Excellent Credit

Do you dream about a nice car? Or how about buying that mansion in the 90210 zip code you’ve had your eye on? Even if that car is a Toyota, or that real estate in the 90210 is just a condo, an excellent credit score willl help your chances of getting any of the above.

If you want to be one of the elite few who can boast about having an excellent credit score, your journey begins the day you sign up for your first credit card. Whether you’ve just applied for your first credit card or are working on improving your current credit rating scenario, the following are some helpful hints and guidelines for building up that credit score.

First, you should limit the amount of credit you have. A few credit cards with large balances are almost always better than ten credit cards with varying amounts of balance on them. If you avoid the credit card offers you get in the mail and stick to a few credit cards, you will slowly develop a strong credit history in relation to your age.

If you use different types of credit, this will also help improve your credit score. This means if you have a few credit cards, a car loan, and a mortgage you will have extremely balanced credit once it is all paid off. Some credit card users may also sign up for credit monitoring or counseling, but this is only necessary if you need extra help in staying on top of your finances. Don’t spend outside of your budget, and pay at least the minimum payment each month. Your credit score is in your own hands, and there’s no time like today to begin raising that score.

Chase Sapphire Preferred℠ Card

Earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months – that's $500 toward travel rewards!
2 points per dollar spent on travel and at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Get 20% off airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises when you book through Ultimate RewardsSM
No foreign transaction fees
Receive a 7% annual dividend on all new points earned – even on points already redeemed
1:1 point transfer to participating frequent travel programs
Direct access to expert service advisors anytime

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	15.24% (Variable)	No Annual Fee for your first year. $95 a year afterwards*	15.24% (Variable)	Excellent*

United MileagePlus® Explorer Card

Earn up to 40,000 bonus miles & first year free, a $95 value
First checked bag is free for you and a companion when you fly United flights, up to a $50 value
Board your flight before general boarding with priority boarding privileges
Visit the United Club with two complimentary day passes every year, up to a $100 value
Earn 2 miles for each $1 spent on airline tickets purchased from United and 1 mile per $1 for everything else
Your miles don't expire and there is no limit to the number of miles you can earn

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	15.24%(Variable)	$95, waived the first year*	Yes*	Excellent*

Marriott Rewards Premier® Credit Card from Chase

Earn 50,000 Bonus Points after your first use
Receive 1 free night stay upon account approval and each year upon account anniversary
Earn 5 points for every $1 spent at Marriott® locations
Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on qualifying airline, dining, and rental car purchases
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on other purchases
No foreign transaction fees
Cardmembers achieve Silver elite status with 15 nights credit toward Elite status
Redeem Marriott Rewards® points at Marriott properties including Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Fairfield Inn & Suites

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	15.24% (Variable)	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $85*	15.24% (Variable)	Excellent*

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Now! Earn a Free Flight after your first purchase
Get 3,000 Points every year on your Card member Anniversary - that can be redeemed for a $50 Wanna Get Away® Fare
Now you can redeem for International Travel, Hotels, Gift Cards and more.
Earn unlimited Free Flights - 2 Points per $1 Spent on Southwest Purchases and 1 Point per $1 Spent on Everything else
Your Bags Fly Free! No Blackout Dates, Points Don't Expire, and Unlimited Reward Seats!
No Change fees - if you need to change your flight, you won't be charged a fee
September 11th Security Fee Applies

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	15.24%(Variable)	$69.00**	Yes**	Excellent*

Marriott Rewards® Credit Card

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after your first use, redeemable for up to 4 free nights; plus receive 2 free night stay e-certificates upon account approval
No Annual fee for your first year - that's a $45 value*
Earn 3 points for every $1 spent at Marriott® locations
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on other purchases
Cardmembers achieve Silver elite status with 10 nights credit toward Elite status
Redeem Marriott Rewards® points at Marriott properties including Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Fairfield Inn & Suites

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	14.24% (Variable)	First Year Free, $45*	14.24% (Variable)	Excellent*

Blue Cash Everyday℠ Card from American Express

Earn $100 cash back after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases in the first 3 months of Cardmembership
Get 3% cash back at supermarkets, 2% cash back at gas stations and department stores, and 1% cash back on all other purchases
NO spend minimum, NO enrollment, and NO rotating rewards categories
Get a $25 Referral Bonus for each friend or family member who is approved for the Card

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0% on Purchases*	12 months*	0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, flexibility to pay over time*	No annual fee, flexibility to pay over time*	17.24-22.24% Variable*	Excellent*

