Credit card news and articles

St George credit cards annual fees changing on September 1st

Quick note: The annual fees for the Vertigo MasterCard and the Starts Low Stays Low Card will change as of the 1st of September.

Bankwest Lite credit card

The credit card market today offers the most diverse range of products ever seen in terms of flexibility, diversity of reward programs and other perks and benefits. However, the common feature is still the same – customers who cannot pay their balance in full at the end of the month are penalised heavily.

St George Vertigo MasterCard review

Here at Rate Detective, we have decided to take the time to review one of the most talked about credit cards on the market.

Features of the St George Vertigo MasterCard:

Australian's stung by credit card fees

In a sign of increasingly hard times, over half of Australians have admitted to using their credit cards to get them between pays, a survey reveals. But plastic users are being stung with fees and charges and they aren't happy about it.

Westpac Holden MasterCard

The Westpac Holden MasterCard is another ‘novelty product' on the market, this time from one of Australia's ‘Big 4' banks. As the name suggests, the card is aimed at Holden drivers, providing them with the opportunity to save up to $3,000 on the purchase of a new car.

So just what do Westpac customers get? Well, according to their website, the key features are...

BP Citigroup Mastercard

With the crude oil price reaching new records and petrol prices rising by the week, a lot of consumers will do anything to save money on petrol. Coles Group Source Mastercard is an option – but what if you don’t shop at Coles?

Qantas American Express Ultimate Card

The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card is another ‘premium product’ from the ever expanding international finance company which bases its trademark on imagery from the Roman Empire, in conjunction with the world famous flying kangaroo.

Bopo Prepaid Visa Card

Interested in the benefits and cost savings of online purchases but feel uneasy using your standard credit card? Well, the Bopo Prepaid Visa Card is a card that you can load with value and use like any other Visa card, at home, overseas or online!

Amex Blue Sky Credit card

The American Express Blue Sky Credit Card is the new ‘frequent flyers product’ from the ever expanding international finance company which bases its trademark on imagery from the Roman Empire. Read more...

Coles Group Source Mastercard

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American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card is the new ‘premium product’ from the ever expanding international finance company which bases its trademark on imagery from the Roman Empire. Read more...

Get ready for Sunday banking at the Commonwealth Bank

From the 14th of October, some of the Commonwealth Bank’s biggest branches will be opening their doors on a Sunday for the first time.

Credit Card surcharges are becoming more popular

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Woolworths to Enter Credit Card Market

Australia’s largest supermarket retailer Woolworths, recently revealed plans to release a store-branded credit card in 2008, while announcing future intentions to offer a broader range of financial services, including home and car insurance, as well as personal loans.

Credit Card spending down for June 2007

Recent figures released by the RBA about Australia’s private debt levels for June 2007 suggest that Australians are slowing their credit card spending, when compared to similar periods in recent years. While total Australian credit card debt was up $508 million from May 2007, the rate at which the national credit debt is increasing has begun too slow.

What is the best credit card for you?

Credit cards are a wonderful example of modern financial engineering. They provide convenience, security and access to immediate funds that you may not actually have sitting in an account somewhere.

In return for these benefits, you pay interest, fees and charges to a financial institution. The trick therefore is to get everything you need in a card, and pay as little as possible in return.

The Psychology of Credit: Paying off card debt

As we mentioned in our article on fees and charges, while we can expect to pay something to access credit, there’s no sense in paying more than you have to. The same applies to credit card interest.

Travelling on your Credit Card

So, heading off overseas and plan to use that Credit Card for the majority of your purchases? Here are a few things you might want to keep in mind before you whip out the plastic and begin spending…

Debt consolidation – all you need to know!

In this day and age, it’s easy to have various forms of debt. Some of us will have home loans, credit card debts and personal loans. Some even have multiple loans in each of these categories! With this in mind, it’s important to understand the idea behind debt consolidation and how it can benefit you.