February will likely mark an important turning point in the balance transfer credit card market. Although average balance transfer fees declined sharply from 3.25% to 2.95% this month, average balance transfer durations took a downward turn as well. The latter change seems to indicate that credit card companies may no longer feel comfortable offering 0% interest rates for extraordinarily long periods of time, an issue that may lead to a return to the basic, twelve month balance transfer offers that were common prior to 2011.
A handful of Citi balance transfer offers, which had carried 21 month introductory periods on purchases and balance transfers, were reduced to 18 months in February. While this is only a 15% decrease, the probability of 21 month balance transfer offers returning in the near future is quite low.
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The Hills Bank and Trust Company Visa Gold credit card was once the premier card offered by this Iowa community bank. It has since been replaced by the Visa Platinum Rewards card.
Online credit cards are just a click away with the box at the bottom of the page!
HBTC Visa Gold Replacement Card
While the Hills Bank and Trust Company, or HBTC, Visa Gold is no longer being offered to new applicants, those who already had one in their wallets before the switch may still continue using the card. New cardholders will receive the HBTC Visa Platinum Rewards card.
The HBTC Visa Platinum Rewards card has a $15 credit card annual fee. The APR ranges from 10.25% to 14.25%.
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A short guide to some of the main issues around the government’s plan to ban all excessive surcharges on debit and credit card transactions. 560 315 TelegraphPlayer_8974974
By Andy Bloxham
10:14AM GMT 23 Dec 2011
What’s the problem?
Consumers increasingly face high fees – known as surcharges – when purchasing goods and services when paying by credit and debit cards.
Low-cost airlines are among the worst offenders, with some charging a fee per passenger, per leg of the journey, despite the fact that they only have to process one transaction.
What’s changing?
As consumer credit is becoming a much more complex subject, it is very important for consumers of today to realize that there is little margin for error when it comes to applying for a new credit card. The mistakes you may have made in the past should have taught you a lesson now that credit is much harder to get.
Unfortunately there are still those who continue to make the same costly mistakes when it comes to acquiring a new credit card. Here is a reminder list of what not to do when applying for or using a credit card:
Check Your Credit Score First
Before you even submit an application for a new credit card, you need to know where you stand credit score-wise. Without having a good credit background, it can prove difficult for you to get approval for a credit card. If you have to keep applying with different providers for new credit cards, you are further harming your credit score with too many inquiries.
Find the Right Card
With so many credit cards on the market, it can be difficult to narrow down your choices.
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Starting next week, holders of Bank of America credit cards could be charged with penalty rates up to 29.9%, if they make a late payment.
Related
The bank began letting its customers know about the change in April. It said that beginning June 25, one tardy payment may lead to the higher penalizing interest rates. Although a higher rate is not automatic following a late payment, the bank said that a late payment will lead to an account review, which could in turn bring about a rate hike based upon the consumer’s payment history.
Once the decision has been made to raise the rate, the customer will be given a 45-day in advance notification. Then, only new purchases will be subject to the new rate. I
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