American Express® Premier Rewards Gold Card

Membership Rewards® bonus: 25K points, redeemable for select gift cards valued at $250, when you spend $2,000 in your first three months of card membership
Membership Rewards® points multiply fast! Earn 3X points on airfare, 2X points on gas and groceries, 1X points on everything else
Enjoy special travel packages and amenities at hotels worldwide, as well as select concerts, shows, major sporting events, and more, nationwide
Get a decision in as little as 60 seconds

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $175*	N/A*	Excellent*

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

Earn 30,000 bonus miles toward Award Travel when you spend $500 on the Card in the first three months from account opening
Check your first bag FREE – for up to 9 people on your reservation – on every Delta flight
Receive double miles on Delta purchases and 1 mile for all other eligible dollars spent
Priority Boarding and 20% In–Flight Savings

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	15.24-19.24% Variable*	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95*	N/A*	Excellent*

American Express® Gold Card

Exclusive access to Gold Card Events — select concerts, shows, major sporting events, and more
Purchase Protection* can protect eligible items for up to 90 days from the date of purchase if stolen or accidentally damaged. *Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company
Redeem Membership Rewards® points for an exclusive array of travel, shopping, dining and entertainment rewards
Get a decision in as little as 60 seconds

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $125*	N/A*	Excellent*

The Platinum Card® from American Express

25,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend $2,000 during your first three months of Card membership.
Global Travel Benefits: Access over 600 lounges worldwide with Priority Pass(TM) Select, no foreign transaction fees, skip U.S. customs lines with Global Entry.
Enroll and select an airline to receive up to $200 annually in statement credits for incidental fees such as checked bags, in-flight refreshments, and change fees.
Receive a companion ticket for discounted travel when you purchase a qualifying First- or Business-Class international ticket.
24/7 Platinum Card® Concierge service for assistance with reservations, travel, gifts, and more
FINE HOTELS & RESORTS Program: exclusive upgrades and amenities at over 700 boutique, resort, and luxury hotels worldwide
Get 20% back when you use Pay with Points to book your travel.

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	$450*	N/A*	Excellent*

Blue Sky from American Express®

7,500 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within 3 months – redeemable for a $100 statement credit.
Travel rewards with no blackout dates or travel restrictions. Redeem with any airline, any car rental, any hotel —anytime.
Pay your bill all at once, or over time. It’s up to you.
Blue Savings Program®: big deals on big brands, all the time.
Get a decision in as little as 60 seconds.

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0% on Purchases*	12 months *	17.24-22.24% Variable*	No annual fee*	17.24-22.24% Variable*	Excellent*

Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express

Starpoints® Bonus: 10K with your first purchase and another 15K when you spend $5k within 6 months – enough for up to 6 free nights at a Category 1 or 2 hotel
Free nights, free flights: Redeem Starpoints with over 350 airlines through SPG Flights and more than 1,000 hotels and resorts worldwide. No blackout dates
2011 SmarterTravel® Award for "Best Travel Rewards Card"

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	15.24%-19.24%*	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65*	15.24%-19.24%*	Excellent*

True Earnings® Card from Costco and American Express

American Express® Card and Costco Membership Card in one - with no annual fee for Costco members
Cash back on the things you buy: 3% for the first $3,000 in annual gasoline purchases (1% thereafter), 2% for restaurants, 2% for travel, and 1% everywhere else, including Costco
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars in overall satisfaction by current TrueEarnings® Cardmembers from Costco and American Express

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0% on Purchases*	6 months*	15.24% Variable*	No annual fee*	15.24%*	Excellent*

Miles by Discover® Card

1 Mile on every $1 you spend
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months, then the variable purchase APR of 10.99% - 16.99%*
*Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	6 months*	10.99-16.99% (V)**	$0*	Intro: 0% 6 months*	Excellent - Good*

Escape by Discover® Card

Double Miles on every $1 you spend
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months, then the variable purchase APR of 10.99% - 16.99%*
*Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	6 months*	10.99%- 16.99% (V)**	$60*	Intro: 0% 6 months*	Excellent - Good*

The Plum Card® from American Express OPEN

The Everything, Everywhere Trade Terms Card (SM) from American Express OPEN
Pay in full within ten days, get a 1.5% discount
OR pay as little as 10% and take up to 2 months to pay off the balance, interest free
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $185
A powerful cash flow management tool

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	N/A*	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $185*	N/A*	Excellent*

Citi Simplicity® Card

0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 12.99% - 21.99% based on your creditworthiness.
Peace of mind through direct access to a service representative, no late fees and no penalty rate
No annual fee

