CardTrak.com - Most Trusted Source of Credit Cards Since 1986

Nation's First Credit Card Site for Consumers Celebrates 21 Years

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (September 21, 2007) --CardTrak.com®, the nation's most established and most trusted credit card advisory service for consumers, today announced the celebration of its 21st anniversary and its 12th year on the Internet.

Launched in October 1986, the firm created the first national database of credit card programs, assembling the information in seven regional annual Bankcard Directories for $10 each, empowering consumers for the first time to comparison shop. In 1988 the Company began publishing an abbreviated national monthly version called Bankcard List, for 50 cents per copy, as it began producing the monthly list of the best credit card offers for The Wall Street Journal and other national publications. In early 1991, as the range of credit card products exploded, the firm created the CardTrak® monthly newsletter for $5 per copy that provided lists of the best credit card products in several categories, coupled with the latest news and commentary. Launching its Web site in September 1995 at the American Bankers Association annual credit card industry convention, the firm greatly expanded its consumer services and phased-out charging consumers for its information, switching to an advertising paradigm.

Robert B. McKinley, founder and head of CardTrak.com, remembers that most consumers in 1986 were unaware they could have more than one major credit card, a credit card from an out-of-state issuer or that banks charged different interest rates. However, he said that consumer ignorance began to dissipate by 1992 with the introduction of the Discover Card®, the American Express Optima Card®, the AT&T Universal Card® and the General Motors Card®. McKinley says the heightened competition from non-bank players and co-branded credit card programs drove annual fees and high fixed interest rates from the market. He says the market remains extremely competitive today making it almost overwhelming to sort out the best credit cards for a consumer's personal needs.

Today, CardTrak.com offers an extensive array of free services to help consumers become "cardworthy" and "cardsavvy": robust search engines to locate the best credit card offers and current credit card perks plus daily news, polls, sweepstakes, FAQs, tips, calculator and statistics.

McKinley notes that with more than twenty years of goodwill serving the American public the firm has never paid to drive traffic to its site. He says this is one reason CardTrak.com continues to deliver the highest response rates and highest quality applicants to its advertisers. McKinley says consumer trust is something you build, not buy.

About CardTrak.com

CardTrak.com, http://www.cardtrak.com, is the nation's most established and most trusted credit card advisory service for consumers, serving millions since 1986. CardTrak follows credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, prepaid cards and smart cards. CardTrak follows products from VISA®, MasterCard®, American Express® and Discover®. CardTrak is a registered trademark of CardTrak LLC. CardTrak LLC is a privately-held company headquartered in Port Charlotte, Florida with branch offices nationwide.

Contacts
CardTrak.com, Port Charlotte
Stephanie Jupiter, 800-344-7714
media@cardtrak.com