Courtney Mihocik

Senior Editor, Credit Cards
Ribbon Icon EXPERTISE
  • Credit scores
  • Building credit
  • Student credit cards
  • Credit card comparisons
Education Icon EDUCATION
  • Bachelor of Science in Journalism, Ohio University

 

Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com with expertise in helping people with limited or no credit to understand their options for improving their credit scores. She focuses on the subprime category and provides guidance to people on their credit-building journeys.

Courtney is passionate about creating a space where people can learn more about managing their personal finances, specifically helping her peers achieve their credit card and credit score goals. She believes that public education fails to teach the essentials of personal finance to students and wants to make up for it in her editorial work.

Previously, she led insurance content at Reviews.com and worked as the loans editor at The Simple Dollar, where she produced daily personal finance articles from founder Trent Hamm in addition to student loan, personal loan, business loan and bad credit loan articles. Before entering the digital media space, Courtney worked in hyper-local print journalism, covering arts, culture, food, news and more for publications in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Courtney wants you to know
Courtney graduated college with a 750 credit score, which quickly plummeted to the 500s when she nearly defaulted on her high student loan payments she couldn’t afford. After applying for an income-driven repayment plan and six years of careful budgeting, hustling and responsible credit use, she’s happy to report her credit score is back hovering around 750 and she can qualify for better financial products.
Courtney’s recommended readings

Rethinking credit: Tips for first-gen credit users
How bad credit affects your mental health
Consumer credit protections: Know your rights

We all make mistakes with our finances, and it’s not shameful to ask for advice or help to get your life in order financially. With credit cards, it’s especially important to be wary of racking up a high balance and relying on transfers to avoid interest. As an editor, I want Gen Z and millennials to have the same — if not better — financial opportunities than generations before.

— Courtney Mihocik

Courtney's latest articles

  • Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

    While not as flexible as its bigger sibling, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers strong, year-round cash back on crucial bonus categories like groceries and gas.

    13 min read Jan 27, 2023

  • Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card

    The Mission Lane Cash Back Visa card for fair credit could be a great fit if you’re eager to earn rewards and avoid putting down a security deposit or paying a high annual fee.

    10 min read Jan 11, 2023

  • U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

    The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers a generous intro interest-free window of 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers with no annual fee, but not much ongoing value after paying off your balance.

    11 min read Dec 20, 2022

  • Chase Slate Edge℠

    The Chase Slate Edge offers more long-term value than the legacy Slate as a low-interest card, but its intro and ongoing APR are easily outperformed.

    12 min read Dec 20, 2022

  • Ally Everyday Cash Back Mastercard®

    Learn more about the new Ally Everyday Cash Back Mastercard in an in-depth review of its pros, cons and its cash back rate.

    11 min read Dec 19, 2022