Credit Card Search

With everything getting so much more expensive, especially gas and all things related to travel, it occurred to me this morning that I might be smart to apply for one more credit card before we go on vacation next month. I’ve got plenty of money in the budget for the trip, but I would be more comfortable if I knew I had an extra credit card on deck in case of an emergency. I mean, you never know. And if we are 600 miles away from home, I can’t just run on home to get help from my local resources.

So I did a little checking on the internet to see if there’s a smart way to get a third credit card and if there’s even a chance that I can apply for it online and get approved quickly so that I have it in hand and activated before our trip to Gulf Shores.

Come to find out, there’s a web site called Card Hub that has all the different types of Credit Cards gathered up on their site for an easy comparison. When I checked out their site, I saw a very cool feature where you can select you own personal preferences from the left sidebar and after you click through the different settings that are important to you, the site searches through their database of available credit cards and displays the best ones that meet your needs.

Then they have a little profile on each of the cards that should match up with your preferences. The profile details things like interest rate, annual fee, etc. and if you find more than one card that looks good, you click on the checkbox of each one and then run a comparison for you.

I also spent a little time on their education center page and read up on the credit card fine print. I’m pretty careful with my money and if there are any little tricks or traps hidden in the fine print, I want to know what to look for and know if it’s something I’m OK with.

I read up on this site from their press release, and that in itself was very informative:

Press Release:

Arlington, VA – July 15, 2008 – At a time when every penny counts, finding the right credit card, with the right terms, has never been more important. However, according to the Government Accountability Office, understanding these terms has gotten even more difficult. In its 2006 report, the GAO found that the practices of credit card companies to inform consumers of the costs and terms associated with credit “have serious weaknesses that likely reduced consumers’ ability to understand the costs of using credit cards.” With better tools and information, consumers can better manage this credit environment.

Today, Evolution Finance launched CardHub.com, a first-of-its-kind credit card search tool that redefines the way people search, compare and apply for credit cards. Founded by Capital One veteran, Odysseas Papadimitriou, Card Hub is designed to put financial control back into consumers’ hands by clearly and easily displaying the terms and benefits of major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

Finding Credit Cards Becomes Simpler with Dynamic Searching

Today’s credit card sites provide information in silos. For example, for consumers who want to find airline rewards cards that also have a 0% introductory rate, most sites will not allow them to customize and view these cards on one page. Instead, consumers have to visit separate pages about airline rewards cards and 0% introductory rate cards. The information is difficult to customize and often too complex to understand.

Card Hub provides a search tool that lets users find and compare all major credit cards in a dynamic and highly interactive way. In one search, users can customize their results by indicating their credit history, personal or business needs, interest rate limitations, reward preferences, and more. With every click, the search results update on their own to display credit cards that meet the user’s preferences. Rather than making a choice, clicking a search button, waiting to see results, and then doing it over again for multiple searches, users of Card Hub see their results automatically as they refine their search criteria.

In addition, the same technology that produces the highly customizable search results offers the ability to conduct simple side-by-side card comparisons by only focusing on the features that are the most important to them. After consumers select a credit card, they are directed immediately to the credit card company’s secure web site where they can easily apply for the card they have chosen.

“Consumers deserve a better experience when they make financial decisions,” said Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO and founder of Evolution Finance. “The hidden fees and penalties in the credit card market have caused serious problems for both borrowers and lenders. We built CardHub.com to do something that doesn’t exist in the market today: make it easy for people to find the card that will truly save them the most money and offer them the best rewards.”

Exposing the Fine Print of Credit Cards

In addition to providing a simpler and more interactive search experience, Card Hub also makes the fine print of credit cards more transparent. Visitors to the site can view detailed information about the terms and conditions in an easy-to-understand format. Hidden rates, such as Default APRs (Annual Percentage Rates) that can be 20% higher than Introductory APRs, become easy to see as the user browses through the results of their custom tailored credit card search.

Furthermore, a detailed page about each card provides unbiased information about the card, including most of its fine print. Rather than having to click through several pages to learn about a card’s hidden fees, the information is apparent on one page. Complicated fine print is also broken down into simple explanations that give users the ability to make educated financial decisions.

Providing Credit Card Education from Industry Veterans

Card Hub’s Credit Card Education Center further empowers consumers with the knowledge they need to make better financial decisions. The center is written by industry insiders with consumers’ best interests in mind. Users can find comprehensive information on a number of credit card topics, from the basic, such as how credit cards work, to the more complicated, such as how to avoid getting trapped with balances at high interest rates. The center is organized to help users easily browse information, and search for specific answers to questions. It also provides tips and warnings.

“When it comes to managing credit card spending and debt, the process has become overly complex and confusing for consumers,” added Papadimitriou. “Now, more than ever, we need to shed more light on this industry. By giving consumers the tools to make better financial decisions, we are giving them more power in the process.”

About Evolution Finance and CardHub.com

Founded by Capital One veteran, Odysseas Papadimitriou, Evolution Finance was created out of a passion to give more financial control to everyday people. Card Hub, its first site, is a first-of-its-kind credit card search tool that redefines the way people search, compare and apply for credit cards. More information can be found at www.evolutionfinance.com and www.cardhub.com.

Evolution Finance Media Contact

Lynn Johnson

703.722.0601

media@evolutionfinance.com

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