College Student Card

Citibank offers a wide range of credit cards to meet the financial as well as various personal requirements of its clients. Thus, there are business cards, entertainment cards, frequent flyer cards, professional cards, reward cards, so on and so forth. College students too have been equipped with credit cards to deal with their financial problems.

The Citi Platinum Select Card for College Students is one among the very best student credit cards issued by Citibank. Better known as Citi Student Credit Card, the Citi Platinum Select Card for College Students is quintessentially designed for students with a good credit history. The platinum level benefits, at the same time, pave the way towards building a sound credit history, which ultimately helps one in every sphere of life.

Unique Attributes

The Citi Platinum Select Card for College Students has some quality features that are rare with other college students’ card. Have a look at the following features:

§ For the Citi Platinum Select Card, you never need to show a minimum income or even a co-signer.

§ With this card, you are entitled to receive 25% off and free shipping at Peterson’s (considered the leader in education information and career opportunities).

§ The card allows you to buy clothing, textbooks, even rent cars and buy/rent other items or services that you may need as a college student.

§ This card is also favored for its coverage, as it accepted at many locations.

§ The Citi Platinum Select Card for College Students allows you to make a single monthly payment for the most of your expenses, each month.

Key Features

The features of Citi Platinum Select Card for College Students are designed to suit the needs of college students. Go through the particulars below to get a clear idea:

§ The card offers you a commendable introductory APR of 0% for 6 months on cash advances, purchases, and balance transfers, until you default under any agreement of the card

§ The extra advantage of card is that you do not even have an annual fee

Extra Benefits

Citi Platinum Select Card for College Students comes with several innovative security measures, theft solution programs and several other benefits as mentioned below:

§ You can place your photo on your credit card in order to minimize the chances of in-store theft using your card. With Citibank’s strict adherence to the privacy policy, your personal information is always secure.

§ You are covered under a zero liability program so that you are not held responsible for any purchases you do not make.

§ There are other services like lost luggage assistance, emergency transportation coverage, etc.

§ Your also receive the assistance of medical and legal referrals while traveling in the US or abroad.

§ A $1 million automatic travel accident insurance protects you and your family members (all dependent members).

§ You will be able to ask for replacement card or additional cards. You are free to talk to a customer service representative any time to receive cash advances.

§ The access to online facilities lets you view past statements, pay your bill, check unbilled activity, receive email updates when your bill is due.

§ Any purchases you make with your credit card remain protected for up to thirty days.

College student credit cards are a new marketing phenomenon. Two decades ago, college students never had the opportunity to take their pick of the credit cards currently available today. But with the changing needs of students all across America, it was only a matter of time before college student credit cards became a common medium of exchange.

What makes college student credit cards different?
Their function is exactly the same as that of regular credit cards, except that many credit card companies recognize the special needs of college students and offer certain perks that you normally won’t find anywhere else. A student credit card, for example, can offer you a discount for the purchase of school supplies or other school-related materials. It can also come at a much lower interest rate.

Where can I find them?
Everywhere, actually. Your school campus, for one. Each September you’ll probably find credit card representatives setting up tables and kiosks on your campus grounds to offer their college student credit cards services. A pretty convenient opportunity if you decide to get your credit card this way. You can also take advantage of the free stuff these companies usually give away with each application.

On the downside, you could be limiting your options to what these credit card companies have to offer. More often than not, many of the college student credit cards that are marketed on campuses don’t always have the best rates. They may, in fact, be quite high.

To find the best rates, you might want to call up several credit card companies to see what their interest rates are or go online and shop around. You shouldn’t be pressured to get a college student card offered on campus if you could get one with a better APR online.

What good would a college student credit card do for me?
A lot, actually. It is a good and safe substitute for cash and is a convenient way to pay for anything you wish to buy. It can tide you over in case of emergencies when money is tight and you can access many services online and off with a simple swipe.

A college student credit card can also give you your first taste of financial independence and responsibility. After all, you will be the one who’ll be shelling out the cash to pay for your credit card bill each month. It can give you your first-hand experience in managing your money and teach you some valuable lessons in the process.

Is plastic always fantastic?
You may have heard of the horror stories, but much of the rap that college student credit cards receive is mostly undeserved. College student credit cards aren’t innately evil; it’s the way they are used that leads a student to a lot of financial trouble.

