If you have bad or poor credits and want to reestablish your credit, there are many special cards designed just for you. No one wants to have bad credit. Due to the shrinking economy, many people lost jobs, foreclosed their house, and default their credit card payment. Those are have a credit score or 600 or lower are considered bad or poor credit. And in recently years, financial institutions are tightening their underwriting standard to reduce the risk of default. So fewer people are being approved for credit card applications today.
So can I still apply for a credit card if you have bad credit? If you know you have a major blemish on you credit score you should not consider applying for any Diamond or Platinum credit cards that requires excellent credit. I know these cards offer perks like 0% intro APR and up to 5% cash back. But you will have 0% chance of getting it approved. Instead, since your credit history is poor, you should apply for a secured credit card. These cards don’t offer reward points or cash back, neither do they give you a credit line without your making a deposit first. Usually the credit line is the same as or a few hundred dollars higher than the amount you deposit. The credit is not an issue anymore since the card issuers can take the money from you deposit in case you don’t pay the balance due.
In addition to deposit to secure the credit line, you will have to pay a higher interest rate than that of regular credit cards. But if you are determined to get your credit back to good standing, apply for one of those credit cards and always make the minimum monthly payment, or even better – pay off the balance every month. Your credit lender will be willing to low the interest rate. And it will become easier for you to borrow more money and apply for a mortgage later.


Some card issuers offer $25 cash back when you sign up and make your first purchase within 3 month. Although that’s not a huge amount compared to $100 to $200 cash back you will earn on cards that require excellent credit, this can pay for some of your school supplies (or party supplies depending on how you use it). Just charge everything from meal, books, and computers. Just be careful that your credit line can really limit your purchase. If you do need to buy more stuff, call the credit card company and request a credit increase. They are usually generous enough to bump up the credit line to $1000 – good for 2 iPads or a couple of iPhones for now. To help to encourage you to pay your bill on time, some card issuers like Capital One offers 25% bonus on cash back you already earn each month.
One question many students ask – when should I cancel my college student credit card? You don’t. It’s really the same credit card as others. They are just made for students when you are still in school. Once you graduate – somehow the card issuers know or predict based on your original application, they will send you an upgraded card that offer even more benefits and certainly a higher credit line based on your income. There is nothing you need to do unless you have a particular you really like to upgrade to.
If you own a business – it doesn’t matter how small it is and how many employees you have, you should always apply for a business credit card. What if I only have myself working in the company? Isn’t my personal credit card good enough since it has high credit line? You should always separate your personal and business credit cards, just like personal expenses and business related expenses. Messing two types of expenses together could create potential tax and money management problems.
What do you need to know when applying for a credit card online? How do you know you are getting the best deals overall? Credit card companies these days offer tons of incentives when you sign up for a new credit card. From free pens, t-shirts, to free cash deposited directly to your checking account. What make them so eager to offer you all these freebies and cash rewards?
If you are searching for cash back credit cards and haven’t sign up with Discovercard.com, you are missing the best cash back credit card deals ever. Every now and then, Discovercard offers up to 5% cash back on almost everything you buy in a period. Especially during holiday season, the offers extend to even more items. Every Discover cash back bonus cards give you 0% intro rate for purchase or balance transfer, you don’t need to full off the entire balance until a year later.