Credit cards offer great ways to earn points and rewards,
get peace of mind for emergencies, and build your credit
history. But credit cards can sometimes come with surprise
fees, high interest rates, and an unhealthy cycle of debt.
Ensure your credit card
experience is a positive one
Check out the information in this guide. With a little bit of
knowledge and a commitment to acting responsibly, you
can set yourself up for confident and successful credit
card ownership.
READY TO MAKE THE BIG LEAP INTO
THE LAND OF CREDIT?
Six Safety & Security Tips
Keep your card and your finances safe with these best practices:
BEWARE OF CARD SKIMMERS
KEEP A LIST
TREAT YOUR CARD LIKE CASH
PREP FOR TRAVELS
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALERTS
HANDLE RECEIPTS CAREFULLY
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Don't use an ATM, gas pump, or
other type of card reader if it
looks like it's been altered or
meddled with.
In a safe place at home, keep
a list of all credit cards and the
phone numbers to call if they're
lost or stolen.
Know where your credit card
is at all times—and never lend it
to anyone!
Notify your credit card provider
of the dates and location of any
upcoming travels so they can
prevent your account from being
blocked for unusual activity.
Sign up for credit card alerts
(if available) so you can be
notified immediately of any
suspicious activity.
On merchant receipts, draw lines
through any blank spaces. This
will prevent anyone from being
able to change the amount.
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