Tag Archives: rate
First Premier Bank Credit Card Review
Upon first visit to the First Premier Bank’s website, I immediately liked the site design and the big sun glasses that greeted me. They set my mind into holiday mode which in turn made me want to look at what kind of credit cards were available.
I see it already, sun, sea and sand
. I could book a well deserved break once I am successful with my First Premier Bank Credit Card Application.
But website design is not a good enough reason to choose a credit card, so let’s see what features and benefits First Premier Credit Cards has to offer.
When you submit your credit card application, it will take you all of 60 seconds to know your fate, if you are a busy person, (and who isn’t) or like me, you want to book that vacation fast, you know how good this feature is.
Bad credit? No problem, if you have less than perfect credit your application is still welcomed.
The APR on purchases is 9.99%. This is an excellent rate, the website did not say if this rate is adjustable based on credit history but it seems so competitive, I tend to think that the lower your credit score the higher the rate. If this is not so, then you are on to a real cracker.
The cash advance APR is19.9% which is fair enough, after all it is a credit card and should not be used as a debit card.
You should be aware of the Penalty APR on purchases though. If you miss your due dates twice in any six month period or for two consecutive months, your APR would increase to 19.9% and will remain at that rate until you pay your bill on time for 3 consecutive months. The clouds are beginning to roll in on this offer.
If you think a bit of cloud is bad, when you see the fees attached to this card, those clouds would really bring the rain down.
On receipt of your card, your limit would be a minimum of $250. Then comes the fees: Annual fee $48 Account Set up fee $29 Program fee $95 Participation fee $ 6 monthly Additional card fee $20 per card Internet Access Fee $3.95 once you sign up for the service
Most of the fees are added to your account from day one and it would reduce your available credit. When all is said and done, you could actually end up with an available limit of as little as $52 depending on which fees apply to you.
WOW! How far can $52 get me? My local Days Inn?
Based on these features, the First Premier Bank Credit Card operates a lot like a bad credit credit card. But on the plus side, once you pay your bills on time you would benefit from the competitive 9.9% APR.
I would definitely explore some other options.
To determine if this offer is the best you can get (and I sure hope it isn’t), compare other bad credit credit cards and see what they have to offer before making your final decision. It could be that your credit history is ok, so check out the vast range of credit card offers that do not carry so many fees.
The Basics Of Student Loan Consolidation
Whether you are a parent of a college student, a current student, or a recent college graduate, you have undoubtedly realized how confusing student loans can be. Many students have multiple loans from several lenders, each with its own distinct terms, rate, and payoff amount. Keeping track of these multiple loans seems like a full time job where, instead of receiving a paycheck, you are given stacks of payment coupons. There is a way to free yourself from the overwhelming monotony of being in this position: Student loan consolidation.
Student loan consolidation makes things much less complicated; instead of tracking multiple loans and payments, you will only have one monthly payment. A typical repayment period is ten years. While in essence student consolidation loans are large loans used to pay off several smaller loans, they are governed by different rules than other types of consolidation loans. Here are some distinct features of student loan consolidation:
1. You cannot consolidate student loans that are in default. If you have already defaulted on one or more student loans, you must first work with the lender/s to get back on a payment plan; then you are free to consolidate these loans. You may consolidate student loans that are still in the grace period, as well as loans on which you are currently making payments.
2. If your student loans are through conventional federal funding sources like Stafford Loans, Direct Loans, Perkins or Guaranteed Student Loans, and you are not in default on any student loans, you should find it relatively easy to obtain a consolidation loan; however, it is not always possible to consolidate student loans from private funding sources. You should consolidate any federal student loans first, because their availability and interest rates are not based on a person’s credit. By making timely payments on a federal loan consolidation, you can improve your credit and get better rates and terms when you consolidate any private student loans.
3. When you consolidate student loans, the interest rate you will pay is calculated based on the average rate of your existing loans. If most of your outstanding student loans have similar interest rates, then your student consolidation loan should have approximately the same rate. If your interest rates vary widely, your consolidation loan will be based on a weighted average of your existing rates.
4. You should be able to consolidate your student loans without having to pay a fee. Beware of lenders that offer to consolidate your loans for a small fee; There should be no fees for student loan consolidation, and you can easily shop elsewhere.
5. Many lenders require that you consolidate a certain minimum amount of student loan debt. The amount will vary from lender to lender, but if your student loans total less than $10,000, you may have fewer options available when consolidating.
By simply consolidating your outstanding student loans, you will see improvement in your overall credit score. Part of your credit score is based on the number of accounts you have open, and by reducing this number you will be seen as a lower credit risk. For recent college graduates whose maximum earning potential may be years in the future, student loan consolidation can make surviving on an entry level salary much more comfortable.