Capital One Journey Student Rewards Card. If your child’s credit is great, this student card offers cash back rewards of one percent on every purchase. If he makes his payment on time, a 25-percent bonus comes his way. Rack up enough expenditures and handle the transactions in a fiscally savvy way and she could build a solid credit history. Additionally, if your son’s card is stolen or lost, fraud coverage comes with the Journey and five months of responsible use and bill pay can boost his credit line. There are high APRs and no introductory promotions associated with this student card, so it’s recommended only for mature, responsible students.
Keybank College Rewards Card. You might not have heard of this card issuer before, but if your student leaves something to be desired in the credit history department, she can still qualify for this unique card, aimed at students in need of second chance to improve their credit standing while offering the convenience of a card for emergencies and general expenses. Your child will earn one point for every dollar she spends and 1,000 points are automatically added as soon as she uses the account for the first time. This incentive could be the catalyst for getting your child’s credit back to health in 2015.
Discover it Chrome for Students. If you prefer a well-known card brand, you might want to send your child off to university with a Discover it card with benefits galore. There’s no annual fee, 2-percent cash back up to $1,000 to spend at eateries and gas stations and he will also get 1-percent cash back on other purchases throughout 2015 and beyond. Free FICO scores appear on monthly statements and free text alerts remind students when bills are due. If your child loves anything associated with a mobile app (it’s free with the card), this card, with a 0-percent introductory offer for six months, may be all you need to stock that dorm room with essentials.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Best credit card for travelers!
Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard. Even the name sounds grand and if you plan to travel a lot in 2015, this could be your ticket to racking up bonuses via the card that never met a traveler it didn’t reward. Every plane ticket, hotel and car rental expense you incur adds to a bank of reward points launched by the 40,000 signup points credited to your card when you spend $3,000 within 90 days of your card’s receipt. Thereafter, earn 2.2-percent on every dollar spent. To welcome you into the fold for 2015 and beyond, the $89 annual card fee is waived for the first year.
BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card. Your excellent credit is all that’s needed to qualify you for this generous rewards program in 2015. Use your BoA card to rack up $500 in purchases within 90 days and 10,000 bonus points (that’s one overseas airline round trip) will land in your account. Thereafter, earn 1.5 points on purchases redeem points for all types of travel expenses, including cruises, rental cars, hotels, vacations and baggage fees. You won’t have to deal with limits or blackout dates if you choose this variable interest deal that includes a 0-percent introductory rate for a year on purchases. The rate reverts to as little as 14.99-percent thereafter and never pay a foreign transaction fee no matter where you travel on the planet in 2015.
Capital One Venture One Rewards Card sets a standard others hope to emulate. Amass 1.25 unlimited miles on every purchase, every day and there’s no annual fee attached to the card as you travel here, there and build a point bank. Get a bonus 20,000 miles after spending $1,000 on purchases. Travel cards are rarely this generous with reward points given this relatively small purchase amount, but you must spend the cash within three months. Since you can choose from any airline or hotel, this won’t be hard and there are no blackout dates associated with this rewards card. Further, miles never expire nor is there a cap on the number of miles you can earn. Here’s the best news: qualify for this card with just a “good” credit rating in some cases.
BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card. Your excellent credit is all that’s needed to qualify you for this generous rewards program in 2015. Use your BoA card to rack up $500 in purchases within 90 days and 10,000 bonus points (that’s one overseas airline round trip) will land in your account. Thereafter, earn 1.5 points on purchases redeem points for all types of travel expenses, including cruises, rental cars, hotels, vacations and baggage fees. You won’t have to deal with limits or blackout dates if you choose this variable interest deal that includes a 0-percent introductory rate for a year on purchases. The rate reverts to as little as 14.99-percent thereafter and never pay a foreign transaction fee no matter where you travel on the planet in 2015.
Capital One Venture One Rewards Card sets a standard others hope to emulate. Amass 1.25 unlimited miles on every purchase, every day and there’s no annual fee attached to the card as you travel here, there and build a point bank. Get a bonus 20,000 miles after spending $1,000 on purchases. Travel cards are rarely this generous with reward points given this relatively small purchase amount, but you must spend the cash within three months. Since you can choose from any airline or hotel, this won’t be hard and there are no blackout dates associated with this rewards card. Further, miles never expire nor is there a cap on the number of miles you can earn. Here’s the best news: qualify for this card with just a “good” credit rating in some cases.
