Cobrand cards have been popular for years. Whether stamped with General Motors, Borders, American Airlines, BP, or hundreds if not thousands of other business names on them, these types of cards have been an excellent way for credit card providers to get more business.

However, not every consumer cares whether they receive some benefit from their credit card. In fact, if they were given the opportunity to help the homeless, rescue animals, or contribute to their alumni fund, then an affinity card would be their choice.

Knowing this, the credit card companies have been signing up charities left and right to be the beneficiary of the largesse generated through the use of credit cards. Every time you use an affinity card, a certain amount of money is set aside to help the organization featured on the card. Typically, this could be a half to a full penny for every dollar spent, an amount that could easily multiply the more your card gets used.

While affinity cards can be helpful to charities there are some potential pitfalls including:

• A higher interest charge. Rates are typically much higher than what you would pay for the average rewards card, in some cases above 20% APR.

• No perks for you. The perks of the cobrand cards seldom carry over to the affinity cards. Remember: you selected the card to help your favorite charity, so you are not likely to gain a benefit other than the knowledge that your card combined with the cards of tens of thousands of other cardholders could net your charity millions of dollars in perks -- money that they would not have gotten via other means.

So, if you are philanthropically minded individual, then an affinity card could be the best choice for you. Here at Credit Card Venue we offer a wide selection of credit cards including various affinity cards to help your favorite charity.

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