings. Returned purchases, disputed or unauthorized/fraudulent transactions, finance charges, and Card Account fees do not earn any savings unless otherwise specified. Unless you are participating in a limited-time promotional offer, you will earn 5% on each dollar you spend on eligible AT&T purchases that is matched by the amount you spend on other purchases. However, for the first 12 months of cardmembership, you will earn 10% on each dollar you spend on eligible AT&T purchases that is matched by the amount you spend on other purchases.
• You may save a maximum of $350 in any calendar year (eligible transactions appearing on your January-December billing statements).
• You have no property rights or other legal interest in the savings. Savings have no cash value until such time as they are posted to your account as a statement credit. We may revise any of these AT&T Universal Card Savings at any time with 30 days prior written notice. In addition, we may also terminate the AT&T Universal Card Savings Program with 30 days prior written notice.
• Citibank (South Dakota), N.A. is the issuer of the AT&T Universal Savings Platinum Card and provides all savings associated with this program.

** Terms & Conditions

The balance transfer APR is 0% for 12 months from the date of the first balance transfer. After the promotional period ends, your standard APR will be applied to any unpaid promotional balances. As of March 21, 2008, the standard variable APR for purchases is either 9.24% Rate 1, 21.24% Rate 2 or 14.24% Rate 3 in that order based on our review of your application and credit history. The standard APR for cash advances is a variable 20.24%. However, if you default under any Card Agreement that you have with us, we may automatically increase the rate on all balances (including any promotional balances) to a variable default rate of 29.24%. The minimum finance charge is $.50. Foreign purchase transaction fee is 3.0% of the purchase amount after its conversion into U.S. dollars. The transaction fee for cash advances is 3.0% of each cash advance, minimum $5. The transaction fee for balance transfers is 3.0% of the amount of each balance transfer, $5 minimum.

*** AT&T PREPAID PHONE SERVICE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AGREEMENT

By using the AT&T PrePaid Phone Service ("PrePaid Service") feature of your AT&T Universal Card ("Card") to use or buy phone minutes, you consent to the terms, conditions, rates and charges below and in the service guide at www.att.com/prepaidguide; also available from Customer Care at 1–800–303–9189.

1. Minute value applies to state-to-state calls only. A surcharge not to exceed 7 minutes applies to U.S. pay phone calls, a portion of which compensates pay phone providers. One minute billing increments. Partial minutes used are billed as full minutes. International rates are higher than state-to-state rates, differ according to destination called and can change. Rates may be higher for calls made to or from mobile phones.
2. For calls that begin and end in the same state, minutes are deducted at these rates per minute of talk time: 1 minute: DC, IL, IN, MA, RI, U.S.VI; 3 minutes: AL, AR, CA, CT, DE, GA, HI, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MS, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PR, SC, TN, UT, WI, WV; 5 minutes: AK, AZ, CO, FL, IA, ID, MN, MT, NC, NH, OK, PA, TX, VA, VT WA, WY; 8 minutes: MO, ND, NM, SD.
3. The PrePaid Service can be used to place the following types to calls: in-state and state-to-state where service provider is authorized to carry such calls; outbound international calls from the U.S. to over 200 locations around the world; and inbound international calls to the U.S. and from country to country outside the U.S. from select countries with the use of the AT&T USADirect® Service. Call Customer Care for international calling information before you leave the U.S. The PrePaid Service cannot be used for toll free calls, calls for paid services with premium charges or for operator handled calls. Except for the 2 directory assistance inquiries per month provided with your Card, directory assistance rates are higher than state-to-state rates.
4. Safeguard your Card. You are responsible for any loss or unauthorized use of any promotional or purchased minutes residing on the PrePaid Service feature of your Card.
5. Service provider makes no warranty, express or implied, regarding the condition or fitness of the services offered for any particular use or purpose. As permitted by law, the liability of service provider shall be limited to direct damages for any personal or property injury, and for all other claims to an amount equal to the charge for the affected services. IN NO EVENT WILL SERVICE PROVIDER, ITS EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR ANY COOPERATING SERVICE PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, RELIANCE, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
6. The exclusive remedy for all disputes arising out of purchase or use of phone minutes through the PrePaid Service feature of your Card, except for those taken to small claims court, is arbitration. YOUR DISPUTE WILL NOT BE HEARD BY A JURY OR IN COURT AND MAY NOT BE MADE PART OF A CLASS ACTION. Arbitration does not apply to California residents for disputes arising in California.
7. Your PrePaid Service access may be suspended or terminated without notice if service provider has reason to suspect fraudulent use. Promotional phone minutes provided with your Card are limited to 30 minutes per month, are non-refundable and expire if not used during that month. Purchased phone minutes are non-refundable, and do not expire. If your Card account is closed by you or the Card issuer for any reason, the PrePaid Service feature will no longer be available to you except for any phone minutes purchased by you until such minutes are depleted.
8. Recharge minutes may have different rates, surcharges and terms and conditions and are not refundable. Service provider reserves the right to impose a maximum U.S. dollar value and/or number or minutes that may reside on the PrePaid Service feature of your Card at any given time.
9. Complaints not resolved to your satisfaction may be directed to the appropriate state regulatory agency in the state where the promotional phone minutes were received or the prepaid phone minutes were purchased.
10. 10. Service provided by AT&T or affiliate; by AT&T Alascom in Alaska. Service provided where authorized.

