Our first reaction to the announcement that Suze Orman and MasterCard® had created a new credit card was definitely cynical. We thought “Here’s another example of a well-known personal finance expert, who supposedly is all about helping people get out of debt and increase their financial standings, taking advantage of devoted followers just to add to her own coffers.”

After investigating The Approved Card® by Suze Orman, we had to admit my initial reaction was wrong. The Approved Card is not a credit card at all, but is a prepaid card that works wherever debit MasterCard is accepted. That means people who enroll for The Approved Card cannot create more debt simply through its use as you can only spend the amount of money the card is loaded with.

There are several options on loading the approved card. First, the card allows the consumer to set up direct deposit to load the card. The service is free. An added benefit is that with every direct deposit, the consumer gets 30 days of free ATM services at over 35,000 AllPoint ATM’s throughout the US. Second, you can load the card by transferring funds from a bank, and again the service is free and earns the cardholder the same free ATM services. Third, although the benefits of either direct deposit or bank transfer don’t apply, a cardholder can add cash through any MoneyGram Express Payment or Western Union location.

After learning that Orman’s Approved Card wasn’t a credit card, our initial cynicism was toned down, but after researching the fees associated with the card, we actually began to be impressed by the structure of the program (Yes, actually a program that Orman is calling “People First”) of which the card is part. Rather than some complicated fee structure or percentage of transaction amount, the card carries with it a flat fee of $3.00 per card issued and a $3.00 a month fee regardless of the number of transactions – or the number of cards in use. With one direct deposit or balance transfer from your bank, you can avoid any withdrawal, balance inquiry, or even withdrawal declined fees at approved ATMs. It’s about the simplest, straightforward, affordable fee structure you could ask for.

From here, Orman’s Approved Card just seems to get better. There’s a text tool that the consumer can configure to send balance, transaction, and deposit information to his or her cell phone. The same information can be sent to your email. Orman has set up what she calls “The Approved Dashboard,” which, besides displaying loads, expenditures and balances, allows the consumer to easily track spending trends, upcoming bills, and the like. Also, Approved Card holders will have access to periodic emails and/or videos with financial advice from Orman.

There’s an option of adding up to 3 additional cards to the Approved Card account. This makes a convenient way to get money to a child away at college or to teach children older than 13 how to use money responsibly. The account allows you to load money to the additional cards. The same text message or email notification of transactions is available for each additional card, and each additional card also gets its own Approved Dashboard.

Additionally, The Approved Card allows for up to 6 Emergency Funds or Goal Funds, allowing the cardholder to earmark money for savings. Money in an emergency or goal fund is not available for spending unless it is transferred out of the savings portion of the card.

As part of the “People First” program, Orman has included several other features with the card that one might not normally expect from a bank card. Two of those features are actually services that usually involve a monthly premium elsewhere. The Approved Card member receives free identity protection monitoring services from Trusted ID®. Also, for the first year of enrollment, the cardholder has unlimited access to credit scores, credit reports, and credit monitoring through TransUnion®.

In short, The Approved Card by Suze Orman offers a viable and extremely affordable way for a consumer to

• Gain a better understanding, and therefore, greater control, over his or her spending habits,
• Teach his or her children fiscal responsibility,
• Put aside money for a rainy day,
• Have access to tools and information allowing him or her to learn more about managing finances, and
• Be secure in the knowledge his or her identity is safe.

Better than doubling your pleasure® with Doublemint® gum, US Bank and Visa are set to double their marketability and the ease of use for international travelers as they reveal the FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature Card’s near field technology (NFT) that includes both Visa’s payWave chip and the EMV® (Europay, VISA, MasterCard®) microprocessor.

Technology now allows chips or microprocessors embedded within credit cards to securely communicate with point of purchase readers using a protected Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to complete a secure transaction. Within the United States, that technology has been embedded in a chip such as Visa’s payWave or MasterCard’s PayPass systems incorporate. Because the chip contains all information necessary to complete a transaction, just like is stored on your credit card’s magnetic strip, a consumer can tap or wave their credit card within about 4 inches of the secure card reader for purchase amounts of up to $25.

Meanwhile, outside the United States, many countries are using EMV technology with their credit cards and merchant payment readers to allow consumers to quickly conduct transactions of up to $25. Visa Europe projected earlier this month that contactless credit card users in the United Kingdom alone will reach 20 million by 2012. Worldwide, it is estimated over 1 billion people use cards with EMV technology.

