When it comes to website security and functionality, Discover tops a new list from Forrester Research.

The Forrester study, titled “2012 U.S. Credit Card Secure Website Rankings,” was conducted from March 6-9 and compared the top six U.S. issuers on 50 different criteria.

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While Discover didn’t get a perfect score, it did achieve an 80 out of 100, the highest among all of the issuers. The issuer ranked highly  in the online servicing category and the site’s security features were said to be “significantly above minimum standards.”

Security is a growing concern for many cardholders. As recently as March, information associated with 1.5 million accounts was stolen from a major processor of debit and credit card payments.

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Also, talk of the mobile wallet is making consumers second-guess the security of a new payment option. As more issuers provide options for swipeless or contactless payments, security is becoming even more important for cardholders even as the industry reassures consumers that encryption used for this type of mobile payment system actually makes them more secure than regular credit cards.

Discover was also applauded for its customizable alerts that make it easier for customers to manage their accounts.

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Since the end of the recession, consumers have been repeatedly cutting the rates at which they feel behind on their credit card payments and repeatedly failed to pay the bills, but that trend might be reversing itself.

Analysts recently suggested that the record-low instances of delinquency and default observed by credit card lenders since the end of the recession were expected to bottom out at some point this year, and already, this might be taking place for at least one major lender, according to a report from Dow Jones Newswires. In its monthly filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Capital One Financial, one of the six largest credit card lenders in the nation, reported that it saw instances of defaulted accounts rise to 4.07 percent of all balances in April, up from 3.85 percent in March. Defaulted accounts are those that are 90 days or more behind on payments and are charged off by lenders as being uncollectable.

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But at the same time, the lender noted that short-term delinquencies — those accounts that are only 30 days or more behind on payments — fell once again in April, the report said. In all, this type of late payment slipped to 3.18 percent of all accounts, down from 3.25 percent in March. Generally, experts view fluctuations in lender delinquency rates as predictors of future charge offs, indicating that progress could be uneven as the year goes on.

During the recession, many consumers ran into severe financial difficulty that made it difficult or even impossible for them to pay their credit card bills on time every month, and instances of both delinquency and default spiked considerably. The problem became so widespread, in fact, that many borrowers saw their credit scores fall to the point where they could no longer qualify for any types of credit, and were therefore forced out of the borrowing system altogether, particularly as most lenders significantly increased lending standards to guard themselves against further losses.

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But now, as the economy improves and consumers get a better handle on their finances, many lenders are once again broadening issuing standards, giving consumers with subprime credit scores access to new accounts once again. Some experts believe this might be leading to an increase in charge offs, but others say they had to increase naturally back to historical averages.

These days, many people are getting their finances in order as the economy continues to improve and the effects of the recession fade, but millions of families got themselves into trouble so deep that they’re still struggling significantly under the weight of massive debts.

Millions of families are considered “underwater” with their mortgages because they owe more on their loan than their home is worth. Additionally, millions more are also underwater when it comes to their non-collateralized debt, which can be more troubling, according to a new study from the University of Michigan. In all, about 20 percent of all households nationwide owe more in non-collateralized debt (which can include credit card balances, medical bills, student loans and the like) than they have in savings and other liquid assets.

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“Some families have not been able to make substantial headway,” said Frank Stafford, an economist at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, who co-authored the report with researchers Bing Chen and Robert Schoeni. “Even if they’re not underwater with their mortgages, they are struggling to save money and reduce their debts.”

In all, the number of consumers who carried $30,000 or more in non-collateralized debts increased significantly between 2009 and 2011, rising to 10 percent of those surveyed from 8.5 percent, the report said. Meanwhile, the number of people who said they had no such debt at all slipped, though marginally, to 47.4 percent from 48 percent. At the same time, the number of families with no liquid assets or savings rose to 23.4 percent from 18.5 percent.

On the other hand, the researchers found that a good portion of non-collateralized borrowing increases were the result of spikes in student loans, which can lead to tens of thousands of dollars in debt for those who receive a four-year degree, the report said.

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Of course, many of the economic problems people ran into during these times came about through no fault of their own. Millions of families were laid off and increased credit card borrowing as a means to make ends meet when other sources of income were not available. Further, these troubles also made it more difficult to pay their various bills, and some prioritized mortgage payments over other types of borrowing to keep their homes.

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It’s that time of year when tassels are turned and graduation caps are tossed into the air. And ready or not, a new group of young adults venture out into the real world.

If you just graduated, you might be looking forward to managing money on your own. Certainly, it’s deliciously liberating. But it can also be tricky, especially with credit cards because it’s so easy to spend like a maniac and get yourself into debt.

So to help you get started on the right track, I’ve put together five credit card rules that you should always keep in mind:

Rule #1: Don’t fall for flattery

You’ve probably received credit card offers while in college. You may even already have one or two cards. But once you’re employed, expect to get a ton of mailed offers.

