The Best Credit Cards and Financial Services
picks for excellence from credit cards to checking accounts
from Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, November 2007

Credit cards

BEST CASH-REBATE CARD
American Express Blue Cash

Earn 1% on everyday spending -- gas, grocery and drugstore purchases -- until you reach $6,500, after which you earn 5%.

BEST LOW-RATE CARD
Simmons First National Bank

For consumers with excellent credit, Simmons's no-fee Platinum Visa comes with a fixed rate of 7.25%.

BEST AIRLINE-MILES CARD
Citi Premier Pass Elite

The card costs $75 per year, but it takes only 20,000 points to earn a domestic ticket. And points are easy to acquire.

BEST TRAVEL CARD
Capital One Platinum Plus Mastercard

Capital One doesn't pass on the 1% currency-conversion fee from MasterCard.

GASOLINE CARD
BP Rewards Visa

Earn 5% on gas you buy at BP stations, plus 2% on airline tickets, lodging and rental cars.


Financial services

BEST CHECKING ACCOUNT
ING's Electric Orange

This account pays a minimum 3.5% interest rate and gives you a MasterCard debit card plus free online bill-paying. Send an electronic check or fill out a paper check online that ING will send for you. Bonus: no minimum balance and no fees except for special services, such as stopping a payment.

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