Best Credit Card (Debit) for people with a good credit
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. Excellent credit holders only need apply, but to get the ball rolling, spend $500 within the first three months and $100 in bonus money comes your way. In the future, earn 1.5-percent cash back on every purchase. Since there are no rotating categories, you don’t have to keep track of where you’re shopping each month. There’s no expiration on your rewards, and if you want another new account start-up incentive, get 0-percent interest on balance transfers and purchases until May 2015.
Capital One Venture One Rewards Credit Card. If your credit is excellent, you’ll enjoy all of the benefits of this card from the get-go. Spend $1,000 up front and 20,000 travel miles are credited to your account, at which point, you get unlimited 1.25-miles with all purchases. There’s no annual fee and you’re not restricted to one airline or hotel, so fly and stay where you want, not where you’re told to go. Miles don’t expire, either.
Gold Delta SkyMiles from American Express. In return for excellent credit, this American Express/Delta Air partnership is packed with rewards that will take you into 2015 in style. Use your card to make $1,000 in purchases within the first three months and 50,000 bonus miles are added to your card bank. In the future, receive 2X miles on Delta flights and 1X miles on other purchases. Walk to the front of the line with priority boarding and check your first bag gratis if you flash this card in 2015. Finally, a $50 statement credit follows that first Delta purchase. No extra charge for American Express name recognition that’s priceless.
Capital One Venture One Rewards Credit Card. If your credit is excellent, you’ll enjoy all of the benefits of this card from the get-go. Spend $1,000 up front and 20,000 travel miles are credited to your account, at which point, you get unlimited 1.25-miles with all purchases. There’s no annual fee and you’re not restricted to one airline or hotel, so fly and stay where you want, not where you’re told to go. Miles don’t expire, either.
Gold Delta SkyMiles from American Express. In return for excellent credit, this American Express/Delta Air partnership is packed with rewards that will take you into 2015 in style. Use your card to make $1,000 in purchases within the first three months and 50,000 bonus miles are added to your card bank. In the future, receive 2X miles on Delta flights and 1X miles on other purchases. Walk to the front of the line with priority boarding and check your first bag gratis if you flash this card in 2015. Finally, a $50 statement credit follows that first Delta purchase. No extra charge for American Express name recognition that’s priceless.
Let's compare Credit Cards
The Platinum Card from American Express. There’s no escaping the hefty $450 annual fee that comes with this high-powered card, but if you’re moving in fast circles in 2015, the annual fee is a drop in the bucket compared to profit-taking if international deals come to fruition. Name recognition earns has always gotten respect and that won’t change in 2015. Matter of fact, perks could climb. Spend $3,000 within 3 months and earn 40,000 points. Nab a $200 per annum airline fee credit via a qualifying airline and forget a single foreign transaction fee, no matter how often you use this card abroad. The services of a concierge come with this credit card, a resource you’ll come to depend on in 2015 as your business grows.
Capital One Venture One Rewards Credit Card was named CreditCard.com’s top “no foreign transaction fee” card. Peruse the features and benefits before making this your go-to plastic for every foreign destination you visit in 2015 and you’ll quickly see why it became a recommended card in the “no foreign transaction” category. There’s no annual fee, receive 1.25 miles on every purchase you make (here or abroad), there’s a one-time travel bonus of 20,000 miles within three months of activating your card and not a single restriction on airline, hotel or dreaded blackout dates. Miles don’t expire. Collect a million of them if you like. Good credit sends this foreign transaction fee-free to your wallet and you’ll even get 0-percent interest until August 2015.
The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card people want you in Paris, Rome, London or any other place that gives you an opportunity to spend $2,000 in three months after opening this card account, at which point, you an additional 70,000 points will appear on your statement. You read that right, and that’s not the end of perks you get with this “no foreign transaction fee” credit card: amass free night stays at certain Marriott hotels, 15 credits toward an Elite membership, endless point accumulation and your card comes with the pin and chip technology Europe has used for decades. Every dollar you spend at a Marriott in 2015 earns 5 points, but collect more on airline, car and restaurant expenditures. This Chase product requires excellent credit for approval.
