Jae Bratton

Lead Writer | Credit cards

Jae Bratton is a writer for the credit cards team at NerdWallet. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Wake Forest University and a master’s in English from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Before writing for NerdWallet, Jae spent 13 years teaching English and journalism. Her writing has been published in newspapers, blogs and an academic journal. Jae is based in North Carolina.

Education: B.A. in English from Wake Forest University, M.A. in English from University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Awards: Jim Murray Memorial Foundation Scholarship
Previous experience: English and journalism teacher

Jae's picks

NerdWallet’s Guide to Your First Credit Card

Get started with credit cards by understanding how they work, how you qualify and how to use them wisely.

Pay Off Debt: Strategies and Tips

by Tiffany Curtis, Lauren Schwahn

Learn strategies for whittling down what you owe, and get insight into the best approach depending on your debt load.

How to Budget Money in 5 Steps

by Lauren Schwahn

Divide your income among needs, wants, savings and debt repayment, using the 50/30/20 budget.

The latest from Jae

5 Things to Know About the Kikoff Credit Card

It has some ideal features for those new to credit, but a paid subscription is required to qualify for the card, which costs a minimum of $240 a year.

U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Closed to New Applications

Existing Reserve cardholders will still be able to use their card.

What Is The Bank of Missouri, and Are Its Credit Cards Right for You?

Most of the credit cards issued by The Bank of Missouri charge multiple outrageous fees that you typically don't see, even among other cards for bad credit.

Smart Money Podcast: Retirement Rollover Ready? Rules, Risks, and Rewards of 401k and IRA Transfers

Learn the pros, cons, and methods of rolling over retirement accounts to simplify your finances so you can avoid costly mistakes.

Discover Adds Apple Pay as Rewards Redemption Option

Eligible cardholders who use Pay With Rewards with Apple Pay will receive a statement credit against their purchases within 72 hours.

Firstcard Secured Card: Easy Access to Credit, Plus Rewards

This secured card doesn’t require a credit check or a Social Security number, making it a good pick for international students, immigrants or others without a credit history.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Offers Biggest Sign-Up Bonus in 3 Years [Limited Time]

The card’s new welcome offer is worth more than $1,000 in travel.

Synchrony Premier Mastercard: 2% Back, But Not Much Else

This card has some nice perks, but other cards give you the same benefits plus many that the Synchrony Premier Mastercard doesn’t.

One Key+ Card: Savings and Perks, If You Book Via Expedia Sites

This card makes the most sense for those who book travel through Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, and it comes with perks that can easily cover the annual fee.

Chase’s 5% Bonus Categories for Q4 2024: McDonald’s, PayPal, Pet Care, Charities

For the first time, McDonald’s, pet shops and vet services are bonus categories for Chase Freedom cardholders.

5 Things to Know About the Turkish Airlines Credit Card

The card’s annual fee is steep considering it offers few perks to offset that cost.

Discover’s 5% Bonus Categories for Q4 2024: Amazon and Target

Being able to earn bonus cash back at two of the largest retailers in the world can help consumers save money this holiday shopping season.

Venture X Offers Chance at Taylor Swift Tickets. Are You Ready for It?

Cardholders must register as a Venture X Verified Fan and have their Venture X card saved to the Ticketmaster Wallet to be eligible.

Big Companies Keep Shuttering Their Branded Credit Cards. Why?

Recent closures of multiple high-profile retail credit cards — from Uber, Starbucks and Walmart — highlight the importance of a healthy merchant-bank relationship.

Chase Enhances DoorDash Perks for Multiple Credit Cards