Credit Card Solution

Where Should I Get a Visa Credit Card?

There are dozens if not hundreds of choices for where you can get a Visa credit card. For many people, the best place to start is at a local bank or credit union. You would be surprised how favorable some of the terms are on Visa credit cards issued by small, "hometown" banks and credit unions. If you have decent credit, you can often get a cash back rewards card with an APR of less than 10%.

If your bank offers such a card, that is a great place to start when applying. If you do not have an account with a bank that offers good terms for a Visa, it may be worth setting up a basic checking account in order to take advantage of the good credit card terms.

If you have shopped for a Visa credit card locally and have not found a deal that appeals to you, then don't give up. With internet access, you have access to many, many card issuers across the country. There are even websites that will help you compare Visa credit cards based on your needs, your credit history, and whether you're interested in low interest rates, low or no fees, or participation in an airline mileage program or a cash back program.

For example, the site creditcards.com has a page for Visa cards where you can compare several different "brands" of Visa on factors like introductory APR, regular APR, balance transfer incentives, card perks, and annual fees. You will need to look over each one to find the one that has the best features for you. When you do this, you should read the fine print and try your best to understand it.

Sometimes there are clauses in fine print saying that they can raise the interest rates or annual fees at any time or for no reason. The fine print almost always contains the information that benefits the card issuer and not you, so you have to give it some attention. Here you'll find information on things like the grace period during which you can pay your bill without incurring interest, and the charges you'll be assessed if you pay late.

Once you settle on a Visa credit card, whether at your local "bricks and mortar" bank or a bank you only access online, make sure you keep a record of your card agreement. This will make it easier for you to make comparisons if your card issuer decides to change the terms of your agreement. That way you'll know whether or not it's time to go with a new card issuer instead.