Capital One Venture One Rewards Credit Card was named CreditCard.com’s top “no foreign transaction fee” card. Peruse the features and benefits before making this your go-to plastic for every foreign destination you visit in 2015 and you’ll quickly see why it became a recommended card in the “no foreign transaction” category. There’s no annual fee, receive 1.25 miles on every purchase you make (here or abroad), there’s a one-time travel bonus of 20,000 miles within three months of activating your card and not a single restriction on airline, hotel or dreaded blackout dates. Miles don’t expire. Collect a million of them if you like. Good credit sends this foreign transaction fee-free to your wallet and you’ll even get 0-percent interest until August 2015.
The Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card people want you in Paris, Rome, London or any other place that gives you an opportunity to spend $2,000 in three months after opening this card account, at which point, you an additional 70,000 points will appear on your statement. You read that right, and that’s not the end of perks you get with this “no foreign transaction fee” credit card: amass free night stays at certain Marriott hotels, 15 credits toward an Elite membership, endless point accumulation and your card comes with the pin and chip technology Europe has used for decades. Every dollar you spend at a Marriott in 2015 earns 5 points, but collect more on airline, car and restaurant expenditures. This Chase product requires excellent credit for approval.
Maximazing points (rewards) given by your credit card
2015 marks a big year for changes to many of the best credit cards in the U.S. By October of this year, you will most likely be issued new cards containing a microchip. It seems that EMV technology, which boasts better security (a microchip instead of a magnetic strip), will finally make its way to the U.S. Mastercard and Visa will both switch over to this technology by October.
New services, like Apple Pay, now store all of your card information, making it possible to walk into the local supermarket and leave with a bag of groceries without ever taking your wallet out. Credit cards and rewards programs are here to stay, but it’s tough to say which physical feature your card will have next year, or if you’ll even be issued a card at all given the current trends and technology.
Aside from these new changes, rewards credit cards still exist in the same types, like cash back, airline, travel, hotel, and brand loyalty cards. Given the sheer number of credit cards and new offers coming in daily, picking one is really a matter of personal preference. Do you want higher rewards on your grocery purchases? Or is travel the most important thing to you? All questions worth pondering when you consider that thousands of credit card rewards programs exist.
For example, I recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred®. It’s simply the most versatile rewards credit card on the market. I own this card because it consistently provides me with 2x points on dining and travel with no foreign transaction fees, among other great features.
New services, like Apple Pay, now store all of your card information, making it possible to walk into the local supermarket and leave with a bag of groceries without ever taking your wallet out. Credit cards and rewards programs are here to stay, but it’s tough to say which physical feature your card will have next year, or if you’ll even be issued a card at all given the current trends and technology.
Aside from these new changes, rewards credit cards still exist in the same types, like cash back, airline, travel, hotel, and brand loyalty cards. Given the sheer number of credit cards and new offers coming in daily, picking one is really a matter of personal preference. Do you want higher rewards on your grocery purchases? Or is travel the most important thing to you? All questions worth pondering when you consider that thousands of credit card rewards programs exist.
My goal here is to showcase the best rewards credit cards and explain who each of these cards is best for so you can make an educated decision when choosing your next card.The best rewards credit card for you ultimately depends on your spending habits. In order to capitalize on rewards, you want to get the highest rewards for the things you buy most. However, that’s not the only important factor. Earning consistent rewards on a variety of purchases is also high on my list. If you use your rewards credit cards the right way, you get paid back on everything you buy.
For example, I recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred®. It’s simply the most versatile rewards credit card on the market. I own this card because it consistently provides me with 2x points on dining and travel with no foreign transaction fees, among other great features.
When you are poor, you can still build your credit.
It's entirely possible to build a positive credit history by using credit cards while living paycheck-to-paycheck, but you have to tread carefully.
When I opened my first credit card as a college student, I was definitely living paycheck-to-paycheck. Today I'm much more financially stable, but thanks to student loan debt and an auto loan, my budget is still pretty tight. As a result -- and after some honest mistakes -- I've had to fine-tune my credit use to make it fit my budget constraints and still be a useful tool.
Here are some tips to help you do the same if you're living paycheck-to-paycheck:
1. Decide how to use your card ahead of time.
Relying on credit as an extension of your monthly income will quickly drive you into debt. Instead of spending on plastic however you please, designate a handful of specific bills or regular purchases as your only credit card expenses.
