If you need to eliminate existing credit card debt or finance a large, planned purchase, a credit card with a 0% introductory APR can help you avoid interest charges for a set amount of time. Most credit cards have an annual percentage rate, or APR, of 15% to 25%. That means you could be charged approximately $150 to $250 in interest annually for running a $1,000 credit card balance.
However, by utilizing a 0% APR credit card, you could pay down a purchase or transferred balance from another card and eliminate interest during the introductory period -- providing you some breathing room.
Your credit score -- and your finances -- could improve as you chip away at your credit card debt. Just remember to continue to make all of your required monthly payments, though you should pay more than the minimum to tackle your debt in full before the introductory offer expires.
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 17.74% – 29.74% variable APR
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
N/A This card doesn’t offer cash back, miles, or points
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers a unique proposition among 0% introductory APR cards. Not only can you take advantage of the 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for an entire 18 months from account opening, but you can earn a three month extension on that timeframe if you pay all of your minimum payments on time during the introductory period. This means you can use up to 21 months from account opening of 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (17.74% to 29.74% variable APR thereafter), which is unmatched by any other offer we could find. The trick is -- as with all 0% intro APR cards -- to be disciplined.
Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for up to 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for up to 21 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 17.74% – 29.74% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers a unique proposition among 0% introductory APR cards. Not only can you take advantage of the 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for an entire 18 months from account opening, but you can earn a three month extension on that timeframe if you pay all of your minimum payments on time during the introductory period. This means you can use up to 21 months from account opening of 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (17.74% to 29.74% variable APR thereafter), which is unmatched by any other offer we could find. The trick is -- as with all 0% intro APR cards -- to be disciplined.
Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for up to 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for up to 21 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 17.74% – 29.74% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
- Intro Offer
-
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable APR
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2% Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
You can take advantage of cash rewards on top of the introductory APR on your purchases with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. While the 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers lasts for 15 months from account opening (then a 19.74%, 24.74% or 29.74% variable APR), the 2% cash rewards applies to those purchases and beyond. While you might be able to earn higher rewards rates in individual categories with other cards, this is one of the best credit cards for everyday spending. The cash rewards and welcome offer make up for this being a slightly shorter introductory APR period than some of the other picks.
For more details, see our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
You can take advantage of cash rewards on top of the introductory APR on your purchases with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. While the 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers lasts for 15 months from account opening (then a 19.74%, 24.74% or 29.74% variable APR), the 2% cash rewards applies to those purchases and beyond. While you might be able to earn higher rewards rates in individual categories with other cards, this is one of the best credit cards for everyday spending. The cash rewards and welcome offer make up for this being a slightly shorter introductory APR period than some of the other picks.
For more details, see our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- See Terms
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
N/A This card doesn’t offer cash back, miles, or points
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
The BankAmericard® credit card not only has one of the longest balance transfer offers, but it also offers a lower balance transfer fee than other balance transfer credit cards.
Cardholders will have an introductory (see terms) APR offer for purchases and balance transfers for 21 billing cycles (then see terms variable) with a balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction.
You’ll need to make any balance transfers within the first 60 days of account opening, but you’ll have 21 billing cycles to pay it down. A 3% fee may sound painful, but it will sting far less considering how much money you’d likely spend on interest charges by letting a balance accrue interest on another card.
For more information, see our full review of the BankAmericard credit card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- See Terms
- Intro Purchase APR
- See Terms
- Regular APR
- See Terms
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
The BankAmericard® credit card not only has one of the longest balance transfer offers, but it also offers a lower balance transfer fee than other balance transfer credit cards.
Cardholders will have an introductory (see terms) APR offer for purchases and balance transfers for 21 billing cycles (then see terms variable) with a balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction.
You’ll need to make any balance transfers within the first 60 days of account opening, but you’ll have 21 billing cycles to pay it down. A 3% fee may sound painful, but it will sting far less considering how much money you’d likely spend on interest charges by letting a balance accrue interest on another card.
