Apply for a Credit Card

When you're ready to fill out a credit card application, you first need to decide which card you want. One of the best ways to weight one against the other is to research them online. Most, if not all, will allow you fill out an application online. But even if you only want to research the subject, you can look at the language and terms of the application on the Internet before committing.

* This online application is subject to the terms and conditions as described in the Important Information Section of the application.
*See the online credit card application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the “Apply Here" button, you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the cooresponding card issuer’s website.

Credit cards are becoming more of a necessity in the high-tech 21st century. More often we are seeing things limited to credit card payments. This can be frustrating if you do not have one, and somewhat empowering when you do. Having one not only makes paying for things easier, but it gives people a sense of security, as it is a good back-up plan if you have an emergency to take care of.

Before you do commit to one, be sure you read all the fine print. And make sure you know what all the language means. You're likely to run into a bunch of terms that you might not understand. Here's an explanation of some of them:

1. "Annual Fee" - Refers to a yearly flat charge somewhat like a membership fee. A lot of cards today are offering "no annual fee" credit cards to get your business.
    
2. "Grace Period" - Signifies a period of time (most often around 25 days) in which you can pay your card bill without being penalized with a finance charge.
    
3. "Annual Percentage Rate, or APR" - Refers to a yearly percentage of your finance charge.
    
4. "Fixed Rate" - Indicates the fixed annual percent of the finance charge.
    
5. "Variable Rate" - Refers to the prime rate plus an additional percentage (Example: A rate could be the prime rate plus 4.9 percent).
    
6. "Introductory Rate" - Refers to an APR that is lower than a typical rate, but which lasts for only about the first six months after the person has received credit. After that, it converts to the normal fixed rate.