I currently have a card that pays only my monthly Netflix bill of $8.95 and two weeks of fuel, which is usually about $20-$25. I was going to use the money in my checking account to pay for those expenses anyway, so doing this doesn't affect my spending plan and it keeps my cards active. Not using credit cards for a long time can lead to additional fees or even a closed account -- which could negatively impact your credit score -- if your issuer decides to take action. I also make sure to pay my credit card balance off after I make the charges.
2. Don't waste money on annual fees.
If you're on a tight budget, cutting extra costs is essential. With so many no-annual-fee credit cards on the market, save precious dollars and apply for one of those cards. If you currently have a card with an annual fee, do things in the right order: First, pay any remaining balance, and apply for a different fee-free card. Once you have the new card in hand, then you can freely close the fee card.
I wish I had paid more attention to fees before I applied for my second card, which is a travel rewards card with a $95 annual fee. I'm currently in the hunt for a new card, but I've already paid the annual fee for 2015. Avoid a similar situation and only give your attention to cards with as few extra fees as possible.
3. Don't carry cards with you all the time.
If you know you are an impulsive or emotional shopper, leave your plastic at home when you are headed to a store or social event that may encourage you to spend money you don't have. If you don't have it, you can't use it.
Also, avoid saving your card information as a preferred method of payment online. Besides being a security risk, having card info on file makes it too easy to click a few buttons and make a purchase without thinking twice about the financial implications. I've noticed that I spend my money more carefully online if I have to actually go get my card out of my wallet and manually type in all the information.
4. Pay your balance off frequently.
Monitoring your spending on a tight budget is hard (and stressful) enough without adding a credit card account or two to the picture. To keep better tabs on financial behavior, pay off your credit cards at the end of each week or as each paycheck comes in instead of waiting until the end of every month or until the due date rolls around.
Paying off your (planned) card balances each week ensures you won't carry a balance long-term and can make managing your finances less stressful, since you are breaking it down one week at a time instead of facing a big balance when all your other bills are due.
I'm trying to get better at this and have started checking my card accounts at the end of each week to ensure my monthly budget is on track. If something is off, I adjust my spending for the next week accordingly.
5. Save money.
If you don't prepare financially for the unexpected, your credit cards often have to come to the rescue, leaving you with interest-accruing debt your budget can't handle.
Saving money is something many Americans struggle with, according to a March 2015 survey conducted by NeighborWorks America. Approximately 34 percent of U.S. adults don't have emergency savings and of those that do, 47 percent said their savings would last them three months or less. I personally fall into that 47 percent pool, which is concerning, but hard to address when a tight budget only lets you to save so much at a time.
It's hard to tuck money into savings when the rest of your life demands it be used now, but it's important to start somewhere, even if it's only $20 each payday. Establishing a cushioned savings account will keep you from having to rely on credit cards and make your credit journey a positive one.
When I opened my first credit card as a college student, I was definitely living paycheck-to-paycheck. Today I'm much more financially stable, but thanks to student loan debt and an auto loan, my budget is still pretty tight. As a result -- and after some honest mistakes -- I've had to fine-tune my credit use to make it fit my budget constraints and still be a useful tool.
Here are some tips to help you do the same if you're living paycheck-to-paycheck:
1. Decide how to use your card ahead of time.
Relying on credit as an extension of your monthly income will quickly drive you into debt. Instead of spending on plastic however you please, designate a handful of specific bills or regular purchases as your only credit card expenses.
I currently have a card that pays only my monthly Netflix bill of $8.95 and two weeks of fuel, which is usually about $20-$25. I was going to use the money in my checking account to pay for those expenses anyway, so doing this doesn't affect my spending plan and it keeps my cards active. Not using credit cards for a long time can lead to additional fees or even a closed account -- which could negatively impact your credit score -- if your issuer decides to take action. I also make sure to pay my credit card balance off after I make the charges.
2. Don't waste money on annual fees.
If you're on a tight budget, cutting extra costs is essential. With so many no-annual-fee credit cards on the market, save precious dollars and apply for one of those cards. If you currently have a card with an annual fee, do things in the right order: First, pay any remaining balance, and apply for a different fee-free card. Once you have the new card in hand, then you can freely close the fee card.
I wish I had paid more attention to fees before I applied for my second card, which is a travel rewards card with a $95 annual fee. I'm currently in the hunt for a new card, but I've already paid the annual fee for 2015. Avoid a similar situation and only give your attention to cards with as few extra fees as possible.
