American Express Mastercard numbers start with a 2 or 5. Visa card numbers start with a 4. American Express numbers start with a 3.

Consumers can prioritize a solid all-around card as a primary one, experts said. A good "foundation" for users may be a card with no annual fee that pays 2% cash back on all purchases, for example, Rossman said. I would say two cards is optimum and three would be maximum to keep finances simple.

Having more than one credit card may help you keep your credit line utilization ratio per card lower than the recommended 30% by spreading charges. There are potential benefits to having multiple cards, such as pairing various types of rewards cards to optimize earnings on all categories of spending.

Building credit, earning cash back and benefiting from fraud protection are just a few of the many advantages of using credit cards.

There is no upper limit on the number of credit cards you can have in India. Ideally, you can have any number of credit cards as your financial profile allows you to be eligible.

Credit cards generally offer one of three reward structures: cash back, points or miles. The type of rewards you earn depends on the card you have.

Fortunately, most cards can be classified into three major categories based on the features they offer: rewards credit cards, low interest and balance transfer cards, and credit-building cards. This classification can help you narrow down your choices.

There's not a one-size-fits-all solution for the number of credit cards a person should own. However, it's generally a good idea to have two or three active credit card accounts, in addition to other types of credit such as student loans, an auto loan or a mortgage.

What are the Types of Credit? The three main types of credit are revolving credit, installment, and open credit.

Benefits of Credit Cards

• Easy access to credit. The biggest advantage of a credit card is its easy access to credit.
• Building a line of credit. Credit cards offer you the chance to build up a line of credit.
• EMI facility.
• Incentives and offers.
• Flexible credit.
• Record of expenses.
• Purchase protection.

You can get multiple cards, even from the same issuer, but you have to determine whether it's a good idea. Erin is a credit card and travel rewards expert at NerdWallet, based in Baltimore, Maryland. She has spent nearly two decades showing readers unique ways to maximize their investments and personal finances.

There are three main credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.