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Michelle Black

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About

Michelle Lambright Black, Founder of CreditWriter.com and HerCreditMatters.com, is a leading credit expert and personal finance writer with nearly two decades of experience in the credit industry. She’s an expert on credit reporting, credit scoring, identity theft, and the intersection of credit and financing. You can connect with Michelle on Twitter (@MichelleLBlack) and Instagram (@CreditWriter).

  • Credit Cards Trends And Predictions For 2024

    While no one can tell the future, it’s possible to examine industry trends and make educated guesses about what credit cardholders might experience in 2024. As usual, there’s a bit of good news mixed in with bad when it comes...
    Credit Cards Trends And Predictions For 2024

  • Best Ways To Get Out Of Credit Card Debt In 2024

    With consumers facing higher prices and rising interest rates, it makes sense that credit card debt in the United States has been on the rise in recent months. According to the Federal Reserve, credit card balances reached an all time...
    Best Ways To Get Out Of Credit Card Debt In 2024

  • What Is The Average Credit Limit For Business Credit Cards?

    It’s no secret that business credit cards tend to feature higher credit limits than personal credit cards. The average consumer credit card limit (across all of their revolving accounts) was $30,365 in 2020, according to Experian data. Meanwhile, the most...
    What Is The Average Credit Limit For Business Credit Cards?

  • 5 Credit Card Myths Debunked

    Depending on who you ask, credit cards either offer tons of perks you don’t want to miss or they’re risky debt traps you should avoid at all costs. In reality, a credit card is simply a tool. Like the income...
    5 Credit Card Myths Debunked

  • Which Balance Transfer Credit Card Should You Get In 2024?

    A balance transfer card can be a useful tool to help you pay off credit card debt and save money along the way. The best balance transfer credit cards of 2024 standout for offering longer introductory APR periods and lower...
    Which Balance Transfer Credit Card Should You Get In 2024?

  • What Happens To Your Balance And Credit Score When You Pay Only The Minimum On Your Credit Card?

    When money is tight, making just the minimum payments on your credit cards can be tempting. Unfortunately, many people fail to realize just how expensive this bad financial habit can be. According to the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, Americans spend...
    What Happens To Your Balance And Credit Score When You Pay Only The Minimum On Your Credit Card?

  • Loan Comparison Calculator: Find The Best Loan For You

    Taking out a loan can help you accomplish a wide range of financial goals. However, it’s important to compare your loan options before you apply so you can find the most affordable loan with terms that fit your needs. Use...
    Loan Comparison Calculator: Find The Best Loan For You

  • Average Credit Card Debt Study 2024

    Across the country, many Americans are struggling with mounting credit card debt. The most recent data from the Federal Reserve reveals that credit card debt soared to $1.13 trillion—yes, that’s trillion with a “t”— in Q4 2023. The record-high figure...
    Average Credit Card Debt Study 2024

  • Does Requesting A Credit Increase Hurt Your Credit?

    There are several reasons you might want to ask your credit card company for a higher credit limit. But before you give your card issuer a call or submit a request for a credit limit increase online, it’s important to...
    Does Requesting A Credit Increase Hurt Your Credit?

  • 5 Times Not To Use A Credit Card

    When used well, credit cards can represent one of the smartest and safest ways to pay for your purchases. Paying with a credit card trumps paying with a debit card or cash for many reasons. Credit cards offer stronger fraud...
    5 Times Not To Use A Credit Card

  • The Do’s And Don’ts Of Credit Card Balance Transfers

    Many Americans struggle with unpaid credit card debt. Last year the average credit card balance rose to nearly $5,600 according to Experian. But when you consider the fact that rising interest rates are also making credit card debt more expensive,...
    The Do’s And Don’ts Of Credit Card Balance Transfers

  • Top 13 Amex Green Card Benefits

    The earns . And although the card charges a annual fee, you can offset this cost in the first year by earning the card’s welcome bonus and each year thereafter by taking full advantage of the card’s available statement credits....
    Top 13 Amex Green Card Benefits

  • 5 Amex Green Card Travel Benefits That Can You Save You Money and Hassle

    The (terms apply, see rates & fees) earns . This makes it the most rewarding card for earning bonus Membership Rewards points on all travel purchases rather than just specific categories like hotels and flights. And the Amex Green Card...
    5 Amex Green Card Travel Benefits That Can You Save You Money and Hassle

  • These States Are Struggling The Most (And Least) With Credit Card Debt

    Americans are struggling with credit card debt at record levels. Consumers in the U.S. carry a combined total of $986 billion in credit card debt as of Q4 2022. That figure represents a $131 million increase since Q4 of 2021...
    These States Are Struggling The Most (And Least) With Credit Card Debt

  • How To Build Credit With A Credit Card

    To build credit, you need to obtain credit—and opening a credit card account can be a way to accomplish that goal. You might be under the impression that qualifying for a credit card when you have no credit history is...
    How To Build Credit With A Credit Card

