Citigroup Financial Education and Revitalization

Looking for a Credit Card for Christmas Shopping? Before you submit a credit card application, first review the main points which will help you choose the right credit card for your needs.

What Charges You'll Make - If you're going to use the credit card mainly for booking airline reservations and hotels, it might be best for you to get a travel credit card that offers sky miles and hotel points or cashback. If this will be an emergency credit card only, then your main concern may be for a low interest rate credit card with low fees.

When You'll Repay Charges - Will you pay off credit card charges in full every month, or will you carry a balance month to month? If you're going to carry a balance, you want the lowest possible interest rate as well as a low introductory rate. But if you'll payoff balances in full every month, then interest rate really doesn't matter so no annual fee and/or a long grace period would be a bigger concern. If you're going to carry a balance, be concerned about how the finance charge is calculated. The most common method is the Average Daily Balance, which means that the daily balances are added together and then divided by the number of days in the billing cycle. Stay away from credit cards that compute the balance using two billing cycles, as this method costs more money in financing fees.

What Amount You'll Charge - If you're going to use the credit card for all your monthly expenses, then you need a card that has a high credit limit and a high cashback percentage.

More info about Interest Rates, Credit Limits, Incentives, Fees and Penalties

Interest Rates - The interest rate (Annual Percentage Rate) APR can either be a fixed rate or a variable rate that is tied to another financial indicator, most commonly the prime rate. With a fixed rate credit card you know what the interest rate will be every month, whereas a card with a variable rate can fluctuate. Of course, even the interest of a fixed rate card can change based on certain events, such as paying your credit card bill late, exceeding your limit, or simply because the credit card issuer decides to change it after providing you ample advance notice.

Credit Limit - This is the amount of money the credit card company will let you charge to the card. This amount varies depending upon the card offer and your credit history. Be sure to get a credit card with an ample limit, because getting close to your max can hurt your credit score. Just remember that you don't have to max out your limit just because it's available.

Incentives - To compete for and to gain customers, many credit card companies offer rewards. Even if you normally use cash, why not use your credit card and then use the cash to make the payment during the grace period? You still won't pay interest and meanwhile you'll rack-up rewards. A credit card with 5% cashback will earn you $5 for every $100 charged. If your total bills come to $2,000 per month, you'll earn a free $100 every month. Look for a rewards program that you'll use and which offers flexibility, such as cashback or travel.

Fees and Penalties - Compare common charges such as late fees, overlimit fees, balance transfers, cash advances, and for making payments by telephone. Regarding balance transfers, look for credit card offers with no transaction fees and zero percent interest for at least 12 months.

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Citigroup Financial Education and Revitalization

By Credit Federal | Published 05/22/2006

In addition to financial resources for consumer education, Americans also benefit when institutions take active roles in community development. Citigroup has launched efforts to meet those needs.

The Citigroup Foundation and the National Training and Information Center has launched a 'Neighborhood Revitalization and Preservation through Financial Education' project. The goal of the project is to promote wealth and stable home ownership in communities across the country.

The Citigroup Foundation donated a $250,000 grant check to NTIC.

According to a statement by Mary Louise Preis: 'At Citigroup, we believe that strong financial education programs raise the quality of life for individuals, families and institutions and strengthen communities around the world. Together with NTIC and its community-based organizations, CitiFinancial and the Citigroup Foundation will continue to work to improve financial education in Chicago and other communities we both serve. We believe that Financial Literacy is the key to home ownership and community stability.'

'Working with CitiFinancial, NTIC and affiliate organizations across the country are working to help families realize the American dream of homeownership and protect their investment by preventing home foreclosures and predatory lending,' said Joseph W. Mariano, Executive Director of NTIC.

Through the project, CitiFinancial and NTIC will impact thousands of households in Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, New York, and Indiana. The project will focus on using financial education and awareness to equip families and individuals with the tools and information they need to build wealth, secure assets and protect their investments.

NTIC's mission is to build strong grass roots community organizations through their work on neighborhood improvement issues.

The 'Neighborhood Revitalization and Preservation through Financial Education' project works within established community organizations and employs the most appropriate models for these communities based on local needs.

With support from the Citigroup Foundation, the NTIC national office will support each of the seven affiliates with technical assistance, relationship building that builds capacity, implementation monitoring, results tracking and analysis and development and sharing of best practices.

'NTIC commends the Citigroup Foundation for their commitment to improving neighborhoods and strengthening families through financial education. Citigroup's support will impact thousands of families in Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, New York, and Indiana.' Said Joseph W. Mariano, Executive Director of NTIC.

To date, Citigroup and the Citigroup Foundation have invested $53 million of its 10-year $200 million commitment to Financial Education programs in 68 countries.

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Citigroup Financial Education and Revitalization - by <a href=http://creditfederal.com>CreditFederal.com</a> In addition to financial resources for consumer education, Americans also benefit when institutions take active roles in community development. Citigroup has launched efforts to meet those needs. The Citigroup Foundation and the National Training and Information Center has launched a 'Neighborhood Revitalization and Preservation through Financial Education' project. The goal of the project is to promote wealth and stable home ownership in communities across the country. The Citigroup Foundation donated a $250,000 grant check to NTIC. According to a statement by Mary Louise Preis: 'At Citigroup, we believe that strong financial education programs raise the quality of life for individuals, families and institutions and strengthen communities around the world. Together with NTIC and its community-based organizations, CitiFinancial and the Citigroup Foundation will continue to work to improve financial education in Chicago and other communities we both serve. We believe that Financial Literacy is the key to home ownership and community stability.' 'Working with CitiFinancial, NTIC and affiliate organizations across the country are working to help families realize the American dream of homeownership and protect their investment by preventing home foreclosures and predatory lending,' said Joseph W. Mariano, Executive Director of NTIC. Through the project, CitiFinancial and NTIC will impact thousands of households in Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, New York, and Indiana. The project will focus on using financial education and awareness to equip families and individuals with the tools and information they need to build wealth, secure assets and protect their investments. NTIC's mission is to build strong grass roots community organizations through their work on neighborhood improvement issues. The 'Neighborhood Revitalization and Preservation through Financial Education' project works within established community organizations and employs the most appropriate models for these communities based on local needs. With support from the Citigroup Foundation, the NTIC national office will support each of the seven affiliates with technical assistance, relationship building that builds capacity, implementation monitoring, results tracking and analysis and development and sharing of best practices. 'NTIC commends the Citigroup Foundation for their commitment to improving neighborhoods and strengthening families through financial education. Citigroup's support will impact thousands of families in Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, New York, and Indiana.' Said Joseph W. Mariano, Executive Director of NTIC. To date, Citigroup and the Citigroup Foundation have invested $53 million of its 10-year $200 million commitment to Financial Education programs in 68 countries. Apply for a <a target='_blank' href="http://creditfederal.com/credit-card.html">Credit Card</A> by browsing offers at Credit Federal. This article provided courtesy of <a href=http://creditfederal.com target=_new>www.CreditFederal.com</a>, a personal credit resource of good or bad credit credit cards and loans.

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