Citibank is advertising their Diamond Preferred MasterCard. The credit card has an introductory credit card rate of 0% for the first 15 months for purchases and balance transfers.

The 0% credit card offer is based on your application and credit history. After the initial 0% period the credit card rate can be either 12.24%, 16.24% or 20.24% depending on your credit card application and credit card history. The cash advance credit card rate is 25.24%.

Citibank’s Platinum Select Credit Card also has an introductory credit card rate of 0% for the first 15 months based on your application and credit history.

After the initial period, the credit card rate can be either 11.99%, 15.99% or 19.99% based on your application and credit history. The Citibank’s Platinum Select Credit Card also has a cash advance rate of 25.24%.

The cash advance fee is 3% which isn’t a bad deal since many banks have recently raised the cash advance fee to as high as 5%.

For more information about Citibank’s credit cards and current credit card rates go to citibank.com.

Bank of America is offering three credit card offers. The credit cards include a BankAmericard Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card, a Bank of America Accelerated Cash Rewards American Express Card and a BankAmericard Power Rewards Visa Signature Card.

The BankAmericard Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card has a 0% introductory credit card rate for the first 7 or 10 statement closing dates after opening the account based on your creditworthiness (credit history). After the initial 0% credit card rate period, the credit card rate can vary between 12.99% to 20.99% based on your credit history.

The Bank of America Accelerated Cash Rewards American Express Card also has an introductory credit card rate of 0% for the first 7 or 10 statement closing dates after opening the account based on your creditworthiness (credit history). After the initial 0% credit card rate period the credit card rate can vary between 12.99% to 20.99% based on your credit history.

BankAmericard Power Rewards Visa Signature Card also has an introductory credit card rate of 0% for the first 7 or 10 statement closing dates after opening the account based on your creditworthiness (credit history). After the initial 0% credit card rate period the credit card rate can vary between 12.99% to 20.99% based on your credit history.

All three credit cards have a cash advance credit card rate of 24.24%. For more information about Bank of America’s credit cards and current credit card rates visit bankofamerica.com.

Chase Bank is advertising their Chase Freedom Credit Card and Chase Slate Credit Card. The Freedom introductory credit card rate is 0% for the first six months. After the initial period, the credit card rate can be between 12.99% and up to 22.99% based on your credit history.

The Chase Slate Credit Card has a 0% introductory credit card rate for 12 months. After the initial 0% period the credit card rate is tiered based on your credit history. The “Elite” credit card rate is currently at 13.24%. The current “Premium” credit card rate is 17.24% and the “Standard” credit rate rate is 22.24%.

Cash advance credit card rates are higher for both the Freedom Card and the Slate Card. Neither card has an annual fee. The Freedom Card gives you 5% cash back on certain purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. You can also receive up to 20% cash back on select merchants when you shop online though Chase.

For more information about Chase’s credit cards and current credit card rates visit chase.com.

Jax Metro Credit Union of Jacksonville, Florida, is advertising two credit cards that have very competitive credit card interest rates. The credit cards are a Platinum Visa Credit Card and a Classic Visa Credit Card. You can apply for both types of credit cards online.

The Platinum Visa Card has an annual percentage rate (APR) of 8.99 percent. Here is a list of the Platinum Visa Credit Card benefits:

• No annual fees
• 25 Day Grace Period on Purchases
• Credit Card limits up to $50,000
• Rewards bonus points can be exchanged for travel and merchandise

The Classic Visa Card has an APR of 12.99 percent. Following is a list of the  Classic Visa Card benefits:

• No annual fees
• 25 Day Grace Period on Purchases
• Credit Card limits up to $20,000
• Rewards bonus points can be exchanged for travel and merchandise

For more information on Jax Metro Credit Union’s credit card offerings visit: jaxmetro.org.

A new set of credit card rules for 2010 took effect on February 22, 2010. The new credit card laws offer credit card consumers a new set of protections from what was deemed unscrupulous credit card practices.

The new credit card rules in 2010 include new rules on how and what credit card companies have to tell you about your credit card bill. There are also new rules on credit card rates and credit card fees.

Looking for a credit card?  Search for the best credit card here. Best Credit Cards.

