Poonkulali Thangavelu

Former Senior Writer, Credit cards

EXPERTISE

Consumer law
Monetary policy
Debt management
Mortgages
Managing investments

EDUCATION

Master of Arts (Journalism) from University of Mississippi, Oxford
Master of Business Administration from BIM, Trichy, India
Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India

Making good financial decisions enables people to get more out of life, and I’m happy to contribute to that endeavor.
— Poonkulali Thangavelu

Poonkulali Thangavelu is a senior writer at Bankrate, addressing credit card-related consumer protection and debt management issues. She believes that making good financial decisions enables people to get more out of life and is happy to contribute to others’ financial education. She uses credit cards extensively and sees them as a good financial resource to draw on — if used wisely.

Poonka has extensive journalism experience covering personal finance and business topics. She draws on her financial education and expertise and likes to simplify the subject matter to enable readers to make good decisions. While covering the mortgage market for National Mortgage News, she curated and edited a newsletter targeting the home-equity lending niche of the mortgage industry. In this role, she cautioned that home prices were getting out of hand in the period leading up to the 2006 housing market crash.

She’s contributed to multiple business and consumer-oriented outlets, and her work has been picked up by various national publishers such as the San Francisco Gate, Chicago Tribune and McGraw Hill, along with syndication on Fidelity, MSN, Nasdaq, Yahoo! and others. Her career includes a stint doing consumer market research for global advertising agency Ogilvy as well as experience as an equity analyst and writer.

Find Poonkulali beyond Bankrate

Poonkulali wants you to know

It’s great to earn credit card rewards, but don’t go overboard with your spending in order to hit a welcome bonus or bonus category cap. I like the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express since it offers cash back on groceries, which I buy a few times each month anyway. The cash back rewards even offset the annual fee, so I find it worthwhile.

Poonkulali's recommended readings

Making good financial decisions enables people to get more out of life, and I’m happy to contribute to that endeavor.
— Poonkulali Thangavelu

Poonkulali's latest articles

I was a victim of credit card fraud while traveling abroad

Here’s what you should do if you run into credit card fraud while abroad.

3 min read Mar 24, 2023
Credit card balances increased in January, Fed report shows

Credit card balances have been growing, with consumers piling on debt as prices rise. The most recent Fed data shows card balances continued to grow in January.

3 min read Mar 07, 2023
I was approved for a new credit card and got two. What should I do?

What happens if your issuer accidentally sends you two credit cards, and how to ensure it doesn’t hurt your credit score.

3 min read Feb 27, 2023
What the CFPB’s proposed $8 credit card late fee cap could mean for cardholders

The CFPB’s recent proposal to cap late fees, and what it could mean for you.

5 min read Feb 22, 2023
What can I do if my credit card billing error dispute is denied?

Credit card issuers must provide an explanation for denying your billing error dispute.

3 min read Feb 14, 2023
How does my credit card payment get allocated?

If you make more than your minimum payment, the excess should go towards higher-interest balances.

2 min read Feb 01, 2023
My new card has a lower credit limit than I expected

What should you do if you’re not happy with the credit limit on your new card? Is canceling the card a good idea?

3 min read Jan 31, 2023
New X1+ card expands on the X1 experience, but for an annual fee

Marketed as a “smart card,” the X1+ credit card brings additional features and rewards for the travel savvy.

2 min read Jan 26, 2023

What is a business credit score and how does it work?

Your business’ credit score reflects its creditworthiness and iIt can be improved.

4 min read Oct 09, 2023
7 tips for using credit cards while traveling

Learn how to get more out of your credit card while you are traveling

4 min read Sep 25, 2023
How to check your credit score

How can you check your credit score? And why is it important to do this?

5 min read Aug 25, 2023
5 credit cards for people who don’t want to deal with category bonuses

There are flat rate rewards cards if you don’t want to keep track of rewards spending

4 min read Aug 22, 2023
How much available credit should you have?

You should accept as much credit as you qualify for, but use it responsibly.

3 min read Jul 12, 2023
Credit CARD Act of 2009: What is it and how does it affect you?

The Credit CARD Act comes with benefits for credit card holders.

5 min read Jun 20, 2023
What is a virtual credit card?

A virtual credit card uses randomly generated numbers to protect your card information.

6 min read Jun 15, 2023
Are credit card fees tax deductible?

Which credit card fees can you deduct for tax purposes?

2 min read May 03, 2023

How a speeding ticket impacts your insurance in Texas

Bankrate explains how a speeding ticket can impact your insurance premium for years.

6 min read Jun 06, 2024
5 best checking accounts for recent college grads

These are the great bank accounts for new grads.

6 min read May 31, 2024
What is a FSA ID and why do you need one?

An FSA ID is simple to set up and useful for managing your student aid online.

4 min read Nov 27, 2023
How to complain to a financial advisor

Learn how to address issues with your financial advisor and understand your rights.

4 min read Nov 27, 2023
Social Security benefits in 2024: 5 big changes retirees should plan for

Retirees need to know about these changes to social security in 2024.

3 min read Oct 19, 2023
Why the Amex Gold is great for traveling foodies

Use the Amex Gold to earn rewards on dining, groceries and travel. Then, take advantage of boosted rewards redemption through the Amex Travel portal.

4 min read Oct 04, 2023
Charge cards vs. credit cards: What are the differences?

You can carry a balance on a credit card, but not with a charge card.

6 min read Feb 16, 2023
Best travel credit cards with 0% APR

Compare and pick the best 0% APR travel credit cards

6 min read Jan 30, 2023