NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast Credit Cards in 2026: Big Card Changes Are Rolling Out — Here’s What to Re-evaluate Now
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Jan 12, 2026 Caitlin Mims, a credit card reporter, joins the discussion to unpack the shifting landscape of credit cards in 2026. She highlights the risks of rising fees and the growing prevalence of buy now, pay later options. Valuable tips for aligning spending with personal values are shared, along with strategies to manage credit card debt. Caitlin also reveals the winners of NerdWallet's Best-of Awards, offering insights on the most effective cards available as 2026 approaches. Her concluding advice encourages consumers to select cards that truly fit their financial habits.
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Preapproval Rises As Fees And Niches Follow
- Card issuers now show pre-approval more often, reducing hard-pull surprises.
- But many issuers are offsetting consumer-friendly moves by raising fees and adding niche perks.
Use Card BNPL Sparingly And Budget Payments
- Treat card-based buy now, pay later (BNPL) as a short-term tool and budget its payments explicitly.
- Avoid habitual BNPL use to prevent loan stacking and unsustainable spending.
Debt Rises Unevenly Across Incomes
- Credit card debt rose overall but unevenly across income levels, hitting low and middle earners hardest.
- Delinquency rates ticked down, possibly due to cautious approvals or more people making minimum payments.