Chase Freedom® Visa - $100 Bonus Cash Back + 0% Intro APR

Bottom line: Excellent combination of cash back rewards and 0% intro APR; $100 bonus opportunity
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Bottom line: Citi's 18-month 0% intro purchase and balance transfer APR period is the longest of any card; post-intro APR is also low
Chase Freedom® Visa - $200 Bonus Cash Back

Bottom line: Our top choice for cash back rewards with $200 bonus opportunity and 1-5% back on purchases
Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Plus Card from Chase

Bottom line: Top travel rewards program contender with a value of $0.017 per point for flights, free flight with first purchase, excellent choice for frequent Southwest fliers
Escape by Discover® Card

Bottom line: Strong travel rewards card; 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases; earn up to 25,000 bonus miles in 25 months
Citi Simplicity® Card

Bottom line: Citi's 18-month 0% intro purchase and balance transfer APR period is the longest of any card, no late fees
Blue Cash Everyday<sup><small>SM</small></sup> from American Express

Bottom line: Up to 3% cash back on everyday spending; $100 cash back bonus; unlimited cash back; 0% intro APR
Citi® Platinum Select® Visa®

Bottom line: Citi's 18-month 0% intro purchase and balance transfer APR period is the longest of any card; post-intro APR is also low
Discover® More Card - No Balance Transfer Fee

Bottom line: Best card for balance transfers; No balance transfer fee, 12-month 0% intro APR on purchases & balance transfers, up to 5% cash back.

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Beware of new credit card fees

July 6th, 2009 - Posted by Caitlin

An article in today's Wall Street Journal warns consumers to beware of unexpected credit card fees. In the current economic climate, it's no surprise that banks and credit card companies are looking for any excuse to earn an extra few dollars here and there. A CEO of a bank-card advisory firm is quoted saying, "The fee income is becoming increasingly more important as interest income is falling as a percent of total revenues." Late fees, loan origination, over-the-limit, and overdraft charges are becoming more essential sources of income for the banking industry.

So now, more than ever, it's crucial to read your credit card terms carefully and check your statements. Most fees are avoidable, so long as you're attentive to rules and deadlines and practice fiscal responsibility. And when opening a new checking account or applying for a credit card, take the various fees into account when deciding which one is right for you.

To learn more about credit cards and compare terms and rewards, see our reviews and comparison charts.

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