It's not difficult to look for a credit card offering a low introductory interest rate. Many credit cards lure customers through offers too good to resist. What is difficult is finding a credit card offering great rates that you can deal with in the long term. Opening and then closing an account definitely affects your credit score, so the best route is to first choose a card that matches your requirements then apply for it.

The four major cards are Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Each of these cards has a website you can check out to view their offers. You want to find a card that charges a reasonable annual fee or if possible, none at all. There are some cards that charge an annual fee like the American Express Platinum card, but offer fringe benefits such as a free airline ticket for a friend.

Most cards also offer roadside assistance, zero liability on unauthorized charges, rental car insurance coverage, and other benefits.

If you like to be rewarded for using the credit card, search for a reward card. If you love traveling, airline cards are the best choice. You earn mileage which you can exchange for airfare while you use the card for everyday purchases. Other reward cards allow you to select your reward, which can be gift certificates, merchandise, hotel stays or cash, to name a few.

Specialty cards may offer free credit scores, discounts on your utilities, theme park tickets, or allow you to support a cause or charity by donating your reward earnings.

The next kind of reward card is the rebate credit card. Most of these cards reward you one to five percent of the amount of qualified purchases. Some rebate credit cards offer gas rebates. To get the full rebate, these gas rebate credit cards are best used at stand alone stations rather than at wholesale club stations.

Whatever card you select, make sure you read all the fine print. Remember that interest rates and annual fees may increase quickly. If you know all these details beforehand, you will most likely be happy with your chosen card.

To keep your excellent credit score, don't max out your card. Avoid carrying a balance but pay off the entire statement balance each month. It is best that you keep two or three major credit cards like Visa and American Express for charge purchases. If you want, you may also keep a card for emergency purposes.