© 2007 Citibank (South Dakota), N.A. Citi and Citi with Arc Design are registered service marks for Citigroup Inc

AT&T and the AT&T Logo are trademarks of AT&T Knowledge Ventures, licensed to Citigroup Inc.

MasterCard® is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated.

AT&T Universal Card
P.O. Box 6500
Sioux Falls, SD 57117
www.universalcard.com

CHOOSING A CREDIT CARD

How will you use your credit card?

The first step in choosing a credit card is thinking about how you will use it.

	If you expect to always pay your monthly bill in full--and other features such as frequent flyer miles don’t interest you--your best choice may be a card that has no annual fee and offers a longer grace period.
	If you sometimes carry over a balance from month to month, you may be more interested in a card that carries a lower interest rate (stated as an annual percentage rate, or APR).
	If you expect to use your card to get cash advances, you’ll want to look for a card that carries a lower APR and lower fees on cash advances. Some cards charge a higher APR for cash advances than for purchases.

What are the APRs?

The annual percentage rate--APR--is the way of stating the interest rate you will pay if you carry over a balance, take out a cash advance, or transfer a balance from another card. The APR states the interest rate as a yearly rate.

Multiple APRs
A single credit card may have several APRs:

	One APR for purchases, another for cash advances, and yet another for balance transfers. The APRs for cash advances and balance transfers often are higher than the APR for purchases (for example, 14% for purchases, 18% for cash advances, and 19% for balance transfers).
	Tiered APRs. Different rates are applied to different levels of the outstanding balance (for example, 16% on balances of $1–$500 and 17% on balances above $500).
	A penalty APR. The APR may increase if you are late in making payments. For example, your card agreement may say, “If your payment arrives more than ten days late two times within a six-month period, the penalty rate will apply.”
	An introductory APR. A different rate will apply after the introductory rate expires.
	A delayed APR. A different rate will apply in the future. For example, a card may advertise that there is “no interest until next March.” Look for the APR that will be in effect after March.

If you carry over a part of your balance from month to month, even a small difference in the APR can make a big difference in how much you will pay over a year.

Fixed vs. variable APR
Some credit cards are “fixed rate”--the APR doesn’t change, or at least doesn’t change often. Even the APR on a “fixed rate” credit card can change over time. However, the credit card company must tell you before increasing the fixed APR.

Other credit cards are “variable rate”--the APR changes from time to time. The rate is usually tied to another interest rate, such as the prime rate or the Treasury bill rate. If the other rate changes, the rate on your card may change, too. Look for information on the credit card application and in the credit card agreement to see how often your card’s APR may change (the agreement is like a contract--it lists the terms and conditions for using your credit card).

How long is the grace period?

The grace period is the number of days you have to pay your bill in full without triggering a finance charge. For example, the credit card company may say that you have “25 days from the statement date, provided you paid your previous balance in full by the due date.” The statement date is given on the bill.

The grace period usually applies only to new purchases. Most credit cards do not give a grace period for cash advances and balance transfers. Instead, interest charges start right away.

If you carried over any part of your balance from the preceding month, you may not have a grace period for new purchases. Instead, you may be charged interest as soon as you make a purchase (in addition to being charged interest on the earlier balance you have not paid off). Look on the credit card application for information about the “method of computing the balance for purchases” to see if new purchases are included or excluded. Information on methods of computing the balance is in the section “How is the finance charge calculated?”

How is the finance charge calculated?

The finance charge is the dollar amount you pay to use credit. The amount depends in part on your outstanding balance and the APR.

Credit card companies use one of several methods to calculate the outstanding balance. The method can make a big difference in the finance charge you’ll pay. Your outstanding balance may be calculated

	Over one billing cycle or two,
	Using the adjusted balance, the average daily balance, or the previous balance, and
	Including or excluding new purchases in the balance.

