for 2011. Credit cards were divided into six categories:
.
Some categories include more then one card. In this case CBS MoneyWatch picked out a leader,
the card with features or services the best for the category. Other cards are considered as good alternatives.
Please note that we added some cards as alternatives to the best cards chosen by CBS MoneyWatch. As we think, these cards
are very similar to the selected cards or in some cases they may offer some additional rewards. We marked our
alternatives as '(our choice)'.
| Best Overall Cards |
Chase Freedom® Visa review
 |
0% for 6 mos.
after
11.99% V* |
0% for 12 mos. |
$0 |
Earn $100 Bonus Cash Back after you make $500 in purchases in your first 3 months;
5% Cash Back on up to $1,500 spent at grocery stores and movie theaters from 4/1/12 - 6/30/12
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Chase Freedom® MasterCard
 |
0% for 6 mos.
after
11.99% V* |
0% for 12 mos. |
$0 |
Earn $100 Bonus Cash Back after you make $500 in purchases in your first 3 months;
5% Cash Back on up to $1,500 spent at grocery stores and movie theaters from 4/1/12 - 6/30/12
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PenFed VISA Platinum Gas/Cash Rewards Card
 |
13.99% V* |
4.99% for 24 months* |
$0 |
Earn 5.00% cash back from gas purchases paid at the pump*;
Earn 1.00% cash back from all purchases** you make with the card during each billing cycle; Up to $50,000 limit;
No special restrictions to earn your cash rewards
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| Best Low Rate Cards |
First Tennessee Platinum Premier Visa
|
3.90% for 6 mos.
after 5.15%-13.15% V* |
3.90% for 6 mos. |
$0 |
Credit lines starting at $5,000; Low minimum payments of 2.5% of total balance;
24-day average interest-free grace period for repayment of purchase balance (no grace period for cash advances);
Link to checking for overdraft protection.
|
Apply |
| Alternatives to low rate cards |
Simmons First Visa® Platinum
 |
7.25% Variable |
7.25% Variable |
$0 |
Excellent Credit Required - Applicants that do not have excellent credit will not be approved;
Low 7.25% variable standard purchase APR and platinum benefits;
No balance transfer fee for balances transferred in response to this online offer
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IberiaBank Visa® Classic Card
 |
1.99% APR for 6 mos.
after
7.25%, 10.25%, 13.25%* |
1.99% APR for 6 mos. |
$0 |
Low variable rate of 7.25%, 10.25%, or 13.25% (Prime + 4.00%, Prime + 7.00%, or Prime + 10.00%) as of 4/1/10 based on the creditworthiness. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. (If there is an interest charge, the charge will be no less than $1.00).
Online Access to Credit Card Account Information
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| Best Balance Transfer Cards |
Discover® More Card
 |
0% for 12 mos.
after 11.99%-20.99% V* |
0% for 12 mos.
after 11.99%-20.99% V* |
$0 |
Rotating cash back reward categories |
|
| Alternatives to the best balance transfer cards (our choice) |
Discover® More Card - 18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer review
 |
0% for 6 mos.
after
10.99%-20.99% V* |
0% for 18 mos. |
$0 |
0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*;
0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*;
5% Cashback Bonus® in categories that change like gas, restaurants, department stores and more. Limitations apply*;
Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--15 years in a row! (2011 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report);
24/7 access to a U.S. based Account Manager within 60 seconds;
$0 Fraud Liability plus automatic mobile and email fraud alerts;
Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee;
*Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information.
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| Best Cash Back Rewards Cards |
Fidelity Investment Rewards American Express
 |
13.99% V* |
0% for 7
Statement
Closing
Dates |
$0 |
Earn 2% back for every purchase, right into any of your eligible Fidelity accounts;
Earn 2 points for every dollar in net retail purchases charged to the Card.
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| Alternatives to the best cash back rewards cards (our choice) |
Chase Freedom® Visa - $200 Bonus Cash Back
|
15.99%-22.99% V* |
15.99%-22.99% V* |
$0 |
Earn $200 Bonus Cash Back after you make $500 in purchases in your first 3 months
5% Cash Back on up to $1,500 spent at grocery stores and movie theaters from 4/1/12 - 6/30/12
|
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| Best Airline Miles Reward Cards |
The Capital One Venture Rewards
|
11.9%–19.9% V* |
11.9%–19.9% V* |
$0 for the 1st year
$59 after that |
2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
Earn 10,000 bonus miles, equal to $100 in travel
|
|
| Alternatives to the best airline miles reward cards (our choice) |
Miles by Discover® Card
 |
0% for 6 mos.
after
10.99%-16.99% V* |
0% for 6 mos. |
$0 |
Earn up to $120 in travel rewards--1,000 Bonus miles every month you make a purchase for the first year;
1 Mile on every $1 you spend - Plus flexible redemption options like travel credits, merchandise, gift cards or cash;
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 16.99%*;
No restrictions on travel--fly on any airline, book any hotel or car, with no blackout dates;
Travel benefits include secondary collision damage insurance when you rent a car with your Miles by Discover card;
Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--15 years in a row! (2011 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report);
Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee;
*Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information.
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| Best Cards to Help Manage your Money (All Chase credit cards with Blueprint program are included in this category) |
Chase SapphireSM
 |
15.24% Variable* |
15.24% Variable* |
$0 |
Limited Time Offer! - Earn 25,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months - that's $250 toward a flight or any other reward!;
2 points per dollar spent on dining & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
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Slate® from Chase - No Balance Transfer Fee
 |
0% for up to 12 mos.
after
11.99%-21.99% V* |
0% for up to 12 mos. |
$0 |
LIMITED TIME: No Balance Transfer Fee!*;
Transfer your higher rate balances during the first 30 days your account is open and you will pay no balance transfer fee! After that, the balance transfer fee is 3% of the amount transferred with a minimum of $5
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