Dr. Kibis Explores What Credit Card Habits Say About Consumer Behavior and the Economy

In a WalletHub article exploring how consumers select and use credit cards, Dr. Eyyub Kibis, Assistant Professor, in the Dept. of Information Management & Business Analytics, provided insights into both consumer behavior and the broader economic signals embedded in credit card terms. He noted that while only a very small percentage of consumers actively optimize their credit card use, more than half of cardholders carry revolving debt each month, underscoring widespread financial vulnerability.

Dr. Kibis emphasized the importance of aligning card choice with personal financial goals, whether minimizing interest, maximizing rewards, or reducing fees, and explained how features like foreign transaction charges, introductory bonuses, and purchase protections factor into decision-making.