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Citi Jacks Up Card Rates on Millions of Accounts

By Jess Kilby,  Newser User

Posted Jul 1, 2009 6:28 AM CDT

(Newser) – As many Citigroup customers are already painfully aware, the lender has drastically increased rates on some 15 million credit card accounts, the Financial Times reports. Holders of Citi cards co-branded with retailers such as Sears saw their interest rates climb by as much as 24%—or 3 percentage points—between January and April if they failed to pay off their full balance each month.

“It’s hard to tell if rate hikes on existing balances being put in place now are the result of prior bad business decisions or getting in under the wire of the new law,” says the Democratic rep from New York who authored upcoming legislation that makes such practices illegal.

Many lenders have increased their rates over the past several months, but analysts say Citi's increases have been the most drastic.
Many lenders have increased their rates over the past several months, but analysts say Citi's increases have been the most drastic.   (AP Photo/Bill Sikes, file)
Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit says borrowers should accept a new world of tighter credit as the financial institutions recover from months of bad loans, failed banks and foreclosed homes.
Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit says borrowers should accept a new world of tighter credit as the financial institutions recover from months of bad loans, failed banks and foreclosed homes.   (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Citigroup Inc. is increasing base salaries for many of its employees reportedly by as much as 50% for some as it restructures its compensation program.
Citigroup Inc. is increasing base salaries for many of its employees "reportedly by as much as 50% for some" as it restructures its compensation program.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
hopalong70
Sep 20, 2011 9:01 PM CDT
I dropped all my credit cards 7 years ago.   BEST THING I EVER DID.    If I don'T have the money, to buy something, I don't buy it.  SIMPLE AS THAT.
armywife
Jul 2, 2009 9:44 AM CDT
see, this kind of crap is why we dont have a credit card. not a single one. just a debit card with USAA, a bank for servicemembers which treats us well. small banks are a better bet usually, go local.
Guest
Jul 1, 2009 6:54 AM CDT
Joining the crowd Citi? Chase already went up on mine and I've got good credit......

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