If you are a small business owner, chances are good that you will need a credit card at some point. As a small business owner, I use my business credit card for at least half my purchases, primarily because many of them are made online or where it is inconvenient to use a business check. Aside from the normal consumer protections credit card provide, many of them also offer a solid rewards program, which makes using them a good idea if you pay them in full each month.

If you have a small business with established credit and need a credit card, then take a look at the CitiBusiness ThankYou® Card, which is a new card from Citi. This card offers a standard rewards program based on Citi’s ThankYou® Points. It pays one ThankYou Point for standard purchases, and three ThankYou Points in rotating eligible business categories.

$150 Cash Bonus. For a limited time, new cardholders can earn a $150 cash bonus when they spend $3,000 within the first three months of card ownership. The bonus is paid in the form of 15,000 bonus ThankYou Points, which can be redeemed for gift cards, cash, or a statement credit.

This card also features a 0% APR introductory period of six months for new purchases, which gives you some float if you are anticipating any major purchases. The card features a low variable interest rate after the 0% intro APR period.

There are no limits to how many points you can earn on purchases, and your points never expire. Linking a Citi business card to your Citi account can be a good way to pool your ThankYou Points to redeem them more quickly, or for greater rewards.

More details: Here are some quick hits about the CitiBusiness ThankYou Card:

• Designed for businesses with an established credit history
• Earn 15,000 bonus ThankYou(R) points after you make $3000 in purchases within 3 months of cardmembership – enough for $150 in gift cards
• 0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months. After that, 13.24% variable.
• Earn 3 ThankYou(R) points for every dollar you spend on eligible purchases in rotating business categories.
• Redeem points on things for your business or for yourself like business supplies, merchandise, gift cards, travel or even cash.
• No limit to the amount of points you can earn on purchases and points don’t expire.
• No annual fee *

Click to learn more, or to apply.

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One of the most popular ways the credit card companies compete with each other is by offering rewards programswith their cards. The card issuers know that people are more likely to be loyal to a company if they have a reason to consistently use the card. This is why there are a seemingly limitless number of credit card rewards programs including cash back, points, travel, airline miles, gas rewards, etc. The more frequently you use your credit card, the more likely the credit card company will make money from you. (But if you pay your balance in full each month, using a rewards card can be a savvy financial move which puts hundreds or even thousands of dollars back in your pocket each year).

Are airline miles and rewards taxable?

Another popular way credit card companies gain new customers is by offering sign up bonuses to new cardholders. Some of these can be worth several hundred dollars or more, which is a nice return just for opening a new credit card.

But all of these rewards bring up an interesting dilemma – are these rewards or sign up bonuses considered taxable income?

The answer is – it depends.

Sign Up Bonuses Are Often Taxable

Many sign up bonuses are considered taxable income, especially when they are offered by banks, brokerages, and other financial instituions. I have opened several bank accounts for the sign up bonus, and each time I received a 1099-INT at the end of the year. In each instance, the banks reported the bonuses as earned interest, which is taxed as ordinary income – meaning you pay your standard income tax rate on the bonus.

Sign up bonuses for brokerage accounts can be different, depending on which type of account you open. If you open a standard trading account, the income will likely be reported in a similar fashion as the banks. However, if you open an IRA, your bonus may be deposited in your IRA, so it may receive the same tax treatment as your investments in your account.

If you receive a 1099-INT, you know what to do – report it on your taxes and pay the tax man. But if you don’t know how it should be classified, then it’s best to check with the brokerage firm or your accountant for verification before filing your taxes.

What about Cash Rewards and Frequent Flyer Miles?

I know you’re just going to love this answer – again, it depends. In almost all cases, your credit card rewards will be classified as a rebate, which the IRS has gone on record as stating isn’t considered as taxable income (see private letter ruling from 2002, and Announcement 2002-18 for more information).

The IRS considers rebates the same as a discount, you just get it after the fact. So earning cash back or frequent flyer miles from a purchase is essentially the same thing as using a coupon with your purchase. The IRS also doesn’t consider frequent flyer miles earned from flights as taxable income.