  • What Is The Average Credit Card Interest Rate This Week? May 1, 2024

    The average credit card interest rate is 27.90%, according to Forbes Advisor’s weekly credit card rates report. The Federal Reserve keeps tabs on the average interest rate that U.S. consumers pay for a variety of different financial products—credit cards included....
    What Is The Average Credit Card Interest Rate This Week? May 1, 2024

  • How Much Do You Owe? How Credit Card Debt Changed In 2022

    Americans faced many financial challenges in 2022. In June 2022, inflation climbed to 9.1%—a 40-year high and the largest annual increase the country had seen since 1981. Throughout the year, consumers across the U.S. (and around the globe) were paying...
    How Much Do You Owe? How Credit Card Debt Changed In 2022

  • Debt Consolidation Calculator: Estimate Your Savings

    Being in debt can be a challenging experience. If you are also worried about your outstanding loans, debt consolidation is one potential approach to consider. Consolidating debts can simplify repayment and help you save money, get out of debt faster...
    Debt Consolidation Calculator: Estimate Your Savings

  • How To Get A $40,000 Personal Loan

    Personal loans can provide cash to cover a variety of expenses. They’re often flexible enough to work for debt consolidation, home repairs, medical bills, unexpected expenses and many other financing needs. If you’re considering a $40,000 loan, however, it’s important...
    How To Get A $40,000 Personal Loan

  • Direct Deposit Loan Alternatives

    A direct deposit loan may offer fast access to cash even if you have limited credit. However, the fees associated with direct deposit payday loans can often be exorbitant—sometimes equivalent to annual percentage rates (APRs) as high as 400%. Therefore,...
    Direct Deposit Loan Alternatives

  • What Are the Highest Credit Limit Balance Transfer Credit Cards?

    Credit cards are notorious for—some might even say synonymous with—high interest rates. Oftentimes, that reputation is deserved. The Federal Reserve reports that the average credit card interest rate in August 2023 was 22.77% (interest-assessing accounts). If you’re struggling with credit...
    What Are the Highest Credit Limit Balance Transfer Credit Cards?

  • Survey Shows Consumers Could Buy Fewer Gifts Per Person This Holiday Season

    Inflation has had a profound effect on many areas of life for Americans, including how people approach holiday spending. Many consumers are getting creative in an effort to manage holiday shopping costs while others plan to spend less and buy...
    Survey Shows Consumers Could Buy Fewer Gifts Per Person This Holiday Season

  • How To Use A Credit Card To Increase Your Credit Score

    Around 200 million Americans have at least one open credit card account. And on average, people carry three different credit cards in their wallet. Credit cards are a convenient way to pay for purchases. These little plastic (and sometimes metal)...
    How To Use A Credit Card To Increase Your Credit Score

  • Can You Use Personal Loans For Business?

    Accessing the capital your business needs isn’t always an easy task. In 2021, just 31% of small businesses received all of the funding they applied for, down from 51% in 2019, according to a report by the Federal Reserve. Some...
    Can You Use Personal Loans For Business?

  • Survey: Over 50% Of Rewards Credit Cardholders Would Consider Giving Credit Card Points Or Rewards As A Gift

    Many Americans agree that free hotel nights and redeemable travel rewards are some of the best perks that rewards credit cards have to offer. Such rewards are how most people plan to fund their upcoming travel plans. At the same...
    Survey: Over 50% Of Rewards Credit Cardholders Would Consider Giving Credit Card Points Or Rewards As A Gift

  • Building The Perfect Plan To Pay Off Holiday Credit Card Debt

    After the holidays end and the new year peeks through on the other side, many people start to feel remorse about their holiday spending decisions. In September of 2021, Experian revealed that the average credit card balance in the U.S....
    Building The Perfect Plan To Pay Off Holiday Credit Card Debt

  • How To Get A $50,000 Personal Loan

    A personal loan is a financing option you can use to cover a variety of different expenses. Whether you need a loan for debt consolidation, home improvement projects or something else, a personal loan might make your goals more manageable....
    How To Get A $50,000 Personal Loan

  • How To Get A $5,000 Personal Loan

    A personal loan is a flexible financing option you can use to cover a variety of expenses. Whether you need cash to cover a medical expense, home improvement project, auto repair or other unexpected bills, a personal loan might help...
    How To Get A $5,000 Personal Loan

  • Current Credit Card Interest Rates

    Credit cards are known for often featuring high interest rates compared with other types of debt. And with the recent rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, the variable annual percentage rates (APRs) on many credit cards have started to climb...
    Current Credit Card Interest Rates

  • Best Business Loans With No Credit Check Of 2024

    Securing financing for your business can be a struggle, especially if you have limited credit. Small business owners with poor personal credit may be left wondering whether it’s possible to get a business loan with no credit check.While most business...
    Best Business Loans With No Credit Check Of 2024

About

Michelle Lambright Black, Founder of CreditWriter.com and HerCreditMatters.com, is a leading credit expert and personal finance writer with nearly two decades of experience in the credit industry. She’s an expert on credit reporting, credit scoring, identity theft, and the intersection of credit and financing. You can connect with Michelle on Twitter (@MichelleLBlack) and Instagram (@CreditWriter).