3. Don't carry cards with you all the time.
If you know you are an impulsive or emotional shopper, leave your plastic at home when you are headed to a store or social event that may encourage you to spend money you don't have. If you don't have it, you can't use it.
Also, avoid saving your card information as a preferred method of payment online. Besides being a security risk, having card info on file makes it too easy to click a few buttons and make a purchase without thinking twice about the financial implications. I've noticed that I spend my money more carefully online if I have to actually go get my card out of my wallet and manually type in all the information.
4. Pay your balance off frequently.
Monitoring your spending on a tight budget is hard (and stressful) enough without adding a credit card account or two to the picture. To keep better tabs on financial behavior, pay off your credit cards at the end of each week or as each paycheck comes in instead of waiting until the end of every month or until the due date rolls around.
Paying off your (planned) card balances each week ensures you won't carry a balance long-term and can make managing your finances less stressful, since you are breaking it down one week at a time instead of facing a big balance when all your other bills are due.
I'm trying to get better at this and have started checking my card accounts at the end of each week to ensure my monthly budget is on track. If something is off, I adjust my spending for the next week accordingly.
5. Save money.
If you don't prepare financially for the unexpected, your credit cards often have to come to the rescue, leaving you with interest-accruing debt your budget can't handle.
Saving money is something many Americans struggle with, according to a March 2015 survey conducted by NeighborWorks America. Approximately 34 percent of U.S. adults don't have emergency savings and of those that do, 47 percent said their savings would last them three months or less. I personally fall into that 47 percent pool, which is concerning, but hard to address when a tight budget only lets you to save so much at a time.
It's hard to tuck money into savings when the rest of your life demands it be used now, but it's important to start somewhere, even if it's only $20 each payday. Establishing a cushioned savings account will keep you from having to rely on credit cards and make your credit journey a positive one.
Are American Express cards losing of its prestige
I've been thinking pretty seriously lately about applying for my first American Express card after receiving some tempting offers. But with all the bad press the card issuer has been getting over the past few months, I'm starting to wonder: Are American Express cards as valuable as they used to be?
American Express continues to rank highly in customer satisfaction surveys. Until recently, it held the No. 1 spot for credit card customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Associates' annual Credit Card Satisfaction study. In 2014, the card issuer tied for first place with Discover card, which has been nipping at American Express' heels for several years now.
The J.D. Powers and Associates survey looks at how satisfied cardholders are with their credit card terms and rewards, billing and dispute resolution, cardholder perks and more.
But according to new complaint data released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, cardholders' satisfaction with the once vaunted issuer may be starting to slip.
CreditCards.com recently reviewed nearly 14,000 complaints made to the CFPB last year and found that American Express earned more disputes over its handling of complaints than any other card issuer. CreditCards.com also found that American Express had the highest rate of complaints overall than any of the seven biggest issuers, including Capital One, Citi, U.S. Bank and Bank of America.
Meanwhile, the card issuer has been dealing with a number of bad breaks over the past few months, causing analysts to openly fret about its future. The popular warehouse club Costco recently decided to part ways with American Express after failing to come to an agreement over the future of its co-branded credit card -- a major source of American Express' revenue.
The U.S. Justice Department also dealt a blow after winning its antitrust lawsuit against the company. According to comments made by AmEx CEO Kenneth Chenault at Wednesday's investors' conference, the issuer is planning to seek a stay against the February ruling, which found that American Express violated antitrust laws.
If it fails to squash the ruling, American Express will no longer be able to bar merchants from encouraging their customers to use lower cost cards. That, in turn, could threaten American Express' notoriously high transaction fees, which have helped subsidize its generous rewards programs.
One of the downsides of having an American Express card is that it's not as widely accepted as other cards since merchants have to pay significantly higher fees to accept it. Many cardholders have put up with the inconvenience in exchange for the prestige and extra perks of having an American Express card. But if American Express is forced to lower fees in order to compete with other card issuers, will that threaten the sweeter rewards the card issuer is known for?
Already, the benefits of owning an American Express card have started to decline, according to The Associated Press' Ken Sweet. For example, some airlines, such as United and American, have stopped giving VIP lounge access to American Express cardholders.