For consumers who travel internationally, the FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature Card making use of both technologies is an incredible benefit, making travel overseas that much more convenient and safe while still being able to use the same credit card (and continue to collect its rewards) for purchases in the States.

Not only are RFID technologies secure, the FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature Card boasts a zero percent liability for unauthorized transactions. One of the reasons banks, merchants, and credit card issuing companies have touted in developing contactless payments is a desire to help the consumer be more safe than before. As more and more merchants have contactless payment options available, it reduces the chances of large amounts of cash on the premises and increases the number of customers paying with a card. The merchant becomes a less likely target for would-be thieves, protecting the international traveler in doing so.

So whether you are in New York or London, dashing down the street to get a quick breakfast as you begin your day is a possibility. No digging for cash as you stand in a checkout line. After grabbing breakfast, jumping on a bus, the subway, or on the tube to get where you are going can be accomplished with a quick wave of your FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature Card.

The dual contactless payment chip and EMV microprocessor is currently only available in FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature Card. However, Visa and Bankcorp are planning on extending the dual technologies to additional cards within the coming year.

The end of the school year frenzy of concerts, recitals, field trips, locker clean out, yearbooks, and promotion evokes in me the desire for a simple, peaceful existence, and I welcome the long, lazy days of summer with open arms.

Realizing the kids have reached a milestone and that summer is simply the transition to another stage in their lives, causes me to reflect and re-evaluate where I am and what my priorities are. And the desire to slow down a bit and simplify grows.

The sun, it seems, has burned away the hazy lack of focus resulting from too long a winter, and the energy to pursue my personal and financial goals more diligently has returned.

But, knowing myself, my family, and the speed with which we tend to get busy or get involved, I know that whatever means I choose to employ in achieving my financial goals needs to be easy and not take a lot of time not require a lot of difficult figuring.

One discovery I’ve made that will help set me on my way to personal financial freedom is the Citi Simplicity® Card. It’s perfect for me because, like summer, it’s a lot less complicated than any other card I’ve seen, and it gives me the freedom and flexibility I want in a credit card.

The Citi Simplicity® Card has some great features that fit my lifestyle, and that I can really take advantage of as I put my financial house in order.

The Citi Simplicity® Card has the most fantastic introductory offer I’ve seen in ages. For new account holders, the card offers 0% APR on purchases for 21 months. That’s almost 2 years…and almost unheard of anymore! AND the 21 months begins when you open the account. It’s not some offer that started 3 months ago where you would lose out on three of the 21 months. The 0% starts when I start, and I like that!

Not only is there 0% interest on purchases for 21 months, the same is true of account balance transfers. That’s also a thing of the past…to have 0% interest on both purchases and balances transfers for 21 months. Incredible! I feel like a low-budget, tv commercial because I have to say, “But wait! There’s more.” I have four months from the day of opening the account to complete my balance transfer and still take advantage of the zero percent. That means I don’t have to make all the financial decisions upon opening my new account. Citibank sure makes it simple!

Like most credit cards, the Citi Simplicity® Card does charge a fee for balance transfers – $5 or 3% of the amount of transfer, whichever is greater. Once the introductory 21 months is over, the standardAPR (Annual Percentage Rate) applies.

Besides the introductory rate, Citi Simplicity® Card does not charge an annual fee. (I’ve made it a policy not to apply for cards that charge an annual fee because there are so many credit cards out there that no longer do.) In addition, the Citi Simplicity® Card doesn’t charge late fees and won’t hike the interest rate if you miss a payment due date or go over your credit limit. Not that I intend to do either, but with summer comes family reunions and vacations, and, although it doesn’t happen often, I’ve been known to be late on payments if I’m traveling. The promise of no repercussion in the event that happens is another plus in my book.

Citi Simplicity® Card is simple. To qualify, I have to have an “excellent” credit score. There’s not a lot of red tape. There’s not a lot of fine print. I like that. And if there’s ever anything I don’t understand, Citi’s customer service is available 24/7 and is manned by people, not just a machine, so I know I can get my questions answered.

With the Citi Simplicity® Card, I’ll transfer my higher interest balances and then I’m set to kick back and enjoy the long, lazy days of summer while I work on paying down my debt over the next 21 months of zero percent interest! And I’ll enjoy our family trips more knowing that I can take some time paying off the expense of our vacation without incurring any additional costs.

There’s a lot that can be said for making things simple!

The company that developed the world’s most powerful and versatile search engine has teamed with Citi® MasterCard® , accepted world-wide, and Sprint™to put a world of power and choice into the hands of the people.

