New credit card rules go into effect today, Thursday, August 20, 2009. Every consumer should familiarize themselves with these new rules, especially since the new rules are set to benefit consumers. The act is known as the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009. The purpose of the legislation is to eliminate certain practices made by credit card companies that take advantage of consumers. This act will supposedly make the credit card industry a more fair market.

The most important aspects of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act are as follows:

1. Credit card companies must follow strict guidelines that will make it more difficult to issue credit cards to consumers under the age of 21.

2. The interest rate cannot be raised on an existing credit card balance until the consumer is at least 60 days past due.

3. The interest rate cannot be increased within the first year of the customer having the account.

4. Promotional interest rates must be six months or longer.

5. If the interest rate is increased for a particular customer, the credit card company must revert to the original interest rate if the consumer makes his/her payments on time for six months.

6. Billing statements must be mailed at least 21 days before the due date.

7. Late fees cannot be assessed if the payment is delayed due to processing delays.

8. Credit card companies are required to give the customer at least 45 days written notice before making interest rate increases.

These new rules are designed to protect consumers. Credit card companies have earned bad reputations for what consumers say are unfair practices. Implementation of the law is supposed to protect consumers against many of the unfair practices and should help alleviate some of the financial burdens that Americans are facing today.

You have always done everything right…including maintaining your perfect credit. You use your credit card, but you pay it off in full every month. You have never been late on any of your payments and you make sure that all of your accounts are in good standing. It’s time that you take advantage of having excellent credit. Get the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card today and be instantly approved.

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card comes with many outstanding benefits. Besides letting you earn 10,000 extra Membership Rewards points after you make your first purchase, it lets you redeem the points you earn for free shopping experiences, travel experiences and much more. But, the American Express Preferred Rewards card comes with one benefit that you can take advantage of before you even receive your cards…express approval.

American Express’ express approval lets you get a decision in under a minute. It uses highly sophisticated software that reviews your credit application and makes a decision in less than 60 seconds.

Express approval is convenient for both you and American Express. It is convenient for you because it lets you get back to the things that really matter in your life, without having to wait for weeks to hear the decision. It is convenient for American Express because it allows them to service more people in a shorter amount of time.

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is ready for you. You have already proved your credit worthiness, so all you need to do now is fill out an application online and get your decision in under 60 seconds. It’s that simple and your excellent credit should be put to good use. Not to mention the fact that you will now be able to earn a plethora of rewards from shopping to travel to entertainment and much, much more.

For people with excellent credit, it is often difficult to find an exclusive credit card that rewards them something additional than most credit cards. With the arrival of Simmons First credit cards here at PlasticRewards.com, people with excellent credit don’t need to look any further. Simmons First offers two Visa credit cards for those with excellent credit.

Simmons First Visa® Platinum

This Platinum Visa from Simmons First features a low APR of 7.25% currently on purchases and balance transfers. If you do need to transfer a balance, there is an benefit that is hard to come by these days - no balance transfer fees. All balances must be transferred at the time of card application. Plus, there is no annual fee and with the Simmons First Visa Platinum you can enjoy platinum benefits like: global acceptance, travel insurance, emergency replacement and more.

Simmons First Visa® Platinum Rewards

This card was recently chosen as Money Magazine’s top travel rewards credit card. The Simmons First Visa Platinum Rewards offers one of the most versatile travel rewards program that allows cardholders to choose from airline tickets, hotels, cruises vacation packages and more. Every dollar you spend on purchase earns one point redeemable for travel rewards. The card also features a low APR, no balance transfer fees and platinum benefits; all with no annual fee.

Having excellent credit definitely has its rewards and the Simmons First Visa credit cards can help you get them.

SmartMoney recently ranked the Citi Forward card by Citibank as one of the four best credit cards available today. The Citi Forward card is one of the few cards that actually rewards its card holders for making wise financial decisions. That’s why SmartMoney named it one of the four most advantageous credit cards on the market today.

Those who have already signed up for the Citi Forward card by Citibank already know what a beneficial card this is. For instance, there isn’t another card on the market that offers 6,000 bonus points just for spending $50.

The Citi Forward card also rewards you for helping to save the environment. It gives you an additional 5,000 bonus points for signing up to receive electronic statements within the first three months of your account being open.

But wait…there’s so much more.

The Citi Forward credit card also…

- Allows you to take advantage of 0% APR for the first 6 months. That includes balance transfers and purchases.

- Gives you 100 extra bonus points when you stay under your credit limit and when you pay on time. This gives you the opportunity to earn 100 extra points every billing cycle.

- Let’s you reduce your APR by .25% when you use your credit card wisely. Seriously, what other credit card rewards you like that?

With the Citi Forward card by Citibank , you will earn 1 bonus reward point for every $1 you spend. When you spend money on movies, music, restaurants and books, you will be able to earn 5 points for every $1 you spend.

There is a good reason why SmartMoney named the Citi Forward credit card as one of the best. It is the most beneficial and those benefits are all-encompassing.

While other credit card issuers are limiting or restructuring their reward programs, Chase launches a new rewards program - Ultimate Rewards. The unveiling of the Ultimate Rewards program by Chase is set to rival top rewards programs offered by competitors American Express’ Membership Rewards and Citi’s ThankYou Network.

Currently, you can use your Chase Freedom Visa card or the new Chase Sapphire(SM) card to earn points with Ultimate Rewards. Every dollar spent will earn one Ultimate Rewards point that can be redeemed from millions of reward options. Save your points or spend them right away, but never worry about spending limits or point earning restrictions. Ultimate Rewards gives you the freedom to earn as many or as little points as you want and to redeem them for just about anything.

Book your next vacation or travel arrangements through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards Travel Tool; pay with your Chase credit card and earn two points for every dollar spent on airline flights. That’s double points on airline travel! Plus, check out restaurant reviews from Zagat.com to ensure an enjoyable dining experience while traveling or at home with the Ultimate Rewards website.

Chase is also introducing the Ultimate Rewards Bonus Mall. This online retail outlet is available to Chase cardholders where they can shop to take advantage of exclusive online deals through over 300 leading retailers. Cardholders who shop through the site can earn up to 10 Ultimate Rewards points for every dollar they spend.

Ultimate Rewards lets cardholders redeem points for almost any type of reward. Cardholders can choose from over 3 million different merchandise items through Amazon.com, gift cards at over 65 companies, cash back and point transfers to major airline carriers. With so many redemption options, it may just be too hard to choose.