Many college students fall hard and heavy for the spending power that credit cards give. They go right ahead and charge a lot of stuff they don’t really need and can’t afford to pay for at the end of the month.

There are serious ramifications for this kind of irresponsibility. If a student allows his bad spending habits to continue, he could rack up a huge credit card bill that he is ill equipped to pay for. It’s not uncommon to find a student struggling with a huge credit card debt even before he graduates from college.

On the brighter side…
It’s not always a sad relationship. Just like any financial tool, a college student credit card can help you build and establish a good credit history, provided you use it responsibly. Remember that convenience comes with a price. If you have the discipline and can stick to a budget, a college student credit card may just work in your favor.

Credit cards for college students are available online. The downside is that card issuers realize that most students do not have a direction established. This is true, since if you go to college and ask students what are their goals, most will say, I haven’t decided yet, i.e. if they are just starting out in school.

Card issuers are aware of this because at one time they were in college too. Therefore, credit cards for students often have high interest rates, annual fees, as well as other fees attached. If you have good credit, likely you will find a low rate card. If you are searching for credit cards for college students, it is wise to go online, search, and compare and contrast each card. This will give you an idea, of what the cards offer, as well as what the benefits from each card offer you.

The Internet lists several cards that are best suited for college students. The cards available come from leading card issuers. The search will help you save money and time, while guiding you to the best cards.

Card Offers

Several of the top student credit cards will offer 0% APR up to six months on balance transfers, cash advances, and purchases, providing you do not default on your credit card payments. I will quote the “0 liability,” since this is important. Some credit card issuers will charge you for unauthorized charges made on your card. I recommend that you check the liability agreement to weed out clauses or stipulations, making sure the 0% fees are legit. Some cards have no annual fee, and you will have the ability to manage your accounts free online at anytime, and best of all you will not need a cosigner, and only required to have minimum income. The regular APR’s on student credit cards are a bit steep, however if you pay the balance off before the grace period ends, the benefits will make up for the interest rates.

The downside is most students have not established a credit history. You might notice that each of the cards listed on some sites require that you have good or very good credit. This can set you back and force you to look somewhere else for credit cards. What do I do next?

Searching for Credit Cards

Sometimes if you scroll down the pages, you will notice to the left side of the page, or sometimes right side of the pages, additional links are available. Click on the student links and review the credit cards offered. Second, never give up. Simply because this is a good credit offer, if you do not have a good credit history, it is possible you can still get the card. You might have to pay higher interest rates at first, or possibly an annual fee, still you might be eligible for a college student card of your choice.

Presented by StudentCreditCards.com; this video is about keeping the environment green by eliminating paper student credit card applications once and for all. TONS of rainforest trees are killed every year from all of the paper credit card applications we receive in the mail. There’s a green way for college students to start off on the right foot, learning about credit, comparing issuers and applying online at student credit cards.com

College, finances and expenses, how will you cope, what will you do if you should have an emergency while you are in college, what line of credit can you use? Get and use a credit card while you are in college – this is the best financial answer. You will have access to the solutions you need, financial solutions.

You are going off to college, you have been saving up for a long time now you’re your tuition, your room, and for your meals but there are expenses you may have forgotten about. You should also be thinking about what you do between classes, after class, after school hours, on weekends, how you will get home, going to the store for needed daily supplies and food – where will all of this money come from?  Consider getting a credit card to cover the many other expenses that you will need to succeed in college. Plan for the emergency funds that you may need when you – are stranded on your way to school, or on your way back home from school. There are other ‘emergencies’ that will arise also like; birthdays, holidays, buying books, buying additional clothes to meet your needs in changing weather, get a card for when your car breaks downs, when it needs tires, or when the inspection is due and you are a long way from your favorite mechanic.

You may also have emergencies that involve your need for medical attention when you away from home and in college.While the doctors and the hospitals will often charge your visit to your parents address, or your dorm room address, a major problem will arise when you go to the pharmacy and you are in need of getting a prescription. Your credit card will enable you to have the money to get the medicine you need with out having to wait days for the mail to come to your dorm room, with a letter containing money from your parents. Being sick is no fun, and not being get the medicine you need, your school work will suffer, you may even miss many days of school awaiting the money to get the medicine you need which also puts your grades in jeopardy.

