Loan and Equity Help

Before you click an ‘apply now’ link to apply for a new credit card then it pays to spend a short while considering what is the best product for you.

1: Find the best credit card

There are lots of credit cards out there and they all probably claim to be the best. The trick is to find the best credit card for you. The best credit card will depend on how you will use it.The perfect card really does depend on your situation; for example, if it’s a backup card then a no annual fee card could be good, those with credit card debts may seek a card with a good balance transfer offer andd low ongoing APR, high flyers might want a Gold or Platinum card with extra touches while those who always pay bills in full each month may choose a rewards credit card. As you can see, the best credit card for you depends on your situation.

2: Understand the credit card offer

Once you have figured out the type of credit card may be best suited to then you need to compare credit cards from the same category. Look for the following main features:

Purchase APR: This is the annual interest rate that you will pay on purchases made on the card. When you don’t pay your bills each month and get charged interest the lower the credit card apr the lower your interest costs will be.

Balance Transfer APR: This the credit card APR charged for balances transferred from other credit cards or store cards. Offers such as zero percent for six or twelve months are common. However, look out for transfer fees and consider what interest rates might apply if you don’t pay off the balance during the introductory period.

Annual Fee: Some credit cards charge an annual fee or have a fee that is waived in the initial year or two but will kick in down the track. This makes the card more costly to use. Premium cards may offer privilages and rewards but are often coupled with high annual fees; do the math and make sure the benefits will be greater than any costs.

Interest Free / Grace Days: Most cards offer a certain number of days between a purchase being made and interest kicking in. The result is that if you pay your bill in full each month then you never incur any interest charges. If a card does not have a grace period then interest will be charged from the day a purchase is made. When you open your credit card statement you may find that items you purchased have up to a months interest already owing. Seek out cards with a long grace period, up to fifty five days is good and cards with no grace period should be avoided.

Rewards: Rewards come in different shapes and sizes. Try to work out the rough value of rewards per dollar spent and look to see the rewards are useful to you. You may also want to check if there are limits such as the amount of reward points or cash back you can earn in a month.

3: Have the right information ready

Applying for a credit card online is probably the quickest and easiest way to apply. It also leads to faster approval times which may be instant if the information provided is sufficient for approval and your credit score meets the criteria.

Before you apply online then make sure you have the required information to hand such as:

Personal details: You’ll need to provide personal details such as contact details including your residential address for past few years. You may need addresses for the past three to five years so if you’ve moved about then have those details ready.

Employment details: You will need to provide details of your employment status, wage and contact details for your employer. Probably best to provide an HR contact so they can verify employment and pay if required.

Identification: You may need details such as your driver’s license or social security number to hand a verification method

Balance Transfer Details: If you are doing a balance transfer then you will need details including the card number, issuer and balance of any credit cards or store cards you wish to have the balances transferred for.

Finance and Loan details: Depending on the lender they make ask for details of the other credit cards and personal loans you hold. Normally your will be asked for the card issuer, current card balance and the credit limit.

Every credit card issuer asks slightly different questions but covering these basics should ensure your application for a credit card goes as smoothly as possible. For more information on credit card features such as credit card rewards details online.

This article is by Richard Greenwood from Singapore credit card comparison site creditcardapr.com.sg