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From This Collection

Good credit not immune to cuts

May 29, 2009
Banks continue to cut credit lines, even for people with almost perfect credit histories. Stacey Vanek-Smith talks to one couple caught in their bank's blanket credit policy.
Avis Durgan and Jeff Stevenson
Stacey Vanek-Smith

Getting out of $40K in credit card debt

Apr 30, 2009
Sabrina Reigel moved to Southern California and didn't have any friends, so she spent some time shopping -- and racked up $40,000 in credit card debt. She tells us how she got out of it with her sanity intact.
Woman holding credit card.
iStockPhoto

Keeping ID thieves at bay

Apr 17, 2009
Identity theft can be both frustrating and costly for the victims. Reporter Stacey Vanek-Smith visits one couple who is still trying to put their credit back together after eight years of identity theft.
Susan and David Litchfield in their home in Norwell, Mass.
Susan and David Litchfield

Swiping that plastic can be fantastic

Apr 13, 2009
Credit cards have gotten a bad rap, says commentator Meghan Daum, who thinks plastic can actually be pretty great, if needed.

Sioux Falls jobs drop as defaults soar

Mar 26, 2009
After Sioux Falls got rid of its credit card interest rate limits, financial giants moved in and brought thousands of jobs to the city. But with defaults soaring, the job market has tanked. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Dacotah Bank in downtown Sioux Falls, S.D.
Stacey Vanek-Smith / Marketplace

Sioux Falls: The town credit built

Mar 25, 2009
South Dakota a financial powerhouse? It's not what immediately comes to mind. But you can thank this unlikely finance hub for your sky-high credit card interest rates. Stacey Vanek-Smith explains.
In downtown Sioux Falls, S.D., there are several banks, including First Dakota National Bank, left, and Wells Fargo.
Stacey Vanek-Smith / Marketplace

Culture of debt driven by GM

Mar 9, 2009
There used to be a time when Americans frowned upon going into debt. But historians say that changed nearly 100 years ago. Stephen Smith looks back on how our debt-driven society hit the gas with General Motors.

For public good, not for profit.

Less opulence on TV next season

Mar 3, 2009
"Gossip Girl," "Privileged," and "The Hills" are some of the TV shows that glamorize wealth. But next year's TV lineup may reflect more of our economic reality. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
TV remote
iStockPhoto

Credit cards take swipes at stability

Feb 3, 2009
With consumer credit-card debt climbing, banks are shifting marketing strategies to get their plastic in the hands of more financially stable customers. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Window sticker advertising Visa and MasterCard credit cards in San Francisco, Calif.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images