General Use

Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere in the U.S. A few things are useful to know before you use one. 

• Interest rates: If you do not pay your full balance by the due date, the card company charges interest on the amount you still owe. This charge is called the Annual Percentage Rate, or APR. Interest rates are different for each card. Many cards charge between 20% and 30% per year. A large unpaid balance can grow quickly because of this interest. Paying your full balance every month helps you avoid this cost.
• Annual fees: Some cards charge a yearly fee to keep the account open. Other cards have no yearly fee at all. Cards with a yearly fee often give rewards or other benefits in return. Check the terms before you apply. A card with a lower interest rate may still have a higher yearly fee.
• You must pay off any balance you carry before you return home. Try to spend only what you can pay off.
• If a store cannot read your card, ask about “chip and PIN” or “chip and signature.” U.S. cards sometimes work differently than the cards you are used to.
• Keep a backup card or a small amount of cash in a separate place from your wallet. This helps if your main card is lost, stolen, or frozen.

Before You Leave Home

Preparing your card before you travel can help you avoid problems after you arrive.

Call your bank or set up a travel notice online. This tells your bank that you will use your card in the U.S. It helps prevent your bank from blocking your card for “suspicious activity.”

Ask your bank about foreign transaction fees. Some banks charge an extra fee for purchases made outside your home country.