Are Credit Card Sign Up Bonuses Taxable?

If the credit card company is offering you a bonus just to open a new credit card, then it’s possible the bonus could be considered income by the IRS. The key is determining how the bonus was earned. If there is no requirement other than to open an account, then it is similar to the bank example above, and you may owe taxes on the income. This was the case last year when Citi sent out 1099s to new customers who received 25,000 bonus miles for opening a new account. Citi valued the bonus miles at $0.025 per mile, which gave the bonus a dollar value of $625, above the $600 threshold the IRS sets for requiring a 1099 for prizes and rewards.

But that doesn’t mean all sign up bonuses are taxable. Most credit card companies, for example, require new cardholders to spend a minimum amount of money in set time frame in order to receive the bonus. A common example is a $100 cash bonus which only kicks in after the new card holder spends $1,000 within the first three months. Some credit card bonuses are also tiered, for example, you may receive a certain cash bonus or number of frequent flyer miles for spending $1,000 in a certain time limit, and you may receive another bonus when your spending level reaches $5,000. If there is a spending requirement to receive the bonus, then it is considered a rebate, not income.

Play it Safe

Credit card rewards and sign up bonuses are a gray area. The IRS private letter ruling and announcement above are considered more like guidelines, not hard and fast rules. My rule of thumb would be to always report the income if you receive a 1099-INT – that’s a no-brainer, since it is the law. If you receive any other bonuses, then I would use the rebate test. Did you have to meet a certain spending requirement to receive the bonus? If so, then it is probably a rebate, and therefore, probably not taxable. As always, it never hurts to double check with a tax professional if you have doubts or further questions.

Photo credit: Jeremy Brooks

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A few months ago, I had to cancel my credit card because I noticed some fraudulent activity on it. That was when I realized I didn’t have a backup card. It was more of an inconvenience than anything, but I recognized the value of having another credit card in reserve. So I researched the best cards on the market and found a deal I couldn’t pass up – the Blue Cash Card Preferred^SM Card from American Express. This card is so good it actually became my primary credit card and relegated my old faithful to reserve status.

This card comes in two versions, the Blue Cash Everyday(SM) Card from American Express, and its big brother, the Blue Cash Preferred(SM) Card from American Express. These cards offer similar benefits, but  the Preferred version comes with stronger benefits and an annual fee. That said, I broke my personal rule for having a card with an annual fee and opted to pay $75 for the Preferred version – and I’ve already made my money back. Let’s take a look at these cards and I’ll show you why both of them are great cash back credit cards for many people to own, and why the card with the annual fee may be the better option for you.

Comparing the Blue Cash Everyday and Preferred Cards

Both of these cards offer an easy to remember cash back rewards program:

• Blue Cash Preferred^SM: Get 6% cash back at supermarkets, 3% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Blue Cash Everyday^SM: Get 3% cash back at supermarkets, 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases

The primary difference is the Blue Cash Preferred(SM) Card from American Express offers higher cash back rewards, but it comes with a $75 annual fee. But after running the numbers for my situation, I quickly realized the $75 annual fee is well worth paying, especially in light of the $150 cash back bonus offer which you can receive after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card ownership. The Blue Cash Everyday(SM) Card from American Express has no annual fee and offers a $100 cash back bonus after meeting the same $1,000 spending requirement.

Let’s compare the cash back benefits over the course of the year for some hypothetical spending levels (plug in your own numbers to see how much cash you may be able to earn in a year):

Note: The calculations don’t include the cash back bonus, since it is a one time deal.

Verdict? Preferred by a mile. Even after accounting for the $75 fee, the Blue Cash Preferred(SM) Card from American Express comes out well ahead. It’s possible to earn much more than this in cash returns as well, if you have larger expenses, or pay more items with your credit card, including things such as utilities, cell phone bills, etc.