New Credit Card Laws 2010

• If you make more than the minimum credit card payment any month, your credit card company must apply the excess amount to the balance with the highest credit card interest rate.
• They must tell you how long it will take to pay off a credit card if you only make the minimum credit card payments.
• They must also inform you 45 days in advance if they will raise your credit card rate, change certain credit card fees or make other significant changes to your credit card account. However, credit card companies do not have to tell you 45 days in advance if you have a variable rate card or if you have an introductory rate credit card whose introductory period has expired.
• Your credit card company cannot increase the credit card rate for the first 12 months of opening your account. The exceptions include variable rate credit cards, introductory rate credit cards and if you’re more than 60 days late on a credit card payment.
• If your credit card rate does increase after the first year it will only increase for new purchases and not existing balances.
• You now have to opt-in for over-the-limit credit card transactions.  If you don’t, you cannot be charged an over the limit fee though your credit card transaction might be declined. If you do opt-in you can only be charged one over-the-limit fee per month. You can also opt-out at any time.
• Your monthly credit card bill will now include information on how long it will take you to pay off your credit card balance if you only make minimum credit card payments. Your credit card statement will also tell you how much you would need to pay each month in order to pay off your credit card balance in three years.
• If you are under 21, you will need to show that you are able to make credit card payments, or you will need a cosigner when applying for a credit card in order to open a credit card account.
• Credit card companies are now required to limit fees and they cannot total more than 25% of the initial credit limit. For example, if your initial credit limit is $500, the fees for the first year cannot be more than $125. Late credit card penalty fees are not included.
• Credit card companies must mail or deliver your credit card bill at least 21 days before your payment is due.
• Credit card companies cannot double cycle bill, they only impose interest charges on balances in the current billing cycle.

Looking for the lowest credit card rates? Compare credit cards offers here. Lowest Credit Card Rates.

American Express is offering special deals for their credit card holders. Some of the offers coming up in the near future include a $100 Bed, Bath & Beyond gift card that costs $50, a $200 Best Buy gift card that costs $100 and a $50 Barnes and Noble gift card that will cost you only $25.00.

American Express if offering different deals each day and you can sign up for weekly alerts to find out in advance what the sale times are each day. There is a limit of the number of deals available for each deal, usually between 25 to 100 depending on the deal.

American Express Corporate credit cards and prepaid cards are not eligible for these deals. For more information on American Express credit card deals visit American Express Daily Wish here: Daily Wish

Thinking of taking advantage of a balance transfer credit card offer you received in the mail? You might want to wait until after February 22, 2010 to do a balance transfer.  After February 22, credit card companies have to apply any extra principal paid to the credit card balance with the highest interest rate.

For example: You have a credit card balance of $10,000. For half the balance, $5,000, you are being charged a rate of 19.99%, the other half you are being charged a rate of 14.00%.

• Right now, if you do a balance transfer and pay down $5,000, the extra principal payment will be applied towards the balance that has a rate of 14.00%.
• After February 22, your credit card company will have to apply the $5,000 towards the balance that has a rate of 19.99%.

Applying any extra principal payments towards the balance with the highest credit card rate is only one of the new credit card rules that take effect on Monday.

For a complete list of new credit card rules that take effect on Monday read: “New Credit Card Rules – How the New Credit Card Laws Affect You.”

Credit card rates have been heading higher since the Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights was passed last year and the Federal Reserve’s new credit card rules were approved on December 17, 2009. Average credit card rates are going up even though the new credit card laws were passed to protect credit card users.

The new rules and laws were enacted to prohibit certain credit card acts and practices that were deemed unfair. The new credit card laws were also enacted to improve how credit card information and credit card rates were disclosed to consumers.

Credit card rates have been going higher because starting February 22, 2010, your credit card company cannot increase the credit card rate for the first 12 months of opening your account.

Even if your credit card rate does increase after the first 12 months, it will only increase for new purchases. The rate cannot be increased on existing balances. There are exceptions to these rules like if you are more than 60 days late on a payment.

In addition to credit card companies charging higher credit card interest rates, they have also been raising credit card balance transfer fees. Most credit card companies used to charge around three percent for a balance transfer.

Now the average balance transfer fee is around four percent and some banks even charge as high as five percent for a credit card balance transfer. Most credit card issuers don’t have a maximum fee cap for balance transfers. Factor in the fee and the zero percent credit card rate isn’t really zero percent.

