A credit card is a plastic card that is associated with a revolving credit account held through a bank or other lending institution. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-credit-card.htmThese cards allow account holders to access their line of credit by using it for purchases at retailers or online merchants. Credit cards are available with a variety of terms including those with offers of cash back for purchases made, frequent flyer miles for traveling or other reward programs.

Depending upon the qualifications of the applicant, the APR or interest associated with credit balances may vary. http://www.investopedia.com/articles/01/061301.aspVisa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express are generally accepted wherever credit cards are able to be used for purchases.http://www.toptenlinks.com/cat.php/Finance:Credit:Card+Brands Store specific cards may only be used to make purchases at the store or online site associated with the company. These may also be called department store credit cards.

Requirements for credit cards may vary based upon the type of card being issued. For debtors with poor credit, secured credit cards may be offered by the creditor. Once the applicant makes the requested deposit, the credit limit is equal to the amount of the deposit.http://credit.about.com/od/usingcreditcards/bb/securedcard.htm The creditor may also report activity to the major credit bureaus which will affect the debtors credit and may enable them to be approved for an unsecured card at a later time.

Offers may be sent to consumers through mailings or email distribution. Department stores often encourage customers to sign up when making purchases, and entice them with savings off their current purchase for applying for credit. Credit applications can also be found on the Internet.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Please contact a finance professional before using the information presented here.