The Annual Credit Card Fee That Pays for Itself

I’ve rarely been a fan of credit cards which have an annual fee. There are plenty of great credit cards out there which have no annual fees and offer solid cash rewards or other benefits. But in this case, the 6% cash back on groceries and 3% cash back on gas were too good to pass up. Most of the top tier cash back credit cards offer a 1% cash back as their base line rewards, then up to 5% cash back in rotating categories (often with a cap for the rotating categories).

Both Blue Cash cards offer the same 1% baseline, but don’t cap the cash back rewards you can earn from the other categories. Since groceries and gas are two expenses we know we will always have, it makes sense to maximize our rewards in those categories. We will always make enough cash back from those two categories to justify the $75 annual fee – and then some.

How I use this card

I opened this card right before Christmas and promptly put all my Christmas shopping on the card. I quickly reached the $1,000 spending requirement when I combined my holiday spending with our regular expenses like gas and groceries. I also opened a joint credit card with my wife so we could both use this card on our groceries and gas so we could more quickly rack up the cash back bonuses. (The benefit of opening a joint card is to avoid paying two annual fees. We typically use this card for family expenses, and we each maintain individual credit cards for gifts or other purchases we don’t want to classify as family expenses).

More Card Features

These cards don’t have any minimum or maximum spending tiers for your rewards, so you don’t have to worry about juggling cards to ensure you are getting the most return for your time. You can redeem your cash rewards as soon as you have $25, or you can wait until you want to receive a bigger check – and you can wait as long as you like, since your rewards never expire. You can also refer friends and family members for this card and earn additional cash from American Express – $75 for referring the Preferred card and $25 for the Everyday card.

It’s not all perfect, of course. If I had one complaint about this card it’s that AmEx cards are not accepted everywhere. But it’s accepted at all the places I shop for gas and groceries, so I use this card for virtually all my spending in those categories, and I use the Chase Freedom VISA for purchases at places which don’t accept American Express.

It’s all in the Details

As far as the best cash back cards on the market go, this is probably my favorite, and it’s one that I personally carry. Here is a more detailed list of bullets for these cards. Compare them and find which is the best for you.

Blue Cash Preferred(SM) Card from American Express quick hits:

• Earn $150 cash back after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Cardmembership
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, flexibility to pay over time
• Get 6% cash back at supermarkets, 3% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases
• No spend minimum, No enrollment, and No rotating rewards categories
• Get a $75 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card
• The annual fee pays for itself. With 6% cash back at supermarkets, if you spend just $25 weekly at your supermarket, you can receive over $75 cash back from these purchases alone.
• Apply for the Blue Cash Everyday(SM) from American Express.

Blue Cash Everyday(SM) Card from American Express details: 

• Earn a $100 cash back bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Cardmembership
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, flexibility to pay over time
• Get 3% cash back at supermarkets, 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases
• No spend minimum, No enrollment, and No rotating rewards categories
• Get a $25 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card
• No annual fee, flexibility to pay over time
• Apply for the Blue Cash Everyday(SM) from American Express.

Do you have either of these cards? What do you think about it?

Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.

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I had the good fortune of living in England for almost three years while I was serving in the USAF. Living and working overseas was a wonderful experience, and I took advantage of it at every opportunity. The only downside to living overseas on enlisted pay was the expense of traveling home to see family. I was able to make out all right by planning my trips in advance and traveling in the down season, but the travel was still expensive.

If I had it to do all over again, I would have looked for a travel credit card deal like the current one offered by the British Airways Visa Signature Card: 50,000 bonus points after your first purchase, and an opportunity to earn up to 100,000 bonus points in your first year.

Earn 50,000 to 100,000 Bonus Avios Points

Bonus points and miles are the name of the game when it comes to airline cards, and the British Airways credit card is no exception. Let’s break down the bonus tiers so you can see how this card might be of value to you:

• 50,000 Avios Points after first purchase.
• 25,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 in the first 12 months.
• 25,000 more bonus points after spending an additional $10,000 within 12 months (total of $20,000).

One purchase is all it takes to make this card well worth owning, as 50,000 Avios Points are enough for round trip ticket to Euro Zone 1 in economy class, or up to two domestic tickets. If you are a frequent traveler to places where British Airways or their partners fly, then this is a solid deal.