Google recently announced both the launch of “Google Wallet” in test markets this summer as well as plans for rapid expansion.

The new application is exactly what it’s name implies, a wallet. Its purpose is to make your life simpler and more organized. The Google Wallet application has the ability to store just about everything you would normally find in your wallet or that you would need for checkout at your favorite retail location, and that storage is much more compact and organized. Everything from credit cards to coupons can be stored and accessed through Google Wallet, and plans are that in the future Google Wallet will be doing even more, like storing tickets for sporting events or concerts.

Using your Android™ phone, initially a Nexus S 4G but soon to expand to more phones, it is possible to make purchases wherever MasterCard’s PayPass® technology is accepted by just tapping your phone on the point of sale terminal sensor. Not only is the near field technology (NFC) housed in your Android phone and accessed by the Google Wallet application able to combine and allow you to make purchases, but Google Wallet has the ability to allow you to use coupons, gift cards, and local savings offers. Imagine upon checkout from a retailer, accessing your special offers to receive valuable savings without having to search through a messy pile of paper coupons!

Besides Citi MasterCard, Google Wallet can immediately be used in conjunction with a pre-paid card offered by Google. The company plans to expand the ability to use other credit cards in the near future as more banks are brought on board. This, of course, will mean that even more retailer merchants will accept payments made suing Google Wallet.

Technology is great and sure makes our lives easier, but aren’t there risks involved with storing all your credit card or other sensitive information on your phone. The developers of Google Wallet have built in safety measures that include both an application specific PIN and a separate chip within your Android phone on which your encrypted information is stored. That means memory associated with the Google Wallet application is completely, physically separated from your phone’s memory for items such as contacts, messages, videos, photos, and the like.

Year after year, Google’s addition of exciting new options has continued to take the company way past the status of just being the world’s most powerful search engine. This summer’s addition of “Googling it” with Google Wallet gives you power to take care of purchases, bills, and other financial obligations in the most convenient and flexible way possible so you have more time to relax and enjoy the sunshine.

It’s April, but there’s “No foolin” on great zero percent credit card offers through Discover® or CitiBank.

From now through April 30th, apply for one of four credit cards, transfer a balance, and get zero percent interest on that transfer in addition to zero percent on purchases. This limited time offer is for Discover More card, Citi Dividend Platinum Select® MasterCard®, Citi® Platinum Select MasterCard, or Citi Diamond Preferred® Card.

These incredible offers come just in time for the spring projects in the house and in the yard. The terms offered on balance transfers extend for a long enough period to save some major interest while making significant progress on paying down the balance you owe.

Besides the appealing terms on balance transfers, Discover and each of the Citibank MasterCards offer additional benefits to the new account holder. Those perks are compared below.

Zero Percent on Balance Transfers

• Discover Card – 24 months
• Citi Dividend Platinum Select – 15 months
• Citi Platinum Select – 21 months
• Citi Diamond Preferred – 21 months

Zero Percent on Purchases

• Discover – 6 months
• Citi Dividend Platinum Select – 15 months
• Citi Platinum Select – 21 months
• Citi Diamond Preferred – 21 months

No Annual Fee

• Discover
• Citi Dividend Platinum Select
• Citi Platinum Select
• Citi Diamond Preferred

Cash Back Rewards

• Discover – 5% on select categories quarterly; 1% on everything else
• Citi Dividend Platinum Select – $100 after $500 in purchases during first 3 months; 5% on select categories quarterly; 2% on everything else for first 12 months, then 1% thereafter

Online Shopping Cash Back Bonus

• Discover – 5% to 20% through Discover Shopping Mall
• Citi (All Cards) – 10 % “Extra Cash Dollars” on all purchases can be used for discounts through “Extra Cash by Citi” site.

Regular APR

• Discover – 11.99%-20.99% (Variable)
• Citi Dividend Platinum Select – 12.99%-20.99% (Variable)
• Citi Platinum Select – 11.99%-20.99% (Variable)
• Citi Diamond Preferred – 11.99%-20.99% (Variable)

So stop foolin’ around and take advantage of a great deal by selecting the card that’s best for you. Act today because after April 30, time’s up.

VISA and MasterCard, along with many major banks such as J. P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America, have announced not only their own monetary contributions to Japan’s disaster relief, but also have decided to waive the interchange fees on donations to major charities assisting in the relief efforts.

Waiving the interchange fees will make a significant difference in the total amount of monies received by the charities as interchange fees are the largest percentage of the fees collected by credit card companies.

