Easy credit cards

The credit card crunch might be easing, but credit card companies are still cutting back on the credit card rewards. Some cards used to award bonus points after the first purchase but don’t anymore. Others are imposing stricter rules and fees upon redemption.

American Express Blue Credir Card scored top marks for its rewards program in a J.D. Power survey last fall, and experts cite this card as one of the best. It has no annual fee and provides up to 5 percent cash back on gas station, drugstore and supermarket purchases.