What is a Credit Cards?

With the rise in online trading through plastic money, credit cards have become extremely popular these days. They are a great financial tool and a better alternative to cash that eases out your online transactions. Therefore, it is a great financial tool which is issued by banks as well as by NBFCs allowing you to purchase on credit, up to a predefined credit limit. One of the great benefits of using this online credit card is that we have to pay monthly bills on the later set date each month. It comes as a plastic card which is swiped on point of sale terminals placed at the merchant establishment (such as a shopkeeper).

Credit card offers a host of features and benefits. The most popular credit card offers include different segments like entertainment cards, fuel cards, cash-back cards, student cards, women cards, travel cards, business cards, and low interest credit cards, among others. Many banks also offer these credit cards free of cost to its valued customers. Generally, these cards do not require any joining fee or annual fee.

Key Benefits of a Credit Card:

• Alternative to cash:- To have a credit card is a very secure and expedient to carry alternative to carrying a bundle of cash.
• Emergencies:- If there is a medical emergency or some other kind of critical cash requirement, credit cards can provide help by making available instant credit under such situation.
• Making big purchases:- The whole concept of buy now, pay later, does tend to make it rather easier for people to make some big purchases, and setting up an EMI pay back method with their banks. You can also pay bills using credit cards.
• Build your credit score:- Owning a credit card is that it is easy to build a credit history through your credit card transactions. Also, repaying all your credit card dues in time will help improve your credit card score, which in turn can help you in getting loans in the future. Many times loan applications are rejected because the applicant doesn't have a credit history, and having a credit card is one of the easiest ways to build a history.
• Welcome Offers:- Most credit card issuers offer the card holder different credit card schemes or rewards in the form of gifts, discounts or free rewards.
• Reward Points or Cash Back:- Every time you make a purchase on your credit card, you receive a few reward points or a cash back reward credited to your account.
• Secure Transactions:- New credit cards feature the chip and pin system, which adds to their security, hence they are safer than carrying around large amounts of cash and save you from Credit Card Fraud.
• Track your purchases:- With a credit card, one can easily maintain a track record of the transactions that you have made, through the credit card monthly statement.

When should you use a credit card ?

A credit card is one of the most important financial inventions in modern times that enables one to make online transactions easier. It allows a cardholder to purchase goods and services on credit and pay it back on a later set date. In addition, there are several benefits of using these cards over other modes of payments and of course, it eliminates the need for you to carry cash everywhere. If you are judicious enough in using these cards, you will also receive some monetary benefits also. Some of the benefits of using one of these best credit cards have been listed below.

• To build your credit score:-Disciplined swiping of a credit card can help improve your credit score. Reason being, credit issuer companies will report your payment activity to the credit bureaus. Moreover, unlike other credit facilities, using a credit card doesn't involve interest cost as long as total bills are paid by the due date. Hence, frequent and timely repayment of your due monthly bills will help improve and build your credit score faster.
• To avail instant loan:-Loan against credit cards are pre-approved loans offered to the existing cardholders with a good credit score. Credit Cards offer the option to convert your purchases in Credit Card EMIs which can be paid during a pre-agreed loan tenure. The advantage of pre-approved loans is that they have the fastest time when compared to other loans. You do not need any additional documents, like that in a personal loan where some of the level of documentation is required. The interest rates of loans against these cards usually start from 11.50% per annum onwards and their tenure can go up to five years.
• Secure Transactions:-New credit cards feature the chip and pin system, which adds to their security, hence they are safer than carrying around large amounts of cash and save you from Credit Card Fraud.
• To earn cashback and reward points:-Credit cards offer attractive reward points, cashback, and discounts. These cashback and discounts reduce the cost of purchases. On the other hand, reward points can be redeemed for goods or services from partner stores. Hence, doing more online transactions using these cards will help you earn more such benefits.
• To save money on grocery shopping:-For many people, grocery shopping is a task which is done on a regular basis and therefore, no other option comes into our mind other than using these cards. Most of the cards have been affiliated with supermarkets, which means you can earn some additional cash back or discounts on your everyday shopping. The more you spend, the more you can earn making use of one of those best credit cards.
• To cut the cost of existing debts:-The main advantage of using them is that it helps you get out of the vicious cycle of debt that only grows worse over time because of compounding interest rates. If you owe money on an existing credit card, you have the option to reduce the cost by transferring the outstanding balance to another such card which has a lower interest rate.
• To plan an international trip:-If you are planning an overseas trip, using a credit card has multiple benefits. Nowadays, international credit cards offer a low or no foreign currency transaction fee. Also, some cards offer international customer assistance which is helpful during your much-awaited trip. Plus, a lot of travel-oriented cards offer special discounts on flight tickets, car rentals, hotel bookings, etc.
• To earn free travels and hotel stays:-A hotel credit card offer rewards and perks on hotel stays. You can redeem the points for a free flight or a free hotel stay. You can make the best use of free amenities for an exotic vacation or weekend getaway.
• Helps to save time:-A credit card eliminates the need for you to carry cash everywhere. It also avoids the trouble of searching for ATMs and in turn, saves your time of visiting them.
• To track your expenses:-Credit cards help you to keep a track of your day-to-day expenses. Your statements include the name of the merchant, date of the transaction and amount spent. Some cards also provide the year-end summary that helps while paying taxes.

