This year's credit card reform laws will deliver consumers long-overdue protections from dubious industry practices. But don't breathe a sigh of relief just yet. The credit card companies, already reeling from a year of record losses, will find new … [Read more...]

I can't imagine life without a checking account. But millions of Americans don't use direct deposit, write checks, or use a debit card. Some because they'd prefer not to. And some because they can't. For those that can't have a checking account, … [Read more...]

I am absolutely fascinated by the role of credit cards in today’s recession, the new credit card laws, and how both will transform the role of credit in our lives. As somebody who got way over his head by using credit cards irresponsibly in my … [Read more...]

I received a comment the other day on an old post (Have You Said "No, Thank You" To Credit Cards?) that I think everybody should read. Despite this reader's best intentions to avoid credit (and essentially boycott the credit card industry), he's now … [Read more...]

It seems like a crazy question given so many rewards credit cards have gone to no annual fee. But two credit cards--including one very new credit card---ask prospective members to shell out over $400 a year to carry them. So I ask, do those annual … [Read more...]

The Senate voted today, 90-5, in favor of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009---an effort to crack down on dubious credit card industry practices that make it easy to charge consumers outrageous interest … [Read more...]