[1][cardtraklogo.gif] Welcome! CardWeb.com Inc. recently acquired several web properties. You are receiving this newsletter as an opt-in subscriber of one of those properties in accordance with current Email guidelines. If you feel that you are receiving this in error, please follow instructions at end of this message. CardTrak is a weekly newsletter that provides you with current news in the payment card industry. Additionally you can visit CardTrak online at [2]www.cardtrak.com where you can compare rates as well as apply online for credit cards. CardTrak is the nations #1 newsletter providing consumers with payment card and credit card information for the past 16 years. Here's the latest CARD NEWS for the week ending September 28, 2001: *** A dog may be man's best friend, but a credit card may be a woman's best friend. While the nation's male population is growing at a slightly faster rate than the female population, nearly 76.1 million women have or use credit cards, compared with 68.2 million men. [3]CLICK HERE TO READ MORE *** Americans are slipping up on their card payments at a rate not seen in more than twenty years. The deterioration in consumer credit quality is further evidence that we are, and have been, in a recession since late spring. [4]CLICK HERE TO READ MORE *** Believe it or not, scamsters see a silver lining in the horror that took New York and Washington two weeks ago. As Americans open up their wallets to charity and pull out credit cards to donate, some scum artists are seizing the opportunity to gather information for fraudulent use. [5]CLICK HERE TO READ MORE *** 5% Yield Amalgamated Bank of Chicago is offering its MasterCard customers a 5% interest rate on a saving account. The bank, which issues standard and gold MasterCards, requires cardholders to deposit a $2,500 minimum to get the special rate. [6]CLICK HERE TO READ MORE *** Bankruptcy Reform Bankruptcy reform legislation has taken the back burner to more pressing matters, due to the tragic events in New York and Washington last week. [7]CLICK HERE TO READ MORE *** Interlink Revolt The stink over new merchant fees for the Interlink debit card is spreading. This week Florida-based Publix Super Markets says it will no longer accept VISA's 'Interlink' point-of-sale debit cards effective October 13. [8]CLICK HERE TO READ MORE *** Card Rates For the first time in the industry's history, average credit card rates have plummeted below the 15.00% level. However average rates could have been hovering below 14.00% if the full impact of the Fed rate deductions had been passed on to cardholders. [9]CLICK HERE TO READ MORE *** Xmas 2001 This could be the weakest holiday spending season since the recession of 1990-91. This year, before the current recession was documented and before the terrorist attacks were launched, holiday sales were predicted to rise only 2.5%. [10]CLICK HERE TO READ MORE [11][rc_0127_3visacard_combo.gif] NextCard Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! Getting a credit card has never been so easy. [12]CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE This Month's Commentary: C'MON GUYS! All Americans are hurting and need a break this month from credit card late fees; cashless rides are coming to the Big Apple; a techno-savvy smart card is here; abuse of the bankruptcy system continues to plague the country; and if you want to double dip or get triple miles this fall - VISA and MasterCard have got you covered. (Sept 01) [13][ Click here to read more ] [logo1.gif] NOW CONDUCT A PERSONALIZED POWER SEARCH OF OUR CREDIT CARD DATABASE. [14]CLICK HERE TO VISIT CARDLOCATOR.COM This Month's Online Poll: TERRORIST IMPACT [15]CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE Here are some questions that CardLearn answered this week on CardWeb.com: [logo.gif] [16]What do I do if a merchant tries to charge a surcharge? [17]Is it possible to get turned down because you have applied for too many credit cards? Does it affect your credit? [18]Where can I find debit card companies? [19]What is credit card CVV/CVC? [20]Will a merchant see an increase in their sales volume by accepting credit cards? Is there an industry standard? [21]What is the market share of the major cards? CLICK ON ANY OF THE ABOVE QUESTIONS FOR THE ANSWER [22][cardtraksp_home.gif] [23]'Click' Aqui - Encuesta CardTrak de Tarjetas de Credito __________________________________________________________________ Other trademarked CardWeb.com publications or services: CardFlash,CardData, CardWatch, CardSearch, CardLocator, CardCommentary, CardBeat, CardServices, CardPlanet, CardLearn, CardResource, and CardBuzz. NOTICE! CardTrak has domestic and international copyright protection as a publication, product and service. Copyright 2001. CardTrak Alert is delivered as a free service to friends of CardWeb.com. If you do not want to receive this free, weekly update please [24]click here or email remove@cardweb.com. ezcredit References Visible links 1. http://www.cardtrak.com/ 2. http://www.cardtrak.com/ 3. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardtrak/news.html 4. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardtrak/news.html 5. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardtrak/news.html 6. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardtrak/news.html 7. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardtrak/news.html 8. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardtrak/news.html 9. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardtrak/news.html 10. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardtrak/news.html 11. http://www.nextcard.com/index.html?ref=carcrenlk7011335 12. http://www.nextcard.com/index.html?ref=carcrenlk7011335 13. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl/cardtrak/pastissues/sept01.html 14. http://www.cardlocator.com/ 15. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/mod_perl/mpoll/mpoll.pl?poll=terrorist 16. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardlearn/faqs/2001/sept/surcharge.html 17. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardlearn/faqs/2001/sept/applied.html 18. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardlearn/faqs/2001/sept/debit.html 19. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardlearn/faqs/2001/sept/cvvcvc.html 20. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?cardlearn/faqs/2001/sept/volume.html 21. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl?/cardlearn/faqs/2001/sept/marketshare.html 22. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl/cardtrak/surveys_es.html 23. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl/cardtrak/surveys_es.html 24. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl/forms/email_remove_request.html Hidden links: 26. http://www.cardweb.com/cgi-bin/frame.pl/cardtrak/surveys_es.html