Recently I was given some information on how credit card reviews are calculated. Do you agree? Did you know?
HOW REVIEWS ARE CALCULATED
The goal of our credit card reviews and our ratings is to provide objective, useful comparative information that will help you choose the right card for you. To do so, we’ve devised a list of factors that we believe are most relevant to cardholders within each category and weighted those factors by level of importance. We’ve then scored each factor, based on a model of the average credit card holder and compiled all of those scores into an overall 5-star rating.
The factors that go into calculating the reviews for each category are as follows:
Introductory offer (20 percent)
We look at the introductory APR, introductory APR for balance transfer and the length of the introductory period, and assign a score to them based on how they compare to other cards in the student category.
Interest and fees (40 percent)
Since student cards are targeted toward new users just learning to manage their credit, the costs of missing a payment or carrying a balance gets the greatest weighting in this category. We look at the regular APR, annual fee and penalty APR, and assign a score depending on how it compares to other student cards.
Rewards program (30 percent)
The next biggest factor is the rewards value. We calculate the estimated rewards value using a formula based on $1,325 per month of spend, averaged over three years. The formula includes an average rewards rate, sign-up bonus, annual fee and average redemption value for the rewards. We assign a score based on how the rewards value compares to other student cards. We also look at the flexibility of the program, considering factors such as expiration dates, point limits, minimum points required to redeem and restrictions on redeeming rewards.
Features (10 percent)
We look at the quantity, uniqueness and value of the features for each card and rate them on a scale of 1-5. We look for features that are specifically valuable to students, especially features that help new cards users manage their credit.
Estimated rewards value (47 percent)
We give this factor the greatest weighting in the rewards category. We use a formula to calculate the estimated yearly value, assuming $1,325 per month of spend, averaged over three years. The formula includes an average rewards rate, sign-up bonus, annual fee and average redemption value for the rewards. We then assign a score depending on how the estimated rewards value compares to other cards.
Annual percentage rate (APR) (3 percent)
Rewards card users generally don’t want to carry a balance, so APR is a small part of the rating for the rewards category. We assign a score depending on how the average APR and the intro APR compares to other rewards cards.
Rewards flexibility (40 percent)
Rewards points aren’t useful if you can’t redeem them, so the flexibility of redemption is a large part of our scoring for rewards cards. We rate factors including expiration dates, restrictions, blackout dates, limits, minimum redemption thresholds and ability to transfer points on a scale of 1-5.
Features (10 percent)
We consider the quantity, uniqueness and value of the features for each card and rate them on a scale of 1-5.
Introductory offer (75 percent)
We give the most weight to the value of the introductory offer. We compare the length of the introductory period, transfer fee and introductory APR against other cards in the balance transfer category and assign a score.
Net value (15 percent)
The overall value of the card, including the costs of carrying a balance, is weighted heavily in our calculations. We compare the regular APR, annual fee, late fees, penalty APR and rewards rate against other cards in the balance transfer category to assign a score.
Features (10 percent)
We consider the quantity, uniqueness and value of the features for each card and rate them on a scale of 1-5.
Estimated rewards value (47 percent)
We give this factor the greatest weighting. We use a formula to calculate the estimated yearly value, assuming $1,325 per month of spend, averaged over three years. The formula includes an average rewards rate, sign-up bonus and annual fee. We then assign a score depending on how the estimated rewards value compares to other cards.
Annual percentage rate (APR) (3 percent)
Cash back card users generally don’t want to carry a balance, so APR is a small part of the rating for the rewards category. We assign a score depending on how the average APR and the intro APR compares to other rewards cards.
Rewards flexibility (40 percent)
The flexibility of redemption is a large part of our scoring for cash back cards. We rate factors including expiration dates, the ease of earning and redeeming cash rewards, limits on cash back, minimum redemption thresholds and ability to transfer points on a scale of 1-5.
Features (10 percent)
We consider the quantity, uniqueness and value of the features for each card and rate them on a scale of 1-5.
Rates and fees (85 percent)
We look at the overall expense of owning the card, including rates, fees and penalties. We give the largest weighting to the cost of carrying a balance on the card over a three year period, which we calculate using the regular APR, introductory APR and length of the introductory period. We also rate the assortment of fees on the card and the penalty APR.
Rewards (5 percent)
Rewards programs tend to drive up rates and fees on a card, so we give them a minor weighting in the low interest category.
