Credit Basics

Get to know credit cards with these 10 credit terms:

1. Annual Fee – The once-a-year cost of owning a credit card. Some credit card providers offer cards with no annual fees.


2. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) – The yearly interest rate charged on outstanding credit card balances.


3. Balance – An amount of money. In personal banking, balance refers to the amount of money in a savings or checking account. In credit, balance refers to the amount of money owed.


4. Cash Advance – You may get a Cash Advance by using a Card at an ATM, by issuing a convenience check against your account, or by using your Account to purchase cash equivalent items, such as, but not limited to, traveler’s checks, wire transfers, money orders, gift cards, stored value cards, overdraft advances and crypto currency. Cash advances are subject to the cash advance APR and cash advance fee. Excessive use of the Cash Advance feature of your credit card may be considered risky behavior by creditors. This type of behavior may impact your ability to obtain future credit line increases and/or or may adversely impact the your account during future account level reviews by your creditor.


5. Credit Bureau – A reporting agency that collects information on consumer credit usage. There are currently three main credit bureaus in the United States: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Learn more about credit bureaus at usa.gov.


6. Credit Line – The maximum dollar amount that can be charged on a specific credit card account.


7. Credit Rating – A financial institution's evaluation of an individual's ability to manage debt. It’s crucial to have a good credit rating if you want to borrow money or apply for a credit card or loan. Learn how to maintain a strong credit score.


8. Grace Period – The period of time after a payment deadline when the borrower can pay back the borrowed money without incurring interest or a late fee.


9. Introductory Rate – An interest rate offered by credit card issuers in the initial stages of a loan. These rates are often set much lower than standard rates in order to attract new cardholders. Make sure you know how long the introductory rate will last and what the standard interest rate will be once the introductory period ends.


10. Minimum Payment – The minimum amount of money that you are required to pay on your credit card statement each month in order to keep the account in good standing. If the minimum payment is not made each month, on or before your due date, late charges may be applied. Additionally, not making the minimum payment timely each month may negatively impact your ability to obtain future credit line increases and/or may adversely impact your account level reviews by your creditor. If your credit card is reported as late to the credit reporting agencies, other creditors you may apply for credit to, will be made aware of the late payment history.


11. Overdraft Protection – A banking service that allows you to link your checking account to your credit card, thereby protecting you from overdraft penalties or bounced checks in the case of insufficient funds.

Pros and Cons of Credit
To make the most of your credit cards and maintain a great credit score, it’s essential to understand their pros and cons. Maximize the benefits and minimize unnecessary costs by learning about the advantages and disadvantages of credit.

Advantages

• Instant Purchasing Power – Credit can help with unexpected emergency expenses and give you the flexibility to pay them over time.
• Security – Lose cash, and it's gone. Lose a credit card, and it can be canceled with no harm done in most circumstances. Also, you need to be prompt about reporting a lost or stolen card to be protected against its unauthorized use.
• Record Keeping – Your credit card statement is an itemized list of your monthly expenditures, which can be helpful when it comes to budgeting.
• Convenience – Credit cards are more widely accepted as a form of payment than checks, and they're generally faster to use.
• Bill Consolidation – Bills can be paid automatically via credit card, consolidating several payments into a single sum.
• Rewards – Using a credit card with a rewards program may earn you benefits like free travel.

Disadvantages
The main disadvantage to credit card usage is the potential cost in interest and fees. Wise use of credit means understanding those costs and acting accordingly. Keep track of your spending to ensure that you can repay your credit card bill in full when it is due each month.

The True Cost of Credit Card Purchases
If you don't pay off your credit card balance every month, the interest assessed on your account means you may be paying more than you expect. And if you spend beyond your means, the resulting interest and debt can become significant.

See how much extra you might pay on a $1,000 credit card purchase with varying interest rates: