How to make sense of credit cards galore?

Your first piece of plastic is likely plain-vanilla because your credit score may not be high enough to apply for one of the bells-and-whistles cards (don’t worry you’ll get there!). Once you start establishing credit (6-12 months after your first) you’ll have way more options. Here are the main questions we get asked.

Q: How do I know what cards I’m qualified for?

The credit card universe is like an arcade. The more points you have the better prizes you get! Lowest-tier cards are the easiest to qualify for (you can get away with having a lower credit score), but they don’t have many perks. Top-tier cards are reserved for people who’ve achieved the highest scores (and presumably spend more), so they offer rewards galore. (Stay tuned in the coming weeks - we’ll give into points, miles, cash-back, and all the things.)

PSA: You’re not limited to only cards offered by your current bank. Meaning: Look for the best card you qualify for, regardless of the bank brand behind it. To pay a credit card bill from a different bank, you just set up a transfer from your checking account to the card company.

Q: How do I know what tier I fall into?

Check your credit score to see where you stand. You can get free scores from your own bank, or from sites like Credit Karma.