Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• Play your credit cards right for a free vacation

  February 17, 2013 in Business on Page E1 A free vacation could be in the cards. Banks are competing fiercely for new credit card users – especially those with good credit. To entice new customers, several major banks …

• Steer clear of debt in holiday shopping season

  November 18, 2012 in Business on Page E1 Black Friday deals are starting early this year, and that means more pressure to spend spend spend. As the holiday shopping season expands and retailers make impulse buys ever-easier via …

• Feds order Discover to refund $200M to cardholders

  September 24, 2012 in Nation/World WASHINGTON — Discover Bank is paying $214 million to settle charges that it pressured credit card customers to buy costly add-on services like payment protection and credit monitoring. 18

• Holiday credit card perks come with pitfalls

  November 20, 2011 in Business on Page E1 NEW YORK – It seems like the most wonderful time of year for credit card rewards. With the holiday season fast approaching, card issuers are dangling big sign-on bonuses and … 1

• Visa anticipates revenue slowdown in face of new fees

  July 10, 2011 in Business on Page E4 NEW YORK – Visa Inc. on Wednesday warned that its revenue and earnings growth will slow in 2012 after new regulations on the fees banks can charge for debit card … 1

• Parents can soon use plastic to pay Spokane school fees

  March 15, 2011 in City on Page A1 Fees for school students, especially teenagers, can really pile up. With parents strapped for time, fewer people carrying cash or checks and more using plastic to pay even routine expenses, … 5

• Teens vulnerable to credit card pitfalls

  November 28, 2010 in Business on Page E5 New rules implemented earlier this year to protect consumers from credit card charges and overdraft fees have added some heft to monthly billing statements. Some of the highlighted information is …

• STCU warns of scam calls seeking card information

  November 12, 2010 in Business, City A Spokane credit union says local consumers are reporting a phone scam aimed at tricking them to reveal debit and credit card information.

• Web winners: Where to set credit-card limits

  October 31, 2010 in Business on Page E5 A credit card can simplify life — or lead to financial ruin. And it’s not necessarily clear when any given consumer has crossed the line. These sites help identify the …

• Think your credit card’s welcome worldwide? Think again

  August 22, 2010 in Travel on Page D8 When Susanne and Bernie Seidel of Everett traveled to Sweden and Germany two years ago, they had no problems using their Visa and MasterCard at gas stations, grocery stores and …

• Get rid of credit cards, thus debt

  March 2, 2010 in Business on Page A8 On your next credit card statement, you are going notice some changes that give you additional information that could help you understand all of the particulars on your credit card. …

• Credit card law brings changes

  February 22, 2010 in Nation/World on Page A1 NEW YORK – Your next credit card statement is going to contain an ugly truth: how much that card really costs to use. Now, thanks to a long-awaited law that …

• Consumer credit down in Nov. for record 11th month

  February 5, 2010 in Business Americans borrowed less for an 11th consecutive month in December, paying off credit cards while increasing borrowing for cars and other products.

• Credit cards look to zap rewards

  November 29, 2009 in Travel on Page D8 Another fee is coming in the new year for airline and hotel customers – this time from your credit card company. The message: Pay your bill on time or forfeit …

• Tougher terms ahead for credit card users

  November 10, 2009 in Business on Page A10 WASHINGTON – Banks expect to tighten terms on credit cards in response to a new law that aims to protect consumers from sudden rate hikes, the Federal Reserve said Monday. … 1

• Credit card rules kick in

  August 20, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON – New federal protections for credit-card users go into force today, but in advance of the tougher rules banks have been raising fees and interest rates – hoping to …

• Credit card issuers face restrictions

  August 19, 2009 in Business on Page A8 WASHINGTON – The first phase of the landmark credit card legislation signed by President Obama in May will take effect this week, forcing card issuers to give consumers more time …

• House sends president a tougher credit card bill

  May 21, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A10 WASHINGTON – The House on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that will prohibit credit card companies from arbitrarily raising interest rates on existing balances and charging certain fees. …

• Senate passes measure for credit card reform

  May 20, 2009 in Business on Page A10 WASHINGTON – Landmark credit card legislation, poised to reach President Obama’s desk as early as Memorial Day, will force the card industry to reinvent itself and consumers to rethink the …

• Credit cards don’t guarantee fairness

  April 6, 2009 in City on Page A5 If a new report is any indication, it’s tough to find a credit card out there that isn’t trying to pull the wool over your eyes. The Pew Charitable Trusts …

• Cardholders encounter unexpected credit hurdles

  March 2, 2009 in City on Page A5 Al Anderson had his credit card for a decade or more. He paid his bills on time. He rarely carried a balance. He thought he was a good customer. Then, … 5