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February 24, 2009

HSBC Bank Nevada NA Credit Card Issuer

Filed under: Articles — Tags: , , — credit_expert @ 9:54 am

hsbc-bank-company-profileHSBC Bank Nevada NA is a branch of the HSBC Finance Corporation. The HSBC Bank Nevada NA is a corporation that provides credit cards to people, and HSBC Finance Corporation is a company that offers financial services to people. Therefore, the HSBC Bank Nevada NA group is a very important group when it comes to helping people reach their financial goals. It is also quickly becoming one of the richest credit card companies in the world.

Services Provided By HSBC Bank Nevada NA

HSBC Bank Nevada NA provides many services. First, because they are part of the HSBC Finance Corporation, they provide banking services. There are several different HSBC banks that are located throughout the United States. These are found primarily in Nevada and surrounding states, but there are also HSBC Bank Nevada NA banks that are found in other states. At these banks, a person can conduct regular banking business. They can keep their money in checking or savings accounts, withdraw their money, and apply for loans with the HSBC Bank Nevada NA.

In addition to having banks, the HSBC Bank Nevada NA, as part of the HSBC Finance Corporation, provides credit cards to people. This company is actually a very large one, providing credit cards to persons all over the United States. The HSBC group also provides credit cards to people in Canada, the UK, and several other areas. The HSBC Bank Nevada NA Company provides credit cards only to people in the United States.

The HSBC group is the sixth largest issuer of Visa and MasterCard cards in the United States. Therefore, if a person is considering getting a Visa or MasterCard, they might want to think about going through HSBC Bank Nevada NA, or another branch of the HSBC Finance Corporation. The HSBC group is often willing to provide credit to those that some other groups have not. This is part of what makes HSBC so popular and so large.

HSBC Finance is part of what makes it easy for people to get loans. The HSBC bank group, of which HSBC Bank Nevada NA is a part, provides credit and loans to people and often will do so for those that have outstanding bills or other negative marks on their credit. They provide credit cards and bank accounts, but also provide loans. These loans include real estate secured loans, as well as auto finance loans. There are other things that HSBC Bank Nevada NA can do as well.

One of these things is providing credit to people in other ways. With HSBC Bank Nevada NA, one can get an actual credit card that is a Visa or a MasterCard. They can also get a credit card loan, which is slightly different from a regular credit card. With HSBC Bank Nevada NA, a person can also be eligible for private label credit cards, or other types of insurance products that they might need.

Formation

The HSBC Finance Corporation was formed from a group that was once known as Household International. Currently, it is expanding its presence in areas other than the United States, Canada, and the UK. Currently, there are HSBC models beginning in Brazil, India, and Argentina, as well as in other areas.

HSBC began when it acquired Household International, on March 28th, 2003. The actual acquisition itself was controversial because the Household International Company had recently settled a court case regarding incorrect lending methods with attorney generals in 46 states within the United States. This occurred in 2002, and by that time, the CEO, William Aldinger, had become the highest paid CEO in the United Kingdom. However, amid the controversy, Household International Bank was acquired by HSBC Group and merged. At this time, the HSBC group began to develop offshoots. One of these was HSBC Bank Nevada NA, which then provided services to people in and around the Nevada area.

In 2005, the group acquired yet another company – the Metris Companies, Inc, which was a credit card issuer in the United States. This transaction, which cost 2 billion U.S. dollars, was complete in a matter of months. It allowed HBSC to begin authorizing even more people to have credit cards. The business for the HSBC Bank Nevada NA company also increased at this time.

This history is what allows HSBC Bank Nevada NA to provide credit cards and bank loans to many people in the United States. These are usually provided at the same rate as other cards, which makes HSBC Bank Nevada NA one of the biggest sources of competition for credit cards in the United States. Also, due to the clientele that HSBC Bank Nevada NA welcomes, they often have smaller spending limits and greater fees. This allows HSBC Bank Nevada NA to capitalize on the money that comes in.

February 16, 2009

Site Update: CitiBank Platinum Select MasterCard & mtvU Platinum Select Visa

Filed under: News — Tags: , , , , — credit_expert @ 6:29 am

site-updateCitiBank has released a bunch of updates for 2 of their cards today; the Platinum Select MasterCard and the mtvU Platinum Slecect Visa for College Students.

CitiBank update the purchase APR options for the Platinum Select MasterCard which is now as low as 8.74%. Furthermore, there is a new purchase APR tier system; 8.74%, 12.74%, and 16.74%.

