Credit cards - interest rates - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, Dec, 2000 by Joan Goldwasser

Card issuers want you to feel secure shopping online

Credit card issuers want to assuage your worries this holiday season about buying online. Earlier this year, both Visa and MasterCard expanded their zero-liability policies. If someone steals your number--in the virtual or the real world--you won't have to pay any unauthorized charges.

American Express's new Private Payments technology attacks hackers by assigning a different number to each online purchase. Cardholders get their randomly generated numbers at the Amex Web site.

Whatever card you use online, you'll get added protection from identity theft if the site encrypts the order information. The tipoff: The address protocol will change to "https" or "s-http" before you provide your account information.

Low-interest premium cards Best if you carry a balance

                             RECENT             CASH-ADVANCE
ISSUER                       RATE(*)            RATE/FEE(c)

Pulaski Bank & Trust (G)      8.75%              8.75%/none
Simmons First National (P)    9.95               9.95/none
USAA Savings Bank (G, P)     10.5               10.5/none

No-fee premium cards Best if you usually pay the
balance each month

                             RECENT             CASH-ADVANCE
ISSUER                       RATE(*)            RATE/FEE(c)

Capital One (G,P)             9.9%              19.8%/2.5%
Wachovia (G)                 10.9               19.99/4
AFBA Industrial (P)          11.5               15.9/2

Rebate cards Best of the retail cards

                             RECENT             CASH-ADVANCE
ISSUER                       RATE(*)            RATE/FEE(c)

Kroger Visa                  21.53%([dagger])   21.53%([dagger])/3%
Bloomingdale's Prem Visa     20.4               20.4/3
Macy's Premier Visa          20.4               20.4/3

Low-interest premium cards Best if you carry a balance

                                 ANNUAL              LATE/
ISSUER                            FEE              OVER LIMIT

Pulaski Bank & Trust (G)           50               $20/$20
Simmons First National (P)         50                20/none
USAA Savings Bank (G, P)           45                20/none

No-fee premium cards Best if you usually pay the
balance each month

                                 ANNUAL              LATE/
ISSUER                            FEE              OVER LIMIT

Capital One (G,P)               25 days             $29/$29
Wachovia (G)                    20 days              29/29
AFBA Industrial (P)             25 days              15/none

Rebate cards Best of the retail cards

                                 ANNUAL              LATE/
ISSUER                            FEE              OVER LIMIT

Kroger Visa                  none([dagger])           2%/1%
                               ([dagger])
Bloomingdale's Prem Visa          none        3/1([double dagger])
Macy's Premier Visa               none        3/1([double dagger])

Low-interest premium cards Best if you carry a balance

                              TELEPHONE
ISSUER                          NUMBER

Pulaski Bank & Trust (G)     800-980-2265
Simmons First National (P)   800-636-5151
USAA Savings Bank (G, P)     800-922-9092

No-fee premium cards Best if you usually pay the
balance each month

                              TELEPHONE
ISSUER                          NUMBER

Capital One (G,P)            800-822-3397
Wachovia (G)                 800-842-3262
AFBA Industrial (P)          800-176-2265

Rebate cards Best of the retail cards

                              TELEPHONE
ISSUER                          NUMBER

Kroger Visa                  877-257-6437
Bloomingdale's Prem Visa     800-670-9840
Macy's Premier Visa          800-922-7028

(*) As of Oct. 6; rates are adjustable, often tied to the prime rate.

(c) Cash advances often have no grace period; additional fees may be charged.

(G) gold card

(P) platinum card

([dagger]) may be lower, depending on credit history

([dagger])([dagger]) if used three times a year

([double dagger]) to earn rewards, must spend $1,000 annually; expire after six months

SOURCE FOR LOAN RATES AND CREDIT CARDS: Bankrate.com, N. Palm Beach, Fla.