For more information, see our full review of the BankAmericard credit card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- See Terms
- Intro Purchase APR
- See Terms
- Regular APR
- See Terms
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2% Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
The Citi Double Cash Card is one of the best flat-rate cash-back cards you could add to your wallet. It’s both lucrative and versatile as it earns rewards no matter what you’re buying. It also features a long promotional period to pay down a transferred balance.
It’s a double threat, it can help you avoid interest charges accruing on another credit card and provide plenty of rewards after you pay it off. It has lasting value when compared to other balance transfer credit cards. It also has no annual fee which means you can pair it with other rewards cards to maximize the return on your spending.
Find all the details in our Citi Double Cash Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
The Citi Double Cash Card is one of the best flat-rate cash-back cards you could add to your wallet. It’s both lucrative and versatile as it earns rewards no matter what you’re buying. It also features a long promotional period to pay down a transferred balance.
It’s a double threat, it can help you avoid interest charges accruing on another credit card and provide plenty of rewards after you pay it off. It has lasting value when compared to other balance transfer credit cards. It also has no annual fee which means you can pair it with other rewards cards to maximize the return on your spending.
Find all the details in our Citi Double Cash Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
N/A This card doesn’t offer cash back, miles, or points
The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card is a great card for a balance transfer, with 18 billing cycles of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. (Remember you still need to make minimum monthly payments, though: 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR thereafter.) The trade-off is a lack of welcome bonus and rewards, but there’s no annual fee either.
For more details, see our full review of the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card is a great card for a balance transfer, with 18 billing cycles of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. (Remember you still need to make minimum monthly payments, though: 19.24% to 29.24% variable APR thereafter.) The trade-off is a lack of welcome bonus and rewards, but there’s no annual fee either.
For more details, see our full review of the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.49% – 28.24% Variable
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
N/A This card doesn’t offer cash back, miles, or points
The Chase Slate Edge℠ offers a full 18 months of 0% introductory APR on both purchases and balance transfers (19.49% to 28.24% variable APR thereafter), beating out most other cards with intro APR offers. Beyond those 18 months, you’ll have the option to utilize My Chase Plan® on qualifying purchases of at least $100. With this program, you are able to spread out your payments in monthly installments for no interest -- the catch is a flat monthly fee of 1.72%. But it is important to note that this fee can end up being very costly, on par with a higher APR if your balance remains unpaid.
See our full review of the Chase Slate Edge for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 18 months
- Regular APR
- 19.49% – 28.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Chase Slate Edge℠ offers a full 18 months of 0% introductory APR on both purchases and balance transfers (19.49% to 28.24% variable APR thereafter), beating out most other cards with intro APR offers. Beyond those 18 months, you’ll have the option to utilize My Chase Plan® on qualifying purchases of at least $100. With this program, you are able to spread out your payments in monthly installments for no interest -- the catch is a flat monthly fee of 1.72%. But it is important to note that this fee can end up being very costly, on par with a higher APR if your balance remains unpaid.
See our full review of the Chase Slate Edge for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 18 months
- Regular APR
- 19.49% – 28.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

- Intro Offer
-
$200 $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- See Terms
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 3% Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases).; Earn automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases).; Earn unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card gives you more control over how you earn rewards than most credit cards and provides a solid introductory APR offer.
Its intro purchase APR is likely going to be of more use here over its balance transfer opportunity, considering the card’s strong rewards. You’re able to make purchases and then pay them down at a (see terms) introductory APR for 18 billing cycles before the standard APR of see terms (variable) applies.
For no annual fee, you can choose to earn rewards for gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings. Online shopping and home improvement purchases are rare bonus categories to find. However, the card is held back a bit by its spending cap, but if you’re a smaller spender, it’s certainly a viable option.
You can read more in our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- See Terms
- Intro Purchase APR
- See Terms
- Regular APR
- See Terms
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card gives you more control over how you earn rewards than most credit cards and provides a solid introductory APR offer.
