Women Pay More for Credit Cards, Study Finds
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George Doyle/Stockbyte/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Women pay more for their credit cards than men do, according to new research.
A FINRA Foundation study found that, on average, women pay a half a point higher interest rate on their cards than men do. And that’s after factoring in things like income level, education and even financial literacy.
The study also found more discouraging news for women. They were:
— five percentage points more likely to carry a credit card balance;
— four percentage points more likely to make only the minimum payment;
— and six points more likely to be charged a late fee.
However, among financially literate men and women, these last three stats disappeared. Men and women, instead, were equal.
“For women, having a high level of financial literacy appears to pay off,” said FINRA Foundation President Gerri Walsh. “Becoming more financially literate is a great step that any woman can take to keep more of her hard-earned money in her pocket.”
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio