Rack Up Credit Card Rewards and Win!

THE CREDIT CARD REWARDS CARD G AME Rack Up Rewards & Cash In to Win! There are 199.8 million credit card holders in the U.S., 60% of whom own rewards credit cards. But are they getting the most out of their credit cards? What happens if they don't redeem cash rewards? Some studies show that consumers fail to collect about one-third of their loyalty rewards. Having a rewards credit card can be very beneficial if you know how to play the game and win. So let's get ready to play, rack up those rewards, and cash in. Requirements to Play: ADULTS WITH GOOD TO EXCELLENT CREDIT ESTABLISHED You typically need an average FICO credit score of 670 or above to be approved. KNOW THE RULES It's easy to focus on the big rewards highlighted in the ads and ignore the rules that spell out how you earn them and how you lose them. SIGN-UP BONUSES LIMITS TERMS CAN CHANGE SPENDING TIERS Some offers kick in after the With some rewards credit You need to check the You may need to spend a first purchase, while others cards, you can only claim monthly bill inserts for require cardholders to certain amount within a so many points each changes to the credit reach a minimum spending specific time period to get calendar year, while others card's rewards program. threshold within a certain that highly touted big bonus. allow you to earn unlimited amount of time. rewards. KEEP IN MIND REGISTRATION MAY BE REQUIRED Rewards credit cards ANNUAL FEES PENALTIES typically have higher Make sure that the value You may need to sign up for Miss a payment and you interest rates than of the rewards you earn bonuses first. Forget to opt- may lose that month's comparable non-rewards exceed the amount you are in and you could miss out. reward, but there may be a and may have an card charged yearly for using fee to reinstate them. annual fee. the card. 92 TYPES OF REWARDS CARDS: It's important to know what you spend the most money on and choose a card that will reward you for making those purchases. $ CASH BACK O TRAVEL * AIR MILES 123 POINTS REWARDS SPECIAL Earn 1-6% of your REWARDS Rewards tracked as Merchant-specific INTEREST Earn points for credit card purchases. These rewards programs. money back on points that you can Rewards tracked as CARDS purchases made with cash in for airline points can then be These programs offer points that you can tickets. If you are S Business your cash back credit card that can be used redeemed for items you money back when cash in to cover hotel a frequent traveler, Military including merchandise, you shop with certain gift cards or cash back, merchants, while some also offer discounts on fees, cruises, airfare, on new purchases. and more. look for an air miles Charity rewards card that has and can sometimes be a bonus program that transferred to airline future purchases. miles or hotel points. offers double points for purchases or large blocks of points for fulfilling certain requirements. & MAXIMIZE REWARDS Keep track of • rewards. • CASH IN Increase your odds of winning by maximizing your rewards and taking Don't let full advantage of what your card rewards has to offer Don't expire. cash in too soon. • Statement Credits • Cash Back • Redeem for Previous Purchase Buy more points to top off. • Airline Miles • Gift Cards • Merchandise • Transfer to a Rewards Program • Donate or Give Away Points Use points to cover or Miles chigh-ticket items. CompareCards.com 1 According to StatisticBrain. 2 According to a 2011 study by Colloquy. 3 Adapted from The Motley Fool. Compare. Pick. Save.