Earn Points Through Regular Spending

The British Airways Visa Signature Card also has a standard rewards program, which offers points for each dollar spent with the card. There are no limits and your points never expire so long as your account remains in good standing. Cardholders will earn:

• 2.5 Avios Points for every dollar spent on British Airways flights, and
• 1.25 Avios Points for each dollar spent on all other purchases.

Redeeming Your Avios Points

There are a variety of ways you can redeem your Avios Points, including for travel on British Airways flights or any of their partners, including locations serviced by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malev, Qantas, Royal Jordanian, and more. You can frequently use your points for upgrades as well, but this varies by partner. (visit www.BA.com for more info).

We previously mentioned 50,000 Avios Points can be redeemed for a round trip ticket to a Euro Zone 1 location in economy. So it stands that 100,000 bonus oints can be redeemed for 2 round trip economy tickets to a Euro Zone 1 location.

100,000 points can also be redeemed for a round trip business class ticket to a Euro Zone 1 location, or multiple domestic tickets, if you choose to fly with American Airlines, which is British Airways domestic partner.

It’s important to note that travelers are responsible for paying the taxes and fees associated with their free tickets, so keep this in mind when booking your travel.

Other perks with the British Airways Credit Card

There are a few downsides to using a credit card overseas, including the new security chips which are common in Europe and other locations, but haven’t caught on yet in the US. Another downside is foreign transaction fees, which are typically 2-3% of the purchase price. The British Airways Visa Signature Card takes care of both of these issues for you. This card comes equipped with both a standard magnetic strip found on most cards in the US, and the chip commonly found in Europe. So you won’t be stranded with a card you can’t use when you travel overseas. There are also no foreign transaction fees when you use this card. These conveniences allow you to use your card virtually anywhere credit cards are accepted in Europe, and avoid paying the transaction fee to do so (which can easily save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a trip).

To Summarize: This is a Great Card for Travelers

You will do best when you redeem your Avios Points for travel, so this card is best for people who are looking for a solid travel credit card. The good news is that this card is valuable for people who travel to a variety of places due to their extensive network of partner airlines. The only downside to this card is the $95 annual fee, but the generous bonus miles for signing up, and other perks help cancel out the annual fee.

Here is a quick recap of the benefits with the British Airways Visa Signature Card:

• You will get 50,000 bonus Avios after your first purchase
• 25,000 bonus Avios after you make $10,000 in purchases within the first year of account opening
• Plus an additional 25,000 bonus Avios after you make an additional $10,000 in purchases within the first year of account opening
• That’s enough Avios for one roundtrip business class reward ticket
• New: Smart Chip Technology allows you to use your card for chip based purchases in Europe & beyond, while still giving you the ability to use your card as you do today at home
• Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel abroad
• Earn 2.5 Avios for every $1 spent on British Airways purchases
• Earn 1.25 Avios for every $1 spent on all other purchases
• Every year you spend $30,000 on your British Airways Visa card, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket good for two years

Final note: This offer was only available for a limited time last year, and we expect it won’t last long this time around.

To learn more or to open an account, visit the British Airways Visa Signature Card website.

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It seems like almost all airlines have a branded credit card these days. While it may seem like a marketing ploy, these airline rewards credit cards usually offer frequent travelers a great incentive to remain loyal to one airline or credit card issuer. And if you are a frequent American Airlines traveler, then I recommend looking into the cobranded card from Citi – the Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® Visa Signature® Card.

Earn American Airlines Miles with Ease

As far as sign up bonuses go, the Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® Visa Signature® Card offers one of the best in the industry, rewarding new cardholders with 30,000 bonus miles after they spend $1,000 within the first 3 months they own their card (enough for a free domestic round-trip airline ticket on American Airlines). Most companies require new cardholders to meet a minimum spending requirement to activate their sign up bonus, and Citi is no exception. But it is relatively easy for most people to spend $1,000 within 3 months.

