General Consumer: If you are NOT a small business owner and NOT a college student with limited credit history then you should only be looking at  ‘General Consumer’ credit cards.

Student: Some credit cards within the “personal” (rather than “business”) category are branded as “student credit cards“. These cards are targeted to students who are new to credit or who have no credit history.

If you are a college student or otherwise new to credit, a student credit card can be a good way to start building a credit history. On the other hand, if you are a graduate student who’s had a credit card for seven years, then there is no reason for you to apply for a student credit card. Once you have an established credit history, you are generally offered more choice and usually get better credit terms. A student credit card might not be the most advantageous option for someone who already has an established credit history.

Business: If you have a small business, it is important to keep your business spending separate from your personal spending. A credit card specifically for your small business can help you track your spending, which is particularly helpful when tax time rolls around. In addition, many small business credit cards offer rewards that people find helpful for their businesses.  In order to apply for a Business Credit Card you need to:

• Be the owner or principal of the business AND
• Be able to provide a Tax ID Number (TIN) or Employer ID Number (EIN)

Unless you are a medium to large business you can NOT get a credit card without providing your Social Security Number (SSN), even if it is called a Business Credit Card.