How to use a Credit Card ?

Of course, it is easy to use a credit card but when bank issue credit card, they create a revolving account for that card. As soon as the customer receives their credit cards, they can use it to make purchases on credit. The credit card is actually the amount that cardholders have borrowed from the card issuer. So, they have to repay the outstanding amount at the end of every billing cycle. Besides, there is a limit on the amount of credit that one can use and cardholders should make sure they don’t exceed this limit.

If you want to make payments by using a credit card then you have to simply get their cards swiped at merchant stores and authenticate the transaction by entering their PIN number. There are some credit cards which do not require to enter a PIN number. In case, you are using your card to make payments online, make sure the website is a secure one. All you need to enter your credit card details on the checkout section and authenticate the payment by entering the PIN or OTP (One Time Password).

Understanding Credit Card Numbers:

Basically, Credit card contains 6 digits, out of which the very first digit signifies its system and 3 stands for travel or entertainment car, digit on 4th place stands for Visa card, digit on 5th place stands for MasterCard and digit on 6th place stands for Discover Card. Under a different system, there are different card structure. For instance, a Diners club card will start with 38, whereas, the American Express cards will start with 37.

• American Express:- The third and the fourth digit of credit card signify the type and currency. Apart from this, the fifth digit till the eleventh digit is the account number. Whereas the 12th digit till the 14th digit is the card number within the account. The 15th digit is a check digit.
• Visa:- The 2nd digit till the sixth digit is the bank number. Whereas, the 7th digit till the 12th digit or from the seventh digit till the 15th digit is the account number. 13th digit or the 16th digit is the check digit.
• Master Card:- The second and third digit, the second digit up to the fourth digit, the second digit up to the fifth digit or the second digit up to the sixth digit is the bank number. Remember that it depends if the second digit is 1,2,3 or anything other than that. The digits which are after bank number up to the fifteenth digit are the account number. Whereas the 16th digit is a check digit.

Credit Card (Documents Required):

The documentation requirement also varies from issuer to issuer, some of the key documents required to apply for a credit card are as follows:-

• Identity and signature proof-Passport, PAN card, Driving License, Voter ID card, Aadhaar card, employee identity card in case of government employees.
• Address Proof-Bank statement, Rent Agreement, Voter ID card, Ration card, Passport, Driving License, telephone/ electricity/ water/ credit card bill or Property tax.
• Age Proof-Voter ID card, Secondary School Certificate (class 10), birth certificate, Passport, Aadhaar Card, pension payment order or receipt of LIC policy.
• Income proof for Salaried Individual
• Latest 3 months salary slips.
• Salary account bank statement for six months.
• Income proof for Self-employed businessmen/professionals.
• Latest IT Returns with computation of income and other certified financial documents Business continuity proof.