Bonus miles and other perks. You can redeem the 30,000 bonus miles for a free round-trip domestic airline ticket anywhere American Airlines flies. Eligible American Airlines purchases earn double AAdvantage® miles, and all other purchases earn one mile.  You will also enjoy the other perks which come with this card, including priority boarding, 25% discounts on eligible in-flight purchases such as food, beverages and headsets, and a free checked bag for yourself and up to 4 people in your party who are traveling on the same reservation. The free checked bags for you and your family can save you up to $200 per round trip, which is a great savings.

Annual bonus. There are two ways to earn an annual bonus: the first is for being a member, and the second is for redeeming your miles. Each year you remain a cardholder, you will receive a $100 flight discount for flights on American. You can also earn a 10% bonus when you redeem your AAdvantage miles each year, up to 10,000 bonus miles. For example, if you redeem 50,000 AAdvantage miles to book a 50,000 roundtrip flight, you will receive 5,000 AAdvantage miles back in your AAdvantage account approximately 6-8 weeks after booking.

Annual fee. There is a $95 annual fee for this card, which is waived for the first year. However, the free round-trip airline ticket for new cardholders, the $100 annual flight credit, free checked bags, and other perks make this a worthwhile card for people who frequently travel on American Airlines.

Here are the quick notes about this card:

• Earn 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of cardmembership*
• Your first eligible checked bag is free*
• Priority Boarding* and 25% savings on eligible in-flight purchases*
• Earn a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount every cardmembership year with qualifying purchases and cardmembership renewal*
• Double AAdvantage® miles on eligible American Airlines purchases*
• Earn 10% of your redeemed AAdvantage® miles back – up to 10,000 AAdvantage® miles each calendar year*
• No mileage cap* and your miles may never expire*

If you are a frequent American Airlines traveler, then this card is well worth a look. A free airline ticket, priority boarding, free checked bag for you and your party, and the other perks, make this a solid airline rewards card. To sign up or learn more, you can click the following link:  Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® Visa Signature® Card.

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We’re right in the thick of tax season, and one of the cool things about technology is that it is incredibly easy to file and pay your taxes online with EFTPS or other tools. One of the other tools available for paying your taxes is a credit card. I’ll be the first to tell you that it’s usually a bad idea to pay taxes with a credit card. There are two main reasons: transaction fees, which average right around 2% or slightly higher, and the possibility of paying interest on the amount you charged. That said, using a credit card to pay your taxes may be a good option under certain circumstances.

Let’s take a look at your options if you want to pay your taxes with a credit card and avoid a financial headache. We’ll take a look at fees, when it might be a good idea, and some good cards to use.

How Much Does it Cost to Pay Taxes with a Credit Card?

The IRS only authorizes a few companies to accept credit card transactions to pay your taxes. But processing credit cards isn’t free and the IRS allows these companies to charge a “Convenience Fee”  to process your credit card payment. Here is what it will cost you to pay you taxes with your credit card (source: IRS).

• RBS WorldPay, Inc: 1.95%
• Link2Gov Corporation: 2.35%
• Official Payments Corporation: 2.35%
• TurboTax: 2.35%
• FileYourTaxes.com: 3.93%

Note: These companies charge a minimum processing fee of close to $4, and may also charge a fee for using your debit card to pay your taxes. Debit card processing fees are a flat rate for many of these companies. Always run the numbers before blindly swiping your card.

Pros and Cons of Using a Credit Card for Paying Taxes

You can pay your taxes for free by check or by making an ACH transfer is free, so you have less expensive options available. The other potential downfall to using a credit card for paying taxes is the interest you may owe interest if you don’t pay your card in full.

That said, there are a few times when using a credit card might be a good idea:

• When your credit card rewards return more than the transaction costs
• If it can help you avoid paying IRS late fees and penalties
• You need the cash flow for your personal or business finances
• You can pay the credit card in full, or in a reasonable amount of time
• When your interest rate is minimal or zero
• When you can transfer the balance to a balance transfer credit card for a 0% interest rate.

