Credit Information

Student Credit Cards


STUDENT CREDIT CARDS

With graduate debt averaging over £12,000, the ability to spread the cost of further education using a student credit card is obviously attractive. Adding to their appeal is the fact that these cards are relatively easy to obtain. Unlike many standard credit cards, they are available to people who do not have a regular, minimum income and credit history. They often come with tempting offers including low rates for an introductory period, shopping discounts and free CDs. Flexing student plastic has the additional benefit of creating a credit history that can be used to support future loan and mortgage applications.

So, with no regular income and credit history, what exactly is the attraction of students for the credit card companies? Well, the fact that graduates can expect to earn, on average, £400,000 more over their lifetime than the national average, means that financial institutions are eager to attract this extra earning potential. Banks and credit card providers know that the general public are reluctant to go through the hassle of changing accounts, so by attracting students early in their career, they are likely to stay with them for life.

Student credit cards can have drawbacks. If balances are not paid off in full each month, most cards aimed at students notch up higher interest charges than their regular counterparts. These additional charges often cancel out the benefits of store discounts or free CDs. Credit cards aimed at those in further education may not attract the useful bonuses that regular plastic does, for example air miles, cash back on purchases and interest-free periods.

Credit cards aren't free money. Flashing plastic creates a debt that must be managed alongside the repayment of tuition fees, bank overdraft and student loan repayments. Handled well, a student will benefit in the future from a good credit rating. Managed poorly, students may end up with a bad history that will adversely affect subsequent credit applications.

It's also important to note that some standard credit cards do not require the holder to have a minimum regular income or credit history. Students working part time and holiday jobs may earn enough to apply for a range of standard cards. So, it is important for students to check out all suitable credit card deals, not just the ones aimed at people in further education.

A little research before signing on the dotted line can really pay off. By taking the time to compare the deals available on all suitable credit cards, interest repayments can be minimised and the benefits of holding a card maximised. And that really is good news for students.

Please click here for more information of student credit cards available for the UK

Phil Edwards is a Business analyst in the city of London, freelance writer for several finance magazines and websites and co-owner of http://www.1st-uk-credit-cards.co.uk and http://www.1st-uk-loans.co.uk.

  


MORE RESOURCES:

TIME

Best Credit Cards for High School, College Graduates
Fox Business
Contrary to popular belief, young adults can still open credit card accounts in the post-CARD Act environment--although they might need some help. In order to garner approval, applicants must have either a co-signer or sufficient independent disposable ...
What's a Good First Credit Card to Build My Credit Score?U.S. News & World Report
The Top 5 Flexible Travel Rewards Credit CardsTIME
Americans want to use credit card rewards in summer plansDebtmerica Relief

all 9 news articles »


Credit Repair Services in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available ...
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Most industries in the United States went down with the ship during the recession, but the Credit Repair Services industry was not one of them. As consumers credit scores dropped in the face of late payments due to unemployment and reduced income, ...

and more »


Credit Agricole SA Group selects Orchestra Networks' Master Data Management ...
MarketWatch (press release)
BOSTON & PARIS, May 24, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Orchestra Networks(TM), the Master Data Management (MDM) software vendor, today announced that Credit Agricole SA Group selected its EBX5 solution to manage its master data. Orchestra Networks is one of ...

and more »


Euroclear taps Credit Agricole for new chairman
Reuters
By Luke Jeffs | LONDON May 24 (Reuters) - Euroclear named Marc Antoine Autheman, a former Credit Agricole banker, to replace Sir Nigel Wicks as chairman in January as the settlement firm gears up for reforms to promote competition in the sector for the ...

and more »


AM Best Downgrades Issuer Credit Rating and Affirms Financial Strength Rating ...
MarketWatch (press release)
OLDWICK, NJ, May 24, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best Co. has downgraded the issuer credit rating (ICR) to "a" from "a+" and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) of West Bend Mutual Insurance Company (West Bend) (West Bend, WI).
A.M. Best Upgrades Issuer Credit Ratings of Atain Specialty Insurance Company ...Insurance News Net (press release)

all 39 news articles »


Credit Today

FICO Reports UK Credit Card Delinquencies Have Fallen to Two-Year Low
MarketWatch (press release)
For so-called "classic" (non-premium) credit cards, less than 5 percent of the balances on all cards were 30 days delinquent in March, which represents a two-year low. In February and March, the percentages of accounts that were 30 days delinquent also ...
Credit card delinquencies hit two-year lowCredit Today

all 7 news articles »


Rockland NY Credit Union Appoints COO
MarketWatch (press release)
PEARL RIVER, NY, May 24, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Palisades Federal Credit Union, the largest Rockland County based Credit Union, has named Anthony Kurdziel Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Member Services.

and more »


San Francisco Bay Area Today (press release)

Winners and Losers 3 Years After Credit CARD Act
Fox Business
By Connie Prater In the three years since President Obama signed landmark credit card reforms into law, are consumers or banks better or worse off? Banking industry representatives had warned before the credit card regulations were signed into law May ...
Medical Costs Contribute to Credit Card DebtNew York Times (blog)
Medical Costs Pushing Americans Into Credit Card Debt: SurveyHuffington Post
One year after credit card reform: How protected are we?WSLS
Condé Nast Traveler -ConsumerReports.org -San Francisco Bay Area Today (press release)
all 10 news articles »


USA TODAY

Credit Swaps Rise in U.S. as Greece Euro-Exit Concerns Increase
Bloomberg
A gauge of corporate credit risk in the US declined as European leaders met in Brussels to discuss ways to stem the region's debt crisis. The Markit CDX North America Investment Grade Index, a credit-default swaps benchmark that investors use to hedge ...
Ford credit rating boost: 'The Blue Oval is back'USA TODAY
How Ford's Credit Upgrade Helps ShareholdersTheStreet.com
Ford Credit Rating Upgrade Returns Blue Oval LogoHuffington Post
Detroit Free Press -Fox Business -The Independent
all 85 news articles »


Bloomberg

CREDIT MARKETS: Possible Greece Euro Zone Exit Captivates Markets
Wall Street Journal
By DOW JONES NEWSWIRES Fresh worries about the fiscal stability of the euro zone dominated market action Wednesday, as market participants fretted about the possibility of Greece's exit. The fears sent investors into safe-haven assets, ...
Treasuries Losing Appeal With Widest Yield Penalty: Muni CreditBusinessWeek

all 191 news articles »

Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.