It won’t be long until you are hitting the stores in search of the perfect Christmas gifts for friends and family. With offers of an additional 15% off your purchase or free merchandise, it’s tempting to apply for credit cards from your favorite retail stores. Think twice, however, before signing up. If you don’t pay the bill in full at the end of each month, you could end up paying much more than you originally would have saved.
That’s because interest rates on retail cards average about ten percentage points higher than credit union credit cards. Store cards usually offer special incentives for cardholders to increase loyalty and encourage them to spend more. The average household has about 2.5 store-issued credit cards. If you plan to buy a car or house in the near future, it can hurt your chances to get a loan at a favorable rate if you have many recently opened lines of credit. It’s usually better to have one major credit card that you can use for all items you wish to charge.
Coosa Valley Credit Union offers credit cards at great rates, and choosing the right credit card is easier than ever. Whether you want to pay down balances faster, maximize cash back, earn rewards or begin building your credit history, we have the ideal card for you!
