Some people think that having a black or platinum credit card in your wallet is the ultimate in luxury credit cards but these days luxury credit cards – those designed and offered to high earners, usually those whose income exceeds $250,000 a year – are a lot more than just a certain color.

In the real world platinum is considered to be the precious metal that these days is considered the next step up from gold.

Back in the early 1980s the ultimate symbol of financial status was having a gold credit card in your wallet.

Even in a time when the credit crunch is seeing banks cut back on the number of new credit cards that they issue and tightening up their lending standards they are still very happy to issue credit cards with all sorts of luxury benefits attached to them to those who have both excellent credit and a high income.