Credit cards are the extra means of financial deals issued by the banks to their customers to enable them to use many facilities and services without the need of carrying hard cash in their wallets.

There are many types of such cards. For example there is visa card like the 'HDFC International Gold Card'. It is the shopping class type with international domain and reach. It has got a wide insurance policy on accidents and other mishaps ( for an airline accident up to Rs.25 lacs, and other accidents Rs.3 lacs) for the clients. Then there is the provision of 'household insurance' for up to Rs.75000 . Other incentives include purchase protection of Rs.50000 for a period of half year, and hospitalization aid up to Rs.500000.

MasterCard is yet another popular card, like the 'ICICI Affinity Dentist Mastercard' which belongs to the medical class. In addition to the insurance against accidents, it has a credit time of 20 to 50 days. With this card, the 'balance transfer' is received at 1.75% for six months. To get this card, the salaried ( Rs.60000/annum) client must be of minimum eighteen years of age. There are numerous attractive airline travel facilities attached with this type of alternative form of transactions.

Visa Mini is another card issued by the banking institutions. For example, there is 'Standard Chartered Visa Mini Card' for the benefit of the clients. Its main positive point is the 'Reward Points' whose value stands at 1/25 in the domestic domain, and 1/80 in the international market. The credit time is 52 days on this card.

'MTNL American Express Credit Card' falls in the Amex category of cards. It is of the phone category. Under this scheme, there is cash back up to 1.7% on the MTNL bills and other payments. Further, there is 'CLIP facility' for the card users. The 'revolving credit' digit is 2.89 for the users.

'Diners Club International Card' falls in the premium category of cards. Falling in the 'Inclusive' sub-category, it gives the cash advantage up to Rs.20000 at 2.5% rate. The renew rate is about 1/100 with the credit time up to 2 months. There is a very wide set of air-travel incentives covering areas like the loss of baggage, discounts on tours, delay in the arrival of 'booked baggage', flight postponement during the connecting flights.

'American Express Gold Card' is 'Charge Card' type of card falling in the Premium class. Its 'reward point' digit is 1/40 with a very comprehensive set of air travel incentives and benefits. The insurance on 'purchase protection' is Rs.150000 for a period of 3 months.