Citibank also has some changes to the mtvU Platinum Select Visa for College Students. The new purchase APR is 14.24% and their is no longer a 0% Introductory Offer for cash advances. Here are some other points of interest for this credit card:

  • 0% APR* on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months
  • Earn 5 ThankYou Points® for every dollar you spend at restaurants, bookstores, record stores, movie theaters and video rental stores
  • Earn 1 ThankYou Point for every dollar you spend on all other purchases
  • Earn 25 ThankYou Points every month when you pay on time and don’t go over your credit limit
  • Earn up to 2000 ThankYou Points twice a year for maintaining a good GPA
  • Redeem points for gift cards, travel, electronics, music, and more
  • No Annual Fee

February 13, 2009

The How-To of Secured Credit Cards

Filed under: Articles — Tags: , — credit_expert @ 9:57 am

how-to-secured-credit-cardsMost people have seen secured credit card applications or a secured credit card offer in their mail, and many wonder what these types of cards are all about. Simply put, a secured credit card is a credit card that is obtained by depositing a certain amount of money into a special savings account, and then you receive a credit card with a limit that is equal to that amount. This ensures that if you are too far behind on your credit card payments or default on the card, the money in the savings account is there to cover it. You can get a secured Mastercard credit card, or a secured Visa credit card, depending on your preference.

There are a few different reasons why a person gets a secured credit card. A secured credit card for bad credit is one reason, since those with bad credit can still get a secured card even with a low credit score. Someone who has not built up any credit at all often will start with a secured credit card in order to start building his or her credit score. Even a secured business credit card can be a good idea when someone is just starting his or her own first company, since he or she won’t be able to show a business track record yet.

A secured credit card application looks similar to any other type of credit card application, for the most part. The exception is that it includes a section where you put in information to start a savings account that the credit card company has access to, and you send in a deposit amount with your application. When you apply for a secured credit card, you fill in all the appropriate information, including your income, your social security number, etc. Though the interest rates on secured credit cards do tend to be on the high side, you can still shop around for the best rates, since they can differ. To find the best credit card rate secured, you need to do some research. Though you may find that you receive many secured credit card applications in the mail, a better way to do research on secured credit card rates is on the Internet. By using a reputable search engine, you can do a search for secured credit cards and you will come up with hundreds of results. By looking through these offers, you can narrow down the ones that best fit your needs, such as if you need a business secured credit card, or would prefer a Mastercard secured credit card or a Visa secured credit card. You can also look for the best interest rates; not only on the credit card itself, but the interest rate you can get with the savings account.

The savings account that goes along with your secured credit card will be held jointly between you and the credit card company. There should, however, be a contract in place that says that the credit card company cannot use the money in there unless you fall too far behind on your credit card payments or default on the credit card altogether. In most cases, if you make your payments on time for a certain length of time, such as a year, your credit card may go from secured to unsecured, and the money in your savings account will be returned to you, along with the interest that it accumulated. This is a great incentive for people to make their payments on time. Once you have shown that you can use a secured credit card without defaulting on it, it is much easier to get an unsecured credit card. The best secured credit card offer is one that offers you a good interest rate on card payments, a good interest rate on the savings account, and does not make you wait too long before your card can become unsecured. On the Internet, you should read a secured credit card review for every card that you are interested in. There are plenty of websites where you can find unbiased reviews on secured credit cards, and it is a good idea to find out how well they have worked out for other people.

Once you have found the right secured credit card to apply for, make your deposit, and then receive your credit card, your next step is to use it wisely. A secured credit card can help you build credit, and it can help you repair your credit. Make all of your payments on time, and if at all possible, pay off your entire balance each month. One good tip about using credit cards is that you should try to never use more than 70% of the total limit. One of the things that creditors look for when they view your credit report is how often you “max out” your credit cards. If they see that you are using them wisely and always leaving a buffer amount, it bodes well for you. When you apply for a secured credit card, you are applying for a chance to make your credit look good to future creditors, so always try to keep this in mind.

February 4, 2009

Easy Ways to Protect Yourself from Credit Fraud

Filed under: News — Tags: , — credit_expert @ 8:01 am

easy-ways-to-protect-yourself-from-credit-fraudCredit Cards are a way of life. Every day millions of Americans use their credit cards to make purchases on everyday items like groceries and gas, to big ticket items like televisions, airline tickets and hotel stays. Credit cards also offer the safest way to make a purchase in today’s identity theft world. However, just because credit cards are the safest way, that does not mean they are totally safe.

According the federal trade commission, 25% of all identity theft took place using credit cards in 2006. With over 200 million transactions happening each day across the country, credit card identity theft is at an all time high.

If you are worried about identity theft, don’t be, by following these easy steps you will live an identity theft free life.