You will need a credit card to buy your books each semester, as the price of books continually goes up and the resell value on your used books is not nearly enough to cover the expense of new books – (although it is nice to have some spending money when you resell your books!)Prices for books for each class that you enroll in can run from a minimum of forty dollars and up for each book, which doesn’t include lab fees, extra materials you may need in an art class, science class, or in a biology class. There are additional supplies such as lab coats, index cards, notebooks, binders, backpacks, poster boards, and formal report binders that you will need each semester.If you have a credit card, you will be able to get these needed supplies with both you and your parents being able to track your spending on school supplies.

Going home – how will you get there?

Is the college of your choice located more than fifty miles from your home? How will you be traveling back and forth on weekends, birthdays, and holidays?If you have a credit card, you will be able to reach your destination when you most need to get there fast and hassle free.If an emergency should arise and you are needed at home right away you will be able to hop on a bus, plane, in a taxi or rent a car to be there as needed.

Some of you reading this may say ‘ I can keep money in my room, apartment or in my purse’ for when I have emergencies that arise – but the fact is that when you are away at school, you really cannot trust many people, you don’t know them well at all and you don’t know what their financial needs are either. Who is coming in and out of your dorm room, the dorm areas are freely accessible, and if you are sharing an apartment, it is likely that you don’t know much about your roommate besides what they freely tell you. If your money should ‘disappear’ or simply put be ‘stolen’ you will be left with nothing but with a credit card you have the backing of your signature on every purchase that is made, and many have a photo ID right on the face of the card, making theft of your credit line / money virtually impossible.

Build your credit

Using a credit card responsibly, while you are in college, will build your personal credit history, which will give you additional opportunities in the future regarding purchasing a car, expanding your credit line and in obtaining additional credit cards as you grow older for gas stations and for department stores.As you build your credit using a credit card during your college terms, you will be rated higher on your credit report which will help you get additional school loans if you should choose to continue to even a higher education level! The offering of credit cards, credit lines and financial backing to college students is an easy to understand because you are responsible enough to be preparing for your future with a higher education, and these creditors realize this, offering you a credit line that will back your future in education and in life decisions.

Credit card incentives

When you apply and use your credit card regularly some credit cards offer frequent flyer miles, which is worth your time to check out and understand this process. Frequent flyer miles are the awarding of points every time you use your credit card in certain situations.Imagine this, just because you used your credit card to get home three times last semester you could have enough frequent flyer points to fly to Florida for spring break!That would be a great savings, and you could enjoy yourself knowing that your trip wasn’t as expensive as the person sitting next to you on the plane.

There are credit cards that pay you back for using their card with different types available (and some offering them all), such as, inexpensive insurance (travel), inexpensive ‘gifts’ that can be bought through the company only, and incentive cash back or award programs.Each credit card incentive does differ from the next, but it is well worth your while to use your card for purchases as the rewards can truly be useful in your lifestyle.

Extra protection

With many credit cards, purchasing a rental car, buying a plane ticket or in specialty franchise stores nationwide there are often discounts available for using your credit card for purchases.There are also credit protection plans available freely or with a small charge on purchases that you make with your credit card. Say for example you bought a new eighteen speed to use in your free time at college, which is great exercise and a good way to get to know the city inexpensively.You bought the bike using your credit card, brought it home and want to go for a ride when suddenly you realize that it doesn’t shift right making it impossible to ride. You try to take the bike back, but the dealer won’t accept it. You call the credit card company to complain about the dealer when you find out that there is a warranty on the item that you bought with your credit card.You have now discovered that your credit card has a consumer protection plan built in to your credit line, each plan differs from card company to card company you will find that these purchasing protection plans are well worth reading as you search for a card to meet your personal needs.

College and Credit Cards

You should have a credit card to ensure that your emergency needs are covered in cases of traveling, obtaining educational supplies and in medical situations. There are cards where your parents can even transfer you extra spending money through the credit card, if that type of situation is best for you.

Using a credit card will allow you to experience financial freedom while learning the responsibility of living on your own at college. Credit card incentives are one big reason to use your credit card for all of your purchases, giving your more for your money in the end. But the biggest reason for having a credit card, and using for your continued purchases, is the warranty and consumer protection that is available when using a credit card.