Best Credit Cards for Paying Taxes

Paying your taxes with a credit card may qualify you to earn cash back, points, or miles, which might be good if you have favorite cash back credit card or travel credit card. In some cases the rewards will be enough to offset any transaction fees. Under some circumstances, the convenience fee may be tax deductible because it is a cost associated with paying your taxes (check with your tax professional).

Here are some credit cards which might take the sting out of paying your taxes with a credit card.

Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card. This card offers offers 1% cash back on purchases, and up to 5% cash back on rotating categories throughout the year. Earn 5% cash back at The Home Depot and on Home Furnishing and Home & Garden purchases from 4/1/12 to 6/30/12 when you enroll. This card also features $100 cash back after $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. This card is also an excellent balance transfer credit card with a 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 12 months.  Apply for the Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card.

Chase Freedom® Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back. This is an excellent card which offers a $100 cash bonus after you spend $500 within 3 months. In addition you get a 0% intro rate on new purchases for 15 months, and a cash back program that is among the best available. With the $100 cash back and the 0% interest rate, you could essentially be reimbursed for paying your taxes with a credit card. There is no annual fee. Apply for the Chase Freedom® Visa – $100 Bonus Cash Back.

Discover® More® Card. The Discover More Card is one of the best all around credit cards on the market, featuring a cash rewards program which offers 5% cash back in rotating categories and up to 1% on all other purchases. There is a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable APR of 10.99% – 20.99%. There is no annual fee. Apply for the Discover® More® Card.

Best Business Credit Card for Paying Taxes:

Ink Cash(SM) Business Card. Are you a business owner? Then the Ink Cash (SM) Business Card may be the best card for you. This card offers the opportunity to earn $250 in cash bonuses in your first year – $100 cash after your first purchase, plus an additional $150 after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. In addition to the cash bonus, you can enjoy a solid cash rewards program offering 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually on office supplies, cable services, and telecom services, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually on gas and dining, 1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit on the amount of cash back you can earn. This card also features an introductory 0% APR rate for purchases and balances transfers for the first 12 months. There is no annual fee. Apply for the Ink Cash(SM) Business Card.

You can also check with your credit union or current credit card provider for other credit card offers.

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Raise your hand if you’ve ever been late with a credit card payment. I have. Now think back to what happened when you were late with your payment. If you were lucky, you were able to talk your credit card company into waiving the late fees or interest rate hike they may have assessed. If you weren’t lucky you had insult added to injury and you were hit with both a late fee and an increased interest rate.

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a credit card company that gave you a little leeway? Citi thought so, which is why they brought back one of their most popular credit cards after a several year hiatus – the Citi Simplicity® Card.

The Citi Simplicity® Card is just what the name says – a simple credit card for credit card users with simple needs. You won’t find cash rewards or travel points with this card. But depending on your credit needs, you may find something even better – No Late Fees or Penalty Rate Hikes.

You read that correctly. There are no late fees or rate hikes if you miss a payment due date or go over your credit limit. The Citi Simplicity® Card won’t charge you late fees if you send in your payment late and they won’t jack your interest rate up to 30% just because your payment arrived 3 days late in the mail.

Citi Simplicity® Card Features

In a credit card era of rate hikes, gotchas, and exorbitant fees, the Citi Simplicity® Card is a nice change of pace. Here are several of the main benefits of using this credit card:

0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. This card is among the longest 0% balance transfer offers on the market, which by itself makes it a great offer. The offer becomes even better when you consider the lack of late fees and rate hikes. That makes this card a great offer for consolidating other credit card balances. After the 0% intro APR, the variable APR will be 12.99% – 21.99% based on your creditworthiness.

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 18 months. The Citi Simplicity® Card is also a great card for people who are looking to make a large purchase and want an interest free loan for 18 months. No late fees gives you the time to make all your payments without stressing your budget too much. Again, the interest rate after the 0% intro APR will be 12.99% – 21.99% based on your creditworthiness.

No late fees* or rate hikes if you miss a payment due date or go over your credit limit. This is perhaps the biggest selling feature of this card. Most credit card issuers are more than happy to jack your rate up if you are so much as one day late on your credit card payment.