Depending on the balance you carry and the timing of your purchases and payments, you’ll usually have a lower finance charge with one-cycle billing and either

	The average daily balance method excluding new purchases,
	The adjusted balance method, or
	The previous balance method.

Minimum finance charge
Some credit cards have a minimum finance charge. You’ll be charged that minimum even if the calculated amount of your finance charge is less. For example, your finance charge may be calculated to be 35¢--but if the company’s minimum finance charge is $1.00, you’ll pay $1.00. A minimum finance charge usually applies only when you must pay a finance charge--that is, when you carry over a balance from one billing cycle to the next.

What are the fees?

Most credit cards charge fees under certain circumstances:

	Annual fee (sometimes billed monthly). Charged for having the card
	Cash advance fee. Charged when you use the card for a cash advance; may be a flat fee (for example, $3.00) or a percentage of the cash advance (for example, 3%)
	Balance-transfer fee. Charged when you transfer a balance from another credit card (Your credit card company may send you “checks” to pay off the other card. The balance is transferred when you use one of these checks to pay the amount due on the other card.)
	Late-payment fee. Charged if your payment is received after the due date
	Over-the-credit-limit fee. Charged if you go over your credit limit
	Credit-limit-increase fee. Charged if you ask for an increase in your credit limit
	Set-up fee. Charged when a new credit card account is opened
	Return-item fee. Charged if you pay your bill by check and the check is returned for non-sufficient funds (that is, your check bounces)
	Other fees. Some credit card companies charge a fee if you pay by telephone (that is, if you arrange by phone for payment to be transferred from your bank to the company) or to cover the costs of reporting to credit bureaus, reviewing your account, or providing other customer services. Read the information in your credit card agreement to see if there are other fees and charges.

What are the cash advance features?

Some credit cards let you borrow cash in addition to making purchases on credit. Most credit card companies treat these cash advances and your purchases differently. If you plan to use your card for cash advances, look for information about

	Access. Most credit cards let you use an ATM to get a cash advance. Or the credit card company may send you “checks” that you can write to get the cash advance.
	APR. The APR for cash advances may be higher than the APR for purchases.
	Fees. The credit card company may charge a fee in addition to the interest you will pay on the amount advanced.
	Limits. Some credit cards limit cash advances to a dollar amount (for example, $200 per cash advance or $500 per week) or a portion of your credit limit (for example, 75% of your available credit limit).
	How payments are credited. Many credit card companies apply your payments to purchases first and then to cash advances. Read your credit card agreement to learn how your payments will be credited.

How much is the credit limit?

The credit limit is the maximum total amount--for purchases, cash advances, balance transfers, fees, and finance charges--you may charge on your credit card. If you go over this limit, you may have to pay an “over-the-credit-limit fee.”

What kind of card is it?

Most credit card companies offer several kinds of cards:
	Secured cards, which require a security deposit. The larger the security deposit, the higher the credit limit. Secured cards are usually offered to people who have limited credit records--people who are just starting out or who have had trouble with credit in the past.
	Regular cards, which do not require a security deposit and have just a few features. Most regular cards have higher credit limits than secured cards but lower credit limits than premium cards.
	Premium cards (gold, platinum, titanium), which offer higher credit limits and usually have extra features--for example, product warranties, travel insurance, or emergency services.

Does the card offer incentives and other features?

Many credit card companies offer incentives to use the card and other special features:
	Rebates (money back) on the purchases you make
	Frequent flier miles or phone-call minutes
	Additional warranty coverage for the items you purchase
	Car rental insurance
	Travel accident insurance or travel-related discounts
	Credit card registration, to help if your wallet or purse is lost or stolen and you need to report that all your credit cards are missing

Credit cards may also offer, for a price,
	Insurance to cover the payments on your credit card balance if you become unemployed or disabled, or die. Premiums are usually due monthly, making it easy to cancel if the payments are higher than you want to pay or you decide you don’t need the insurance any longer.
	Insurance to cover the first $50 of charges if your card is lost or stolen. Under federal law, you are not responsible for charges over $50.

Before you sign up to pay for any of these features, think carefully about whether it will be useful for you. Don’t pay for something you don’t want or don’t need.

How do I find information about credit cards?

You can find lists of credit card plans, rates, and terms on the Internet, in personal finance magazines, and in newspapers. The Federal Reserve System surveys credit card companies every six months. You’ll need to get the most recent information directly from the credit card company--by phoning the company, looking on the company’s web site, or reading a solicitation or application.

Under federal law, all solicitations and applications for credit cards must include certain key information, in a disclosure box similar to the one shown.

