Claire Dickey

Former Editor, Credit Cards

EXPERTISE

Rewards credit cards
Travel credit cards
Credit card news
Building credit

EDUCATION

A.B.J. Advertising, Grady College of Journalism at The University of Georgia

There’s no reason to feel intimidated by a credit card. As long as you pay off your purchases every month, there’s little risk and tons of upside.
— Claire Dickey

Claire Dickey is a credit cards editor at Bankrate, focusing on news, product guides and educational content. Her areas of expertise include rewards and travel credit cards, building credit and credit card news. Always on the lookout for the latest credit cards and card perks, as well as cards-related legislation and regulations, Claire is passionate about demystifying personal finance topics. Her goal is to help readers save money, earn rewards and protect their credit scores.

When she’s not strategizing about how to maximize rewards on her next trip, Claire is an avid runner and day hiker.

Claire wants you to know

If you’re trying to build credit, my best advice is to keep things simple. A credit card is a great way to show your creditworthiness, but picking one can be overwhelming since there are so many options out there and so many features to consider. Stick to the basics: Look for a card with low fees and the option to put down a large deposit and get a matching credit limit. If you pay on time and only charge small purchases to the card, your score can grow surprisingly quickly.

Claire's recommended readings

There’s no reason to feel intimidated by a credit card. As long as you pay off your purchases every month, there’s little risk and tons of upside.
— Claire Dickey

Claire's latest articles

How I earned $1,701 in credit card rewards in 2022 and what I’m planning for 2023

Here’s how I earned $1,701 in credit card rewards in 2022.

4 min read Jan 06, 2023
Preapproved Credit One Bank cards: How to qualify

Learn how you can prequalify and get preapproved for a Credit One Bank credit card.

5 min read Dec 07, 2022
What does it mean when your credit card application is pending?

Credit card issuers occasionally need extra time to accept or decline a credit card application. Here’s what you need to know about a pending application.

4 min read Dec 07, 2022
What happens if my card payment is returned?

Returned card payments can bring on a variety of fees and may harm your credit.

2 min read Dec 07, 2022
Buying a house with no money down

It’s not easy. And even if you can, it may not be a good idea.

7 min read Dec 06, 2022
Buying a house in Dallas: A how-to

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the appeal of the Lone Star State’s biggest metro area.

6 min read Dec 06, 2022
Is the Capital One Platinum Secured worth it?

Find out how the Capital One Platinum Secured works and whether it’s worth it.

4 min read Dec 06, 2022
Nearly 1 in 3 Gen Z workers are not actively saving for retirement, and it could be a half-million-dollar mistake

A top financial regret is not saving enough for retirement, with 19 percent of Americans citing it.

5 min read Dec 05, 2022