Its intro purchase APR is likely going to be of more use here over its balance transfer opportunity, considering the card’s strong rewards. You’re able to make purchases and then pay them down at a (see terms) introductory APR for 18 billing cycles before the standard APR of see terms (variable) applies.
For no annual fee, you can choose to earn rewards for gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings. Online shopping and home improvement purchases are rare bonus categories to find. However, the card is held back a bit by its spending cap, but if you’re a smaller spender, it’s certainly a viable option.
You can read more in our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- See Terms
- Intro Purchase APR
- See Terms
- Regular APR
- See Terms
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 17.74% – 28.49% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
N/A This card doesn’t offer cash back, miles, or points
The Citi Diamond Preferred offers cardholders a significant amount of time to pay down a transferred balance, but it’s held back by its high balance transfer fee.
Cardholders have a solid 21 months to pay down any balance they transfer at 0% introductory APR (then 17.74% to 28.49% (variable)) but they’ll first need to pay a balance transfer fee of 5% ($5 minimum). The standard balance transfer fee is 3%, so you’ll end up paying a bit more with the Diamond Preferred Card than most other balance transfer credit cards.
Despite the lack of rewards, there’s also an intro purchase APR you could take advantage of to finance a large, planned purchase. However, the introductory APR on purchases is significantly shorter.
You can learn more about the card in our Citi Diamond Preferred review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 12 months on Purchases
- Regular APR
- 17.74% – 28.49% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
The Citi Diamond Preferred offers cardholders a significant amount of time to pay down a transferred balance, but it’s held back by its high balance transfer fee.
Cardholders have a solid 21 months to pay down any balance they transfer at 0% introductory APR (then 17.74% to 28.49% (variable)) but they’ll first need to pay a balance transfer fee of 5% ($5 minimum). The standard balance transfer fee is 3%, so you’ll end up paying a bit more with the Diamond Preferred Card than most other balance transfer credit cards.
Despite the lack of rewards, there’s also an intro purchase APR you could take advantage of to finance a large, planned purchase. However, the introductory APR on purchases is significantly shorter.
You can learn more about the card in our Citi Diamond Preferred review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 12 months on Purchases
- Regular APR
- 17.74% – 28.49% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
- Intro Offer
-
25,000 points 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- See Terms
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1.5x Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
With no annual fee, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a great starter travel credit card.
There aren’t any foreign transaction fees, which will essentially save you 3% of each transaction you make abroad. And if you use it for a planned trip, you can pay the trip off at (see terms) introductory interest for 18 billing cycles before the standard APR of see terms (variable) kicks in.
There’s also a balance transfer offer for the same time period for any transfers made within 60 days of account opening (with a fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction). It doesn’t offer many travel amenities like travel cards at a higher price-point, but it’s a good card to use before moving on to more advanced credit cards.
Learn more in our Bank of America Travel Rewards card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- See Terms
- Intro Purchase APR
- See Terms
- Regular APR
- See Terms
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
With no annual fee, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a great starter travel credit card.
There aren’t any foreign transaction fees, which will essentially save you 3% of each transaction you make abroad. And if you use it for a planned trip, you can pay the trip off at (see terms) introductory interest for 18 billing cycles before the standard APR of see terms (variable) kicks in.
There’s also a balance transfer offer for the same time period for any transfers made within 60 days of account opening (with a fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction). It doesn’t offer many travel amenities like travel cards at a higher price-point, but it’s a good card to use before moving on to more advanced credit cards.
Learn more in our Bank of America Travel Rewards card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- See Terms
- Intro Purchase APR
- See Terms
- Regular APR
- See Terms
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
- Intro Offer
-
$200 $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- See Terms
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1.5% Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card keeps it simple. Make your purchases with the card to earn 1.5% cash back. If you have any planned trips or large purchases coming up, you can charge it to the card and pay it down at (see terms) introductory APR for 18 billing cycles, then see terms (variable).