The new credit card laws and credit card rules will help consumers, but will also hurt some consumers, especially those who payoff their credit card balances every month and those who prefer rewards credit cards. Credit card issuers have started charging monthly credit card fees if you don’t use your credit card for a certain period of time.

Getting a fixed rate credit card is a lot harder these days. Most banks have been pushing variable rate credit cards since variable rate credit cards will make more money for banks. You  can start your search for the best credit card rates right here at MonitorBankRates.com: Best Credit Card Rates.

A new set of credit card rules takes effect February 22, 2010 and you should be aware of the new rules. The new credit card laws are positive for consumers and offer consumers a new set of protections.

The credit card rules include new rules on what credit card companies have to tell you, new rules on credit card rates, credit card fees and credit card limits.

Looking for the best credit card rates? Search our credit card tables. Best Credit Card Rates.

Some of the most helpful rules for consumers is that credit card companies have to tell you how long it will take to pay off a credit card if you only make the minimum credit card payments. In addition, if you make more than the minimum credit card payment any month, your credit card company must apply the excess amount to the balance with the highest credit card interest rate.

The new set of credit card laws that take effect February 22, 2010 include:

• Telling you 45 days in advance if they raise your credit card rate, change certain credit card fees or make other significant changes to your credit card account. Credit card companies do not have to tell you 45 days in advance if you have a variable rate card or if you have an introductory rate credit card that expired.
• Your credit card company cannot increase the credit card rate for the first 12 months of opening your account. The exceptions include variable rate credit cards, introductory rate credit cards and if you’re more than 60 days late on a credit card payment.
• If your credit card rate does increase after the first year it will only increase for new purchases not existing balances.
• You now have to opt-in for over-the-limit credit card transactions.  If you don’t, you cannot be charged an over the limit fee though your credit card transaction might be declined. If you do opt-in you can only be charged one over-the-limit fee per month. You can also opt-out at any time.
• Your monthly credit card bill will now include information on how long it will take you to pay off your credit card balance if you only make minimum credit card payments. Your credit card statement will also tell you how much you would need to pay each month in order to pay off your credit card balance in three years.
• If you are under 21, you will need to show that you are able to make credit card payments, or you will need a cosigner when applying for a credit card in order to open a credit card account.
• Credit card companies are now required to limit fees and they cannot total more than 25% of the initial credit limit. For example, if your initial credit limit is $500, the fees for the first year cannot be more than $125. Late credit card penalty fees are not included.
• Credit card companies must mail or deliver your credit card bill at least 21 days before your payment is due.
• Credit card companies cannot double cycle bill, they only impose interest charges on balances in the current billing cycle.

Looking for the best credit card rates? Search our credit card tables. Best Credit Card Rates.

A loyal reader of MonitorBankRates.com alerted us to this deal.

Discover Bank is offering a $75 cash back bonus on their Discover More Credit Card. To receive the bonus you have to make $599 in credit card purchases within the first three months of being approved for the credit card.

Looking for the best credit card rates? Search our credit card rate tables to find the best card for your needs. Search Credit Cards

This offer is good until January 20, 2010, so you have to apply for the card before then. Once you have made $599 in purchases, the $75 credit card bonus will be applied to your credit card account within eight weeks.

There is also a 0% credit card rate introductory offer for purchases until July 2010 and a 0% balance transfer offer until November 2010.  The balance transfer fee under this offer is 4%. Once the introductory credit card rates expire the interest rate you pay will be between 11.99% and 17.99% depending on your credit.

If you’re late making a payment, the introductory period will end and the credit card rate can increase to as high as 29.99%, so don’t be late! The cash APR is a 23.99% variable rate.

Tip: If you are late making a credit card payment, call the credit card company and ask them to waive the late fee(s) and keep the interest rate the same. If you haven’t been late making a payment recently the bank will probably give you a break but you’ll never know unless you call.

There is also a 5% cash back bonus for certain purchases throughout the year and a 1% cashback bonus on all other purchases after your annual purchases exceed $3,000. The first $3,000 earn a cashback reward of 0.25%.

To apply for this credit card deal go to www.apply.discovercard.com and use Invitation Code: DAAG. You can also apply by phone by calling 1-800-210-9022.