Best credit cards of 2011

A new tally of the best credit cards seeks names one of my favorite cards as the top pick in the country.

The 2011 Editor's Choice Awards from CardRatings.com names the Fidelity Investment Rewards American Express card as the best reward card in America.

If cash is king for you, my long-time favorite still is the best card to get. They have three different plans that all pay 2% cash-back, with no games and no gimmicks. The money can either go into a 529 plan, a Roth or the Fidelity equivalent of a checking account and it's your money to spend.

The runners-up in the cash-back category include Capital One Cash and the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express.

When it comes to airline cards, I find it ironic that no airline-connected card made the cut from CardRatings.com! The cards that did make the list include the Capital One Venture Rewards card, the Pen Fed Travel AmEx and the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Speaking of the Pen Fed card, you can become a member of Pentagon Federal Credit Union and apply for the card even if you're not military by joining either the National Military Family Association or Voices for America's Troops for a one-time fee of $20 or $15, respectively.

One caveat: All these cards only make sense if you're not running a balance because the interest rates can be brutal.

If you are accustomed to carrying a monthly balance, I'd recommend any credit card from a local credit union as the smarter play for you.