The same offer applies to any balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening, with a balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction. It’s an inexpensive option for general spenders looking to either mitigate credit card debt or avoid interest charges on a planned purchase.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- See Terms
- Intro Purchase APR
- See Terms
- Regular APR
- See Terms
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card keeps it simple. Make your purchases with the card to earn 1.5% cash back. If you have any planned trips or large purchases coming up, you can charge it to the card and pay it down at (see terms) introductory APR for 18 billing cycles, then see terms (variable).
The same offer applies to any balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening, with a balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction. It’s an inexpensive option for general spenders looking to either mitigate credit card debt or avoid interest charges on a planned purchase.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- See Terms
- Intro Purchase APR
- See Terms
- Regular APR
- See Terms
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 9.99% to 21.49% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
N/A This card doesn’t offer cash back, miles, or points
The Union Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card* combines a competitive introductory APR length with the rare feature of an inexpensive balance transfer. Most credit cards will charge a fee when you transfer your balance -- usually 3% or 5% of the transaction -- which can add to the debt you need to pay off. But if you transfer a balance to the Union Bank Platinum card within the first 60 days of getting approved, you’ll pay no balance transfer fees (3% balance transfer fee with a $10 minimum thereafter). For both purchases and balance transfers, you’ll get 15 months from account opening to take advantage of the introductory APR (after that, you’ll be subject to a variable 9.99% – 21.49% APR).
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Introductory APR for the first 15 months that your account is open.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Introductory APR for the first 15 months that your account is open.
- Regular APR
- 9.99% to 21.49% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater.
The Union Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card* combines a competitive introductory APR length with the rare feature of an inexpensive balance transfer. Most credit cards will charge a fee when you transfer your balance -- usually 3% or 5% of the transaction -- which can add to the debt you need to pay off. But if you transfer a balance to the Union Bank Platinum card within the first 60 days of getting approved, you’ll pay no balance transfer fees (3% balance transfer fee with a $10 minimum thereafter). For both purchases and balance transfers, you’ll get 15 months from account opening to take advantage of the introductory APR (after that, you’ll be subject to a variable 9.99% – 21.49% APR).
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Introductory APR for the first 15 months that your account is open.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Introductory APR for the first 15 months that your account is open.
- Regular APR
- 9.99% to 21.49% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater.
Another balance transfer opportunity
Discover it® Balance Transfer
- Intro offer: All cash back earned at the end of your first 12 months will be matched
- APR: 16.49 percent to 27.49 percent variable.
- Intro purchase APR: 0% for the first six months
- Intro balance transfer APR: 0% for the first 18 months
- Recommended credit: Good to excellent
- Rewards rates: 5% cash back after activation on rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases, then 1%), 1% for all other purchases
- Annual fee: $0
For no annual fee, the Discover it® Balance Transfer* card also provides cardholders with a competitive opportunity to mitigate some of their existing credit card debt.
Cardholders will have an intro 0% APR for 18 months to pay down a transferred balance (then 16.49% to 27.49% variable.) with an intro balance transfer fee of 3% -- though this may reach up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms).
How to Choose a 0% APR Credit Card
The most important feature to pay attention to when choosing a credit card with an introductory APR is the length of its APR offer. You’ll want to be sure you have enough time to pay off the transferred balance or large, planned purchases before it begins to accrue interest again.
A good way to find out if you’ll have enough time is to take the balance or purchase amount and divide it by the number of months you’ll have to pay it down.
Let’s say you plan to transfer a balance of $3,000 and have 18 months to pay it down. 3,000 divided by 18 is about 167. That means you’ll need to be able to pay at least $167 each month to pay down the balance in time.
You should also consider the fees that come with the card. Initiating a balance transfer typically requires you to pay a one-time balance transfer fee. There are credit cards without a balance transfer fee, but they usually don’t have as generous terms as balance transfer cards that do.
The industry standard balance transfer fee is about 3% -- if a card charges more than this, it likely isn’t the best choice. That said, paying a one-time fee will generally cost far less than paying continuous interest charges at a high APR.