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	18 months on balance transfers and purchases*	12.99-21.99% (Variable)*	$0*	Yes*	Excellent*

Capital One® VentureOne℠ Rewards Credit Card

Earn 10,000 bonus miles, equal to $100 in travel
No limit on the miles you can earn and miles won't expire
Fly free on any airline, any time with no blackout dates

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0% Until May 2013*	until May 2013*	11.9-19.9% (V) *	$0*	11.9-19.9% (V)*	Excellent*

Simmons First Visa® Platinum

Excellent credit required - applicants that do not have excellent credit will not be
approved
Low 7.25% variable standard purchase APR and platinum benefits
No balance transfer fee for balances transferred in response to this online offer
No annual fee

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	7.25%*	$0*	7.25%*	*

Ink Cash℠ Business Card

$250 cash back bonus after you spend $5,000 within 3 months!
5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually on office supply store purchases, cellular/landline phone service, and cable services
2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent annually on gas and dining
1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit on the amount of cash back you can earn

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	N/A*	13.24%*	$0*	Intro: 0% 6 months*	Excellent*

Visa Black Card

Unlimited VIP airport lounge visits
Redeem points for airfare on any airline with no blackouts or restrictions beginning at only 25,000 points for a ticket worth up to $500
Zero liability provides complete protection against unauthorized purchases

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	14.99%*	$495*	Intro: 0% 15 months*	Excellent*

Simmons First Visa® Platinum Rewards

Excellent credit required - applicants that do not have excellent credit will not be approved
Low 9.25% variable standard purchase APR and platinum benefits
Choose any U.S. based airline or ticket class. No blackout dates or seating restrictions
Other travel related options are hotels, cruises, vacation packages, car rental, and restaurants

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	9.25%*	$0*	9.25%*	*

Capital One(R) Cash Rewards – $100 Cash Back Bonus

$100 Bonus after you spend $500 in the first 3 months
50% bonus on the cash back you earn every year
1% cash back on all purchases
No annual fee
Earn unlimited cash back that doesn't expire
Redeem cash back anytime for any amount, even set automatic redemptions
Personalize your card with an image of your choice
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers until June 2013

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0% intro on purchases and balance transfers*	until June 2013*	12.9% - 20.9% (V)*	$0*	Yes*	Excellent Credit*

Capital One® Venture℠ Rewards Credit Card

Money Magazine's® "Most Rewarding Card if you crave free airline flights"
2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
Earn 10,000 bonus miles, equal to $100 in travel
Redeem your miles for ANY travel expense

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	13.9-20.9% (V)*	$0 intro for first year; $59 after that*	13.9-20.9% (V)*	Excellent*

Citi ThankYou® Preferred Card

$250 in gift cards - When you redeem the 25,000 bonus ThankYou® Points received after $2,000 in purchases within 4 months of account opening
Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend on all purchases
Receive an anniversary bonus every year you're a cardmember
No expiration and no limit on the points you can earn
Redeem ThankYou Points for merchandise, travel rewards, gift cards, cash and more

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
N/A*	N/A*	12.99%-22.99%* (Variable)*	$0*	N/A*	Excellent*

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 18 months. After that, the APR will be 11.99%-21.99% based upon your creditworthiness.
24/7 access to personalized concierge service providing assistance in booking hotel, flights, concert tickets and much more
Exciting deals and savings for great brands through Citi Specials
No Annual Fee*

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	18 months on balance transfers and purchases*	11.99%-21.99%* (Variable)*	$0*	Yes*	Excellent*

Capital One® Orbitz® Visa® Platinum

3 points per dollar spent on eligible Orbitz.com bookings
Get 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
Bonus points on eligible Orbitz.com bookings
No limit on the points you can earn and points don't expire
Redeem for travel, merchandise, gift cards and more
Earn travel quickly with low redemption minimums
250 point refueling bonus when you redeem points for awards
No annual fee

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0% intro APR on purchases*	until June 2013*	13.9% - 19.9% (V)*	None*	Yes*	Excellent*

Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card

$100 cash back after $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 12 months. After that, the APR will be 12.99%-22.99% variable based on your creditworthiness*
Earn 5% cash back at The Home Depot and on Home Furnishing and Home & Garden purchases from 4/1/12 to 6/30/12 when you enroll.
Each quarter, you can enroll to earn additional cash back in popular categories.
Full 1% cash back on all other purchases and eligible cash advances.

Intro APR	Intro APR Period	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Balance Transfers	Credit Needed
0%*	12 months on balance transfers and purchases*	12.99%-22.99%* (Variable)*	$0*	Yes*	Excellent*