...przynajmniej w USA. Przynajmniej w takiej postaci, jaka byla dotad
norma.

Z The New York Times, takie ponure i pesymistyczne wizje:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/business/19credit.
html?_r=1&hp

http://tinyurl.com/o4xlf8

W ramach streszczenia: Po ograniczeniu przez Kongres kar nakladanych
przez banki na co bardziej ryzykownych kredytobiorcow, wystawcy kart
poszukaja innego zrodla dochodu. Skoncza sie karty bez oplat rocznych,
okresy bezodsetkowe, "usługa cash back" i programy partnerskie.

Czyli: Apokalipsa.

Credit cards have long been a very good deal for people who pay their
bills on time and in full. Even as card companies imposed punitive
fees and penalties on those late with their payments, the best
customers racked up cash-back rewards, frequent-flier miles and other
perks in recent years.

Now Congress is moving to limit the penalties on riskier borrowers,
who have become a prime source of billions of dollars in fee revenue
for the industry. And to make up for lost income, the card companies
are going after those people with sterling credit.

Banks are expected to look at reviving annual fees, curtailing cash-
back and other rewards programs and charging interest immediately on a
purchase instead of allowing a grace period of weeks, according to
bank officials and trade groups.