For the most part, balance transfer credit cards don’t have many other perks, so consider pairing one with a rewards credit card, travel credit card or cash-back credit card. However, if you’re using a balance transfer card to repay debt, we recommend focusing on your debt before worrying about earning rewards. This can help you stay focused on your financial goals and avoid accumulating new debt in the process.
Types of credit card APRs
Credit cards have five different types of annual percentage rates, or APRs. There’s the standard purchase APR, balance transfer APR, a penalty APR, a cash advance APR and an introductory APR.
The one you’ll likely deal with the most is the purchase APR, as that determines the rate at which the purchases you make accrue interest. The second most important is the balance transfer APR. That applies to any balance you transfer from another card. Both of these categories are impacted by an introductory APR offer which typically drops one or both to 0% for a number of months.
The introductory APR is a promotional offer that usually runs from nine to 21 months, depending on the card. During this time, your new purchases, a transferred balance, or both won’t accrue any interest. After the 0% introductory APR period expires, your balances will be subject to a variable APR.
The penalty APR only applies if you miss a credit card payment. It’s typically capped at 29.99%, which is much higher than the standard APR. Your new purchases following the missed payment will accrue interest at the penalty rate. If you miss two payments, the higher APR will also be applied to your current statement balance. You’ll also be responsible for late fees.
A cash advance APR applies to a cash advance you take out against your line of credit. It usually isn’t worth it because of the high APR and the large fee it requires to do so. It’s usually higher than the standard APR your card will carry.
Most APRs are variable, which means the rate may change without notice. Changes to a variable APR occur because it is tied to the prime rate -- the interest rate banks charge their most creditworthy customers.
Otherwise, your APR is based on your creditworthiness and a premium charged by the credit card issuer.
Is a 0% APR right for you?
If you’re struggling beneath the weight of credit card debt, an introductory 0% balance transfer APR could alleviate some of that pressure. Even if there is a balance transfer fee, it’ll be worth the cost when compared to how much you’d spend on interest charges.
If you have a planned, large purchase coming up, using an intro 0% purchase APR to finance it will help you to avoid interest charges and therefore leave your finances in a better spot than had you charged it to a credit card with a standard APR.
How to make the most of your 0% APR credit card
Use it to mitigate credit card debt or to finance a large, planned purchase, but don’t let an introductory purchase APR encourage you to make any unnecessary purchases you otherwise wouldn’t have.
Choosing a balance transfer credit card that offers rewards can be a good way to ensure lasting value once its promotional period ends. Closing credit cards can hurt your credit score, and sometimes an issuer may reinstate an introductory APR interest rate if you’ve shown responsible behavior.
How to apply for a 0% APR credit card
Follow these steps to apply for a 0% APR credit card:
- Find the card that fits your needs.
- Apply securely on the credit card issuer’s website.
- Initiate a balance transfer as soon as possible to qualify for the introductory APR.
- Pay off the balance within the given time limit.
By doing so, you’ll be well on your way to avoiding interest charges.
FAQs
Like with any other credit card, missing a credit card payment will damage your credit score. However, a balance transfer credit card could help improve your credit score by eliminating your credit card debt. Getting rid of credit card debt will decrease your credit utilization. A lower credit utilization contributes to a healthier credit score.
Yes, you can have multiple credit cards with a 0% APR offer.
The longest 0% APR offer period is 21 months.
Credit card APRs are determined by the federal benchmark interest rate set by the Federal Reserve, economic factors, and your creditworthiness. So an APR your friend gets might not be the same as your own, depending on your income, credit score and other factors. Check out our article about good current credit card APRs for more details.
Generally speaking, it’s easier to qualify for a 0% APR credit card if you have good/excellent credit. Credit card issuers are losing out on money from interest charges by offering a 0% APR, so issuers typically want to be sure you’re responsible enough to pay off the debt.
Our methodology
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash-back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles -- with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different -- and the designated function of a card.
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*All information about the Union Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card and the Discover it Balance Transfer has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
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