Hi Everyone! I just want to start out by saying, that I'm new to the message board and the world of credit. I'm 24 years old, and am just beginning to learn about finances now that I'm no longer in college. Because my mother's inability to retire (she'll be working for the rest of her life), I'm highly motivated about the prospect of taking my financial future into my hands. So I'm interested in learning as much as possible. Three months ago, I opened my first credit card with Washington Mutual to establish a credit history. The interest rates are high (11.99% fixed), but the introductory rate is 0% for 6 months. So in two months, I quickly increased my credit score from a 680 to a 742 after consistly paying off numerous charges. As soon as I received notice of the increase, I went out and applied for a Capital One card which was also approved for a 6 month 0% APR. However very recently, I've been making several large purchases for moving expenses, and need a card with a 0% APR for at least a year. So, I applied for a Chase card that matched my credit score with the term conditions I wanted. The application was quickly approved. However, I was only given a 7.99% variable rate--not the introductory conditions in the contract. After speaking to the rate specialist and manager, I was told I'd be eligible for annual offers next year given the age of the history despite my very good credit. I then applied for a Citibank and Bank of America Card. The first application was declined, and the second application is still pending. Are smaller banks offering better deals to those with recent histories? Are they comparible to bigger institutions? Any recommendations at this point will help! Thanks in advance, Northern_star