Manage your account any time, anywhere. Citi offers online account access, e-mail reminders, paperless statements, and online bill pay.

No wait time for live help, 24/7. Really, who wants to wait on the phone for 10-20 minutes to speak with someone, especially when you are calling in the middle of the night?

No annual fee. There are very few credit cards where it makes sense to pay an annual fee, and they are usually reserved for the high tier travel rewards cards or business cards. This card offers regular credit card users a solid credit card with no hassles and no fees.

Who can benefit from the Citi Simplicity® Card

The Citi Simplicity® Card is a solid credit card that is great for people who have good credit, but may have irregular cash flow or might be a little less than organized. This isn’t the best card for someone who carries around half a dozen credit cards in order to maximize their rewards based on the purchase they are making at the time.

Excellent Balance Transfer credit card. This card also excels for people who are looking to consolidate their credit card debt and transfer their credit card balances. The 18 month 0% balance transfer period is among the longest you can find at the moment, and the lack of fess and interest rate hikes make this a unique offer. Visit the Citi website for more information or to apply for the Citi Simplicity® Card.

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3. Oooops! I Made a Late Payment! (But it Turned Out OK)

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Most consumers have an airline they prefer over others, and mine happens to be United Airlines. It’s not that I’ve flown every airline, or that United has gone out of their way to discount my flights or provide me the things that other airlines do not, however I can honestly say in dozens of flights, I’ve never had a problem. Sometimes a flight is delayed a few minutes, and sometimes I land a few minutes late, but I’ve never lost a bag with United, never had a problem checking in with United, and never sat in the airport for hours with United. In fact, I foolishly booked a flight with Jet Blue just a few weeks ago, and ended up sitting at the airport as my flight was delayed seven hours. Ugh.

Since I use United as my primary airline, I own the United MileagePlus® Explorer. This card includes a litany of travel perks for frequent fliers, including the following bonus miles after meeting different milestones, primarily:

• 25,000 miles after making your first purchase
• 10,000 miles when you spend $25,000 annually
• 5,000 miles when you add an authorized cardholder

25,000 miles is right at what it takes to redeem a free flight in the continental US, making this a great sign up bonus. Using your United MileagePlus® Explorer Card for purchasing airline travel on United Airlines earns you double points, and every dollar spent on the  earns one mile. There is no limit to the amount of miles that can be earned and your miles do not expire unless the account is closed (whether by request or due to default). This card also features travel protection and purchase protection benefits. See the terms and conditions for more info.

Now, you might think the big benefit of the United MileagePlus® Explorer Card are the miles and the cash back, but there’s even more of a reason to sign up for this card, because it has some of the best perks available. Every cardholder is entitled to the following benefits:

• First Checked Bag is FREE on every United flight for the cardholder and one travel companion
• 2 Annual Presidents Club Day Passes
• Special Guest Privileges through The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
• Exclusive access to once-in-a-lifetime events through Inside Access from Chase

All of these bonuses and benefits do come with a price, as the United MileagePlus® Explorer Card charges a $95 annual fee, which is waived for all first year cardholders. There is no introductory offer on purchases or balance transfers, and the APR is average, so this card is best for credit card users who travel frequently and pay their balance in full each month.

Here are the United MileagePlus® Explorer Card highlights:

• Earn up to 40,000 bonus miles & first year free, a $95 value*
• First checked bag is free for you and a companion when you fly United flights, up to a $50 value
• Board your flight before general boarding with priority boarding privileges
• Visit the United Club with two complimentary day passes every year, up to a $100 value
• Earn 2 miles for each $1 spent on airline tickets purchased from United and 1 mile per $1 for everything else
• Your miles don’t expire and there is no limit to the number of miles you can earn

I can honestly say, this card saves me hundreds if not thousands of dollars every year with the miles earned and the fees saved. If you fly United and you fly them often, you absolutely need to own the United MileagePlus® Explorer Card.

Related Articles:

1. Best Airline Rewards Credit Cards
2. Top Credit Cards for Travel
3. Top Credit Card Rewards Programs

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