  • Zero Liability Policy – Cost = Free. Most zero liability polices state that once a claim, your money be immediately refunded to you. The credit card company will take the claim from there and do it’s own investigation, and not burden you with the fraudulent purchase. It is imperative that you know and understand your credit card companies zero liability policy as not all are the same. If your credit card company does not offer one of these policies, it is time to get a new credit card.
  • Credit Monitoring Service – Cost = $10 – $15/month. Most banks offer credit monitoring services for a small monthly fee. These services regularly monitor reports from various credit history agencies, like Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian, and send out customized alerts when things out of the ordinary take place, like a 20 point jump in your credit score or a purchase outside of your regular pattern.
  • Identity Theft Insurance – Cost = $10 – $15/month. Most banks offer this. Identity Theft Insurance protects you where your zero liability policy does not. This covers most forms of identity theft and is a great safety net in case someone decides to target you.
  • Photo Security – Cost = Free. Perhaps the best way to prevent in person credit card identity theft. While signatures can be forged, it is pretty tough to make a purchase with someone else’s picture on a credit card. Be careful though, as a lot of credit card identity theft occurs online, and physical pictures become obsolete.
  • Temporary Purchase Numbers – Cost = Free. Most banks offer this. A temporary purchase number allows you to make a one time purchase using a bogus number that links back to your credit card account.

Identity theft can be avoided, follow these simple steps and you will greatly reduce your chance of being the next victim.

February 1, 2009

Free Vacations with a Travel Rewards Credit Card

Filed under: Articles — Tags: , — credit_expert @ 10:02 am

free-vacations-travel-rewards-credit-cardIf you enjoy traveling, choosing a travel rewards credit card can help you afford to visit more destinations, more often. Travel rewards available with various credit cards may include not only airfare, but hotels, tickets and more. While clearly a travel rewards credit card will only be financially beneficial if your use of credit is responsible, it can be a great way to make traveling and vacations more easily affordable. There are a number of travel rewards cards on the market, so you should research the options available to select the best credit card for travel rewards. Your personal travel needs can impact the right travel rewards card for you. If you fly often, you may be best served by an airline travel rewards card but a family planning a Disney vacation may want to earn points toward their travel needs.

Visa travel rewards and MasterCard travel rewards are more often associated not with the credit card, but with the card company, so reviewing the options available in Citi travel rewards and Chase travel rewards, as well as with other credit card providers and your own bank may be helpful. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, and preferred by many cardholders. If you have a good credit rating, you may well find that you will qualify for a Visa travel rewards or MasterCard travel rewards with a low annual fee and reasonable interest rates. Using your Visa travel rewards or MasterCard travel rewards card for typical day to day purchases will allow you to quickly build up great rewards to help you save on airfare, vacations, and other travel expenses. Look for a card with not only good incentive travel rewards, but also a good interest rate, low or no annual fees, and good customer service.

Travel rewards programs range from airline frequent flyer miles in association with a specific airline to points that may be spent on a variety of travel related options, to points and discounts available at a specific destination. When selecting the right travel rewards credit card for you, look at not only the rewards available, but also at the interest rate, annual fees, and overall company reputation. You should also consider how quickly the points or miles accumulate, and look at any minimum usage requirements on the card. Some companies offer additional benefits with a new travel rewards card, including bonuses in points or frequent flier miles after some amount of card use.

Cite travel rewards credit card programs offer great advantages for customers looking for additional benefits and a great basic credit card. Citi travel rewards cards offer airline miles, with additional bonuses for new cardholders. At the elite level, Citi travel rewards can even include a complimentary airline ticket when one is purchased. Citi travel rewards are airline specific, so be certain that the airline you prefer is affiliated with the Citi travel rewards card you select. While Citi travel rewards may not be as flexible as some other companies, this reputable credit card company does offer great airline perks and a reputation for good customer service.

Chase travel rewards cards vary, offering many types of travel rewards programs to interested consumers. Chase travel rewards card options include airline specific cards offering frequent flyer miles, flexible cards allowing points for spending, and even cards offering rewards programs aimed at specific travel related retailers. Families, in particular, may find travel rewards cards aimed at Disney or KOA campgrounds to be especially appealing. Airline options range from budget conscious Southwest Airlines to the British airways cards aimed at executive travelers. Other Chase travel rewards card programs include cards aimed at entertainment and gambling.

American Express travel rewards credit card is a popular choice for individuals wanting good travel rewards programs. The American Express travel rewards program allows the cardholder to earn points that can be applied to a variety of options, from airline tickets to concert tickets. Points may be spent on travel needs, or other items, and this versatility makes the American Express travel rewards program a great choice for many people. Additional benefits are available if you hold the higher level American Express travel rewards cards, including assistance in planning and accessing event tickets and reservations.

Travel rewards programs vary, and the one that’s right for you may not be the one that is right for someone else. Review all the travel review cards options to choose the travel rewards credit card that will save you the most, depending upon your personal travel style. From airline rewards to hotel rooms, a good travel rewards credit card can make your family vacation to grandma’s house or that luxurious dream trip to Paris a more affordable reality. From American Express travel rewards to Citi travel rewards, from Chase travel rewards to Visa and MasterCard travel rewards, each card company offers its own incentive travel rewards programs.