Features/Perks (10 percent)
We consider the quantity, uniqueness and value of the features for each card and rate them on a scale of 1-5.
Estimated rewards value (42 percent)
We give this factor the greatest weighting in the rewards category. We use a formula to calculate the estimated yearly value, assuming $4,000 per month of spend, averaged over three years. The formula includes an average rewards rate, sign-up bonus, annual fee and average redemption value for the rewards. We then assign a score depending on how the estimated rewards value compares to other cards.
Annual percentage rate(APR) (3 percent)
We assign a score depending on how the average APR and the intro APR compares to other rewards cards.
Rewards flexibility (35 percent)
Rewards points aren’t useful if you can’t redeem them, so the flexibility of redemption is a large part of our scoring for a business card with rewards. We rate factors including expiration dates, restrictions, blackout dates, limits, minimum redemption thresholds and ability to transfer points on a scale of 1-5.
Features (20 percent)
We give a strong weighting to features that enable business owners to track expenses and manage multiple accounts. We consider the quality and number of features, especially business relevant features – such as financial tracking software and free employee cards with individual limits – and rate them on a scale of 1-5.
Estimated rewards value (47 percent)
We give this factor the greatest weighting. We use a formula to calculate the estimated yearly value, assuming $1,325 per month of spend, averaged over three years. The formula includes an average rewards rate, sign-up bonus, annual fee and average redemption value for the rewards. We then assign a score depending on how the estimated rewards value compares to other cards.
Annual percentage rate (APR) (3 percent)
Travel card users generally don’t want to carry a balance, so APR is a small part of the rating for the rewards category. We assign a score depending on how the average APR and the intro APR compares to other rewards cards.
Rewards flexibility (40 percent)
Rewards miles aren’t useful if you can’t redeem them, so the flexibility of redemption is a large part of our scoring for rewards cards. We rate factors including expiration dates, restrictions, blackout dates, limits, minimum redemption thresholds and ability to transfer points on a scale of 1-5.
Features (10 percent)
We consider the quantity, uniqueness and value of the features for each card and rate them on a scale of 1-5.
Estimated rewards value (47 percent)
We give this factor the greatest weighting. We use a formula to calculate the estimated yearly value, assuming $1,325 per month of spend, averaged over three years. The formula includes an average rewards rate, sign-up bonus, annual fee and average redemption value for the rewards. We then assign a score depending on how the estimated rewards value compares to other cards.
Annual percentage rate (APR) (3 percent)
Airline card users generally don’t want to carry a balance, so APR is a small part of the rating for the rewards category. We assign a score depending on how the average APR and the intro APR compares to other rewards cards.
Rewards flexibility (30 percent)
Rewards miles aren’t useful if you can’t redeem them, so the flexibility of redemption is a large part of our scoring for rewards cards. We rate factors including expiration dates, restrictions, blackout dates, limits, minimum redemption thresholds and ability to transfer points on a scale of 1-5.
Flight options (10 percent)
We rate the airline program on the number of options it offers for flights, including number of airline partners, number of daily flights, number of destinations and the number of countries served.
Features (10 percent)
We consider the quantity, uniqueness and value of the features for each card and rate them on a scale of 1-5.
Estimated rewards value (47 percent)
We give this factor the greatest weighting. We use a formula to calculate the estimated yearly value, assuming $1,325 per month of spend, averaged over three years. The formula includes an average rewards rate, sign-up bonus, annual fee and average redemption value for the rewards. We then assign a score depending on how the estimated rewards value compares to other cards.
Annual percentage rate (APR) (3 percent)
Hotel card users generally don’t want to carry a balance, so APR is a small part of the rating for the rewards category. We assign a score depending on how the average APR and the intro APR compares to other rewards cards.
Rewards flexibility (30 percent)
Rewards points aren’t useful if you can’t redeem them, so the flexibility of redemption is a large part of our scoring for rewards cards. We rate factors including expiration dates, restrictions, blackout dates, capacity controls, minimum redemption thresholds and ability to transfer points on a scale of 1-5.
Hotel options (10 percent)
We rate the hotel program on the size and breadth of its hotel portfolio, considering the number of properties and the number of countries where properties are located.
Features (10 percent)
We consider the quantity, uniqueness and value of the features for each card and rate them on a scale of 1-5.
As credit card offers change, we will periodically review this information and update the ratings based on the new offer terms.
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