Report: Credit-card balances, and scores, both fell in 2011

  Americans’ credit-card debt fell 11 percent last year, to an average $6,576 for people with accounts, reported CreditKarma.com.   However, the consumer-advocate service said credit-card balances started to creep up around the end of the year. In December, for example, Arizonans boosted their card balances by 4 percent to an average $7,748, one of the biggest increases of any states for the ...

3 new types of credit cards to look for

These three types of credit cards are becoming popular with customers looking to pay less fees and build up their credit scores.

When are credit scores free?

A reader wants to know why stores that pull credit scores when you apply for credit don't tell you what the number is -- and how the scores work in general.

Increasing Credit Scores: 4 Tips from American Financial Solutions

Credit scores are an important tool for successfully managing personal credit reports and credit scores. Carrying high balances and applying for unnecessary credit cards are two threats to a good credit score. Becky House, Education Manager and credit expert from American Financial Solutions provides tips on correcting these and three more of the most common errors that lead to a credit score ...

Credit scores & prepaid cards

In Monday's blog , I wanted to clear up the relationship between credit scores and Suze Orman's new prepaid card. (The short of it: There's no connection.)