Some of the banks and credit card issuing companies have placed a time-limit on fee waivers. VISA will not charge fees on donations to Japan relief funds through April 30 and MasterCard through May 15.

MasterCard and VISA, along with several of the banks, have created lists of charities not being charged interchange fees for donations to the disaster relief funds. The American Red Cross appears on every list. Other organizations eligible for the fee waivers often include World Vision, Save the Children, Americares, International Medical Corps, Doctors without Borders, and the International Rescue Committee. Check with your bank or credit card issuer to be sure the charity of your choice appears on their list. Several of the eligible charities for credit card donations have made it possible for convenient, on-line donations to aid the effort in Japan.

In addition to making it easy for customers to become personally involved in disaster relief, MasterCard has donated $250,000 and offered a matching incentive to employees by promising to double their giving. Likewise, Chase has donated $5 million to aid Japan and will match employee contributions up to $1 million.

Bank of America has donated $1.22 million to the relief effort in Japan, with about half of that going through the American Red Cross. In addition, Bank of America has stated that it will not limit it’s matching on employee donations.

Meanwhile, Wells Fargo Bank has already contributed $500,000 to the American Red Cross and has pledged to match employee contributions up to $500,000. For any donation to the American Red Cross through Wells Fargo, all fees will be waived ensuring that the Red Cross will receive 100% of the donation.

With television images of the recent disaster in Japan playing in our homes, we are, indeed, reminded of Walt Disney’s observation that “It’s a Small World After All.” Modern technology and the internet mean the average person half way around the globe can help in ways never before possible. Recent announcements from VISA and MasterCard, along with many major banks such as J. P. Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America, make it possible for one person to make a world of difference.

At the Mobile World Conference (MWC) held in Barcelona, Spain, February 14-17, 2001, MasterCard®, in collaboration with Wireless Dynamics, announced the introduction of secure, contactless payments using an iCarte™ attachment with the iPhone®.

Boasting thousands of attendees hailing from over 200 countries plus nearly 1400 displays featuring the latest technology for mobile devices, and in many cases, the unveiling of new products, MasterCard and Wireless Dynamics, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, had the attention of the world as they revealed the pilot program will be launched in Singapore.

MasterCard’s PayPass™ technology will be programmed into the iCarte, an iPhone accessory that has Near Field Communication (NFC) abilities. NFC allows short range, two-way communication between personal electronic devices thereby enabling the exchange of information. The technology developed by the MasterCard and Wireless Dynamics will not only have the ability to authorize mobile payments, but will also allow electronic receipts, coupons, or even tickets to be either downloaded or uploaded.

The iCarte accessory is available for iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, or iPhone 4, which was awarded “Best Mobile Device” at the 2001 MWC. The iCarte accessory either connects to the bottom of the iPhone or snaps conveniently to the back of the iPhone. The iCarte’s embedded smart element configured as a MasterCard will essentially turn your iPhone into a secure electronic wallet able to complete transactions on any contactless-enabled point of sale terminal.

MasterCard and iCarte, making life easier and more secure.

Advanta has made it their business to service the financial and credit needs of small businesses. They are commited to providing the financial products small businesses need and demand. To meet the ever-changing needs of businesses, Advanta has introduced four new business credit cards that build and improve on the predecessors. Read details on each new card below.

Advanta Platinum BusinessCard with Unlimited Rewards

The Advanta business credit card, formerly known as the Advanta Platinum BusinessCard with Rewards, now gives businesses the opportunity to earn unlimited rewards. This replaces the previous reward program which featured reward points based on several tiers.

Advanta Customizable Platinum BusinessCard with Unlimited Rewards

This customizable credit card lets you do more than just add your business name to the top of the card. Add your business name and logo to the card to show off your business every time you use the card. This card also now features the Unlimited Rewards program for an easy and simple way to earn rewards for your business.

Advanta Platinum 90-Day Interest Free BusinessCard

Any business can use the additional help of more cash flow. Sometimes the money doesn’t always come in when the bills are due. This new card from Advanta replaces the Life-of-Balance card and can help your cash flow situation by not having to pay any interest on new purchases for 90 days. It’s not an introductory offer either – it’s available on every new purchase.

Advanta Business World MasterCard

This new card offers a whooping 50% bonus on all the points you and your business earn each year. Earn points towards travel, gift certificates and merchandise all with no limit or restrictions. Get all this with no annual fee.

To get more information or to apply for any of the new Advanta business credit cards, click on the card’s corresponding image.