The envelopes will entice you with language such as, “You’ve been selected!” and “You deserve this opportunity!” Card issuers will do their best to make you feel special and wanted.

Banks do want you, but they also want millions of others whom they told are special, too. Don’t apply for a new card unless you actually need it. Make a rational decision based on your needs and don’t fall for the hype.

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Rule #2: Read the fine print before you apply 

If you do decide you need a credit card, it’s okay to consider the mailed offers. But also get online and check out credit card comparison sites, like Credit.com, where you can search for cards based on what your needs are.

Narrow the list down to about a half dozen candidates (maybe less, maybe more, depending on what category you’re looking at). Then read the fine print for each one so you can make an informed choice. You want the card that matches your lifestyle and your needs. For instance, if you’re driving a long distance to work, look at cash back cards that offer a gas rebate.

There’s really no substitute for reading what’s often called “mouse print.” Think of this as an investment in your financial future. When you know how to earn rewards or avoid fees, you’ll benefit financially.

Rule #3: Pay the balance every month

Honestly, this is a rule that everyone—regardless of age and credit experience—should follow. Now is the perfect time to develop this habit. Pay your bill off every single month with no exception. Set up a budget so you know exactly how much you can put on credit cards for a given month. Don’t exceed that amount because if you do, you might not have the cash flow to pay it off. Then you end up paying interest expense.

If you keep spending, this snowballs and before you know it, you’re in credit card debt. It’s a depressing place to be. I’ve overcome it and many others have, too, but you don’t want to be in that position. It will be a financial setback for a long time.

[Related Articles: The Other Student Loan Slow Jam: Is It Time for a National Service Corps?]

Rule #4: Pay the credit card bill on time

This may seem like a no-brainer. Of course I’ll pay on time, you say. Well, good intentions sometimes go awry in real life. You must have a system in place so you don’t forget. You’re an adult now and you’ve got work responsibilities, household chores, dry cleaning to drop off. And, of course, a social life to keep track of.

It’s easy to get really, really busy and let the bills slip. Set up reminder emails or text alerts from your card issuer. Or use free money management software like Mint and set up weekly bill-paying reminders via email. Handle this in a way that works with your organizational style. Just don’t your memory as your sole method.

Rule #5: Make a vow to learn about personal finance

Humans don’t instinctively know how to manage money, let alone credit cards. But even if you weren’t taught money skills as a child, you can teach yourself now.

There are lots of personal finance books out there. I like Clark Howard’s books because he offers good tips for making the most of your money. Liz Weston and Farnoosh Torabi (her books are targeted to young adults) also have some really good personal finance books you should read. If you have a Kindle, you can get most books in ebook format and save money.

And don’t forget, the Internet is loaded with websites that want to teach you how to handle credit or set up a spending plan. For instance, free webinars are  offered by CredAbility. The teachers are certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC).

But listen, if you ever find that you’re over your head in debt or cash flow issues, ask for help. So many grads already have student loan debt and if you add credit card debt to that, you’ll feel overwhelmed. Being in debt is a lonely feeling and there are organizations filled with counselors who want to give you advice. You can reach out for help from the NFCC or from CredAbility.

[Credit Cards: Research and compare student credit cards at Credit.com]

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Millions of consumers across the countries saw their credit scores take a dive during the recent recession, but now lenders are stepping up efforts to market specifically to those who have a damaged borrowing history.

Major credit card lenders are now significantly increasing their efforts to market to consumers who have subprime credit scores, in hopes that they can convince borrowers who have been unable to gain access to other lines of credit since the recession. A number of studies have recently shown that more than a million borrowers with severely damaged credit ratings are now opening credit card accounts every month. However, lending to subprime borrowers still hasn’t begun to approach levels seen prior to the recession.

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Nonetheless, this new trend puts many consumers who previously ran into credit trouble in an interesting position: Should they accept the new card and start rebuilding their credit, or ignore the offer to avoid racking up debt again?

The simplest answer is that there’s no overarching right answer. Each person is different, but consumers who want to open such an account need to exercise caution. Credit cards for consumers with bad credit typically carry higher rates and fees than many borrowers may have been accustomed to when they still had a healthy credit rating, meaning the cost of keeping an account will likely be quite high, especially if they carry a balance from one month to the next.

For this reason, it’s important for those with bad credit to borrow as little as possible on these accounts, and then pay off their balance in full every month. This will improve their payment history, and will also keep balances low so that credit utilization remains at its peak levels. As these are the two most important factors in determining a credit score, making sure they are as strong as possible will, over time, have a significant positive impact.

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Further, once a consumer trying to rebuild his or her credit has had this type of card for a year or so, they may be in a position to graduate to a new card with better perks and fewer fees. However, when doing so, they might not want to close their bad credit credit card unless it carries a costly annual fee.

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