NYT: Bankers are warning they’re going to have to “mean up” credit cards if the reforms expected to get voted on today go through. Among the ways people who pay off their bills in full every month and always follow the rules might get dinged:

• Charging interest immediately on a purchase
• Reinstating annual fees
• Further curtailing cash-back and other rewards programs, like frequent flyer miles

However it gets sliced, there will be fewer cards issued at a higher cost for those that hold them. “Those that manage their credit well will in some degree subsidize those that have credit problems,” said Ed Yingling, American Bankers Association CEO. In other words, if we can’t make ill-gotten gains off this one group, we’ll have to find another way to make it up.

Credit Card Industry Aims to Profit From Sterling Payers [NYT]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.