In the fourth quarter, direct-mail solicitations doubled from a year earlier, according to Synovate, a unit of Aegis Group PLC.

WSJ: Banks Loosen Purse Strings

In the second quarter, the average interest rate on existing cards reached 14.7%, up from 13.1% a year earlier, according to research firm Synovate, a unit of Aegis Group PLC.

WSJ: Credit Cards Are Exception to Lower Consumer Rates