Annual percentage rate (APR) for purchases	2.9% until 11/1/06 after that, 14.9%
Other APRs	Cash-advance APR: 15.9% Balance-Transfer APR: 15.9% Penalty rate: 23.9% See explanation below.*
Variable-rate informtion	Your APR for purchase transactions may vary. The rate is determined monthly by adding 5.9% to the Prime Rate.**
Grace period for repayment of balances for purchases	25 days on average
Method of computing the balance for purchases	Average daily balance (excluding new purchases)
Annual fees	None
Minimum finance charge	$.50
Transaction fee for cash advances: 3% of the amount advanced Balance-transfer fee: 3% of the amount transferred Late-payment fee: $25 Over-the-credit-limit fee: $25
* Explanation of penalty. If your payment arrives more than ten days late two times withing a six-month period, the penalty rate will apply. ** The Prime Rate used to determine your APR is the rate published in the Wall Street Journal on the 10th day of the prior month.

APR for purchases. The annual percentage rate you’ll be charged if you carry over a balance from month to month. If the card has an introductory rate, you’ll see both that rate and the rate that will apply after the introductory rate expires. Other APRs. The APRs you’ll be charged if you get a cash advance on your card, transfer a balance from another card, or are late in making a payment. More information about the penalty rate may be stated outside the disclosure box--for instance, in a footnote. In this example, if you make two payments that are more than ten days late within six months, the APR will increase to 23.9%. Variable-rate information. Information about how the variable rate will be determined (if relevant). More information may be stated outside the disclosure box--for instance, in a footnote. Grace period for repayment of balances for purchases. The number of days you’ll have to pay your bill for purchases in full without triggering a finance charge. Method of computing the balance for purchases. The method that will be used to calculate your outstanding balance if you carry over a balance and will pay a finance charge. Annual fees. The amount you’ll be charged each twelve-month period for simply having the card. Minimum finance charge. The minimum, or fixed, finance charge that will be imposed during a billing cycle. A minimum finance charge usually applies only when a finance charge is imposed, that is, when you carry over a balance. Transaction fee for cash advances. The charge that will be imposed each time you use the card for a cash advance. Balance-transfer fee. The fee that will be imposed each time you transfer a balance from another card. Late-payment fee. The fee that will be imposed when your payment is late. Over-the-credit-limit fee. The fee that will be imposed if your charges exceed the credit limit set for your card.

What are your liability limits?

What are your liability limits?

If your credit card is lost or stolen--and then is used by someone without your permission--you do not have to pay more than $50 of those charges. This protection is provided by the federal Truth in Lending Act. You do not need to buy “credit card insurance” to cover amounts over $50.

If you discover that your card is lost or stolen, report it immediately to your credit card company. Call the toll-free number listed on your monthly statement. The company will cancel the card so that new purchases cannot be made with it. The company will also send you a new card.

Make a list of your account numbers and the companies’ phone numbers. Keep the list in a safe place. If your wallet or purse is lost or stolen, you’ll have all the numbers in one place. Take the list of phone numbers--not the account numbers--with you when you travel, just in case a card is lost or stolen.

What can you do about billing errors?

The federal Fair Credit Billing Act covers billing errors. Examples of billing error are

	A charge for something you didn’t buy
	A bill for an amount different from the actual amount you charged
	A charge for something that you did not accept when it was delivered
	A charge for something that was not delivered according to agreement
	Math errors
	Payments not credited to your account
	A charge by someone who does not have permission to use your credit card

If you think your credit card bill has an error, take the following steps:

1. Write to the credit card company within 60 days after the statement date on the bill with the error. Use the address for “billing inquiries” listed on the bill. Tell the company
   Your name and account number,
   That you believe the bill contains an error, and why you believe it’s wrong, and
   The date and amount of the error (the “disputed amount”).

2. Pay all the other parts of the bill. You do not have to pay the “disputed amount” or any minimum payments or finance charges that apply to it.

If there is an error, you will not have to pay any finance charges on the disputed amount. Your account must be corrected.

If there is no error, the credit card company must send you an explanation and a statement of the amount you owe. The amount will include any finance charges or other charges that accumulated while you were questioning the bill.

What if the item you purchase is damaged?

The federal Fair Credit Billing Act allows you to withhold payment on any damaged or poor-quality goods or services purchased with a credit card--even if you have accepted the goods or services--as long as you have made an attempt to solve the problem with the merchant.

The sale must have been for more than $50 and must have taken place in your home state or within 100 miles of your home address. You should notify the credit card company in writing and explain why you are withholding your payment.

You may withhold the payment while the credit card company investigates your claim. If you pay the charges for the goods on your credit card bill before the dispute is resolved, you will lose your right to make a claim.

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Source: Federal Resrv.