The card issuer also recently raised interest rates for a number of cardholders who were paying below-market APRs, and currently charges new cardholders a higher APR than comparable cards. For example, according to American Express spokeswoman Elizabeth Crosta, the lowest available rate on a new American Express card is currently 12.99 percent. The national average APR for low interest cards, by contrast, is 11.62 percent.
Annual fees are also going up on some cards, such as the issuers' Gold line, making owning a premium American Express card even pricier.
That said, the pressure on American Express to attract new cardholders could mean that rewards will get better -- at least in the near future -- rather than worse, according to financial services firm Credit Suisse.
In just the past month, American Express announced it will soon offer double the rewards on restaurant purchases and better travel perks for American Gold cardholders, including a $100 travel credit for incidental airline expenses. It also announced last week an innovative loyalty program that allows participants to earn points even when they use a different payment method, such as cash or debit.
And even though American Express' reputation has taken a hit in recent months, it still earns enough high marks from satisfied customers that applying for an American Express card doesn't feel like much of a risk.
I haven't decided yet whether or not I'll apply for a card myself. It's still too early to tell how recent events will influence American Express' offers, so I may just wait a little while and see what comes in the mail.
American Express continues to rank highly in customer satisfaction surveys. Until recently, it held the No. 1 spot for credit card customer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Associates' annual Credit Card Satisfaction study. In 2014, the card issuer tied for first place with Discover card, which has been nipping at American Express' heels for several years now.
The J.D. Powers and Associates survey looks at how satisfied cardholders are with their credit card terms and rewards, billing and dispute resolution, cardholder perks and more.
But according to new complaint data released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, cardholders' satisfaction with the once vaunted issuer may be starting to slip.
CreditCards.com recently reviewed nearly 14,000 complaints made to the CFPB last year and found that American Express earned more disputes over its handling of complaints than any other card issuer. CreditCards.com also found that American Express had the highest rate of complaints overall than any of the seven biggest issuers, including Capital One, Citi, U.S. Bank and Bank of America.
Meanwhile, the card issuer has been dealing with a number of bad breaks over the past few months, causing analysts to openly fret about its future. The popular warehouse club Costco recently decided to part ways with American Express after failing to come to an agreement over the future of its co-branded credit card -- a major source of American Express' revenue.
The U.S. Justice Department also dealt a blow after winning its antitrust lawsuit against the company. According to comments made by AmEx CEO Kenneth Chenault at Wednesday's investors' conference, the issuer is planning to seek a stay against the February ruling, which found that American Express violated antitrust laws.
If it fails to squash the ruling, American Express will no longer be able to bar merchants from encouraging their customers to use lower cost cards. That, in turn, could threaten American Express' notoriously high transaction fees, which have helped subsidize its generous rewards programs.
One of the downsides of having an American Express card is that it's not as widely accepted as other cards since merchants have to pay significantly higher fees to accept it. Many cardholders have put up with the inconvenience in exchange for the prestige and extra perks of having an American Express card. But if American Express is forced to lower fees in order to compete with other card issuers, will that threaten the sweeter rewards the card issuer is known for?
Already, the benefits of owning an American Express card have started to decline, according to The Associated Press' Ken Sweet. For example, some airlines, such as United and American, have stopped giving VIP lounge access to American Express cardholders.
The card issuer also recently raised interest rates for a number of cardholders who were paying below-market APRs, and currently charges new cardholders a higher APR than comparable cards. For example, according to American Express spokeswoman Elizabeth Crosta, the lowest available rate on a new American Express card is currently 12.99 percent. The national average APR for low interest cards, by contrast, is 11.62 percent.
Annual fees are also going up on some cards, such as the issuers' Gold line, making owning a premium American Express card even pricier.
That said, the pressure on American Express to attract new cardholders could mean that rewards will get better -- at least in the near future -- rather than worse, according to financial services firm Credit Suisse.
In just the past month, American Express announced it will soon offer double the rewards on restaurant purchases and better travel perks for American Gold cardholders, including a $100 travel credit for incidental airline expenses. It also announced last week an innovative loyalty program that allows participants to earn points even when they use a different payment method, such as cash or debit.
And even though American Express' reputation has taken a hit in recent months, it still earns enough high marks from satisfied customers that applying for an American Express card doesn't feel like much of a risk.
I haven't decided yet whether or not I'll apply for a card myself. It's still too early to tell how recent events will influence American Express' offers, so I may just wait a little while and see what comes in the mail.
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