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U.S. Seeks New Curbs on Credit-Card Practices. Federal bank regulators on Friday proposed a new set of rules to make it more difficult for credit card companies to raise rates arbitrarily, conceal high penalty fees or engage in other practices that consumer groups say are abusive.

Under the proposal, credit card companies would generally have to give consumers more time to make payments before they are considered overdue. The companies would not be permitted to steer payments to pay down the portion of the bill that had lower interest charges. And they would be limited in raising the interest rate on an outstanding balance.

For months, the Fed has been considering a proposal to require the credit card companies to provide better disclosure of their fees and interest rate policies under the Truth in Lending Act. Officials said the plan announced Friday, which would be completed at the same time, was a change in regulations under the Federal Trade Commission Act. That law gives the federal banking agencies the authority to enforce regulations that prohibit unfair and deceptive acts in commerce.

At a meeting of the Federal Reserve Board on Friday, Mr. Bernanke said consumer comments during rule-making proceedings had made it clear “that improved disclosures alone cannot solve all of the problems consumers face in trying to manage their credit card accounts.” The new rules will also apply to fees and interest rates charged by savings associations for overdraft protection of checking accounts.