All posts by Leonard Kreicas

Sallie Mae Ignite Mastercard For Students review

Sallie Mae Ignite Mastercard for students


A powerful financial tool for students from Sallie Mae

Why the Ignite Mastercard might be the right choice for you

Finally a credit card specifically designed to cater to the needs of students.

With its many benefits and features, the Ignite credit card aims to provide a seamless and rewarding experience for young individuals embarking on their educational journey.

Benefits and Rewards

One of the standout features of the Sallie Mae Ignite Mastercard is its rewards program.

Cardholders earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, which can add up to significant savings as you build your credit history.

What sets this card apart from other choices is its superior rewards for purchases made at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, where you earn 2% cash back.

This incentive aligns nicely with students’ spending habits by helping them maximize their rewards potential on everyday essentials.

Financial Education and Tools

Sallie Mae understands the importance of financial literacy for students, and the Ignite Mastercard reflects this commitment.

The card provides access to educational resources, budgeting tools, and personalized alerts, allowing young adults to manage their finances responsibly.

These tools let cardholders develop good spending habits and make informed financial decisions, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills for a successful future.

Best Balance Transfer Offers June 2023

balance transfer credit cards

No interest on balance transfers until 2024 with special introductory rates

When you transfer your high-interest balance to a credit card offering an introductory 0% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) you could reduce your monthly credit card bills by a significant amount.

A fixed interest rate of zero financing for a year or more allows you to make affordable payment on only the balance you owe. Note that minimum monthly payments are still due until the intro period ends. Once the special 0% rate expires regular rates will apply to the remaining balances.

CHECKLIST

Most major banks charge upfront balance transfer fees that are added to the balance. Usually the fees are less than interest you’re currently paying, but check with a professional financial advisor before proceeding with a balance transfer. Fees such as balance transfer, annual, late payment, etc. could swallow up any savings on interest.

See if credit line with the new card covers the amounts you want to transfer. For instance if you have a $10,000 balance to transfer and only get a $2,500 credit line with the new card, that may not be enough to save a meaningful amount. You’ll also be complicating life by having more credit card payments to keep track of.

Never charge anything on the card since purchases often are mixed in with transfers. When that happens the entire balance may be due way before the expiration of the introductory period. If not paid in full you might even pay regular interest rates on the amounts transferred.

Normally you cannot transfer balances between cards from the same bank or issuer. Inquire whether funds from the new card can be sent to the original card. Otherwise an excess of “hard” inquiries could damage your credit score.

Allow a lag time between transfer request and its posting to the old card. A month might pass before balance is erased from the high-interest account. That delay might result in an unexpectedly large amount due for the first card.

THE CARDS

The credit cards below feature longer 0% APR periods so you can pay bills in a planned manner under the guidance of trusted financial mentor.


21 MONTH INTRODUCTORY 0% APR

Fifth Third 1% Cash/Back Mastercard®

  • 21 month introductory no interest APR on balance transfers
  • Balance transfer fee: 4%
  • Same 0% APR offer on purchases
  • Regular APR is 15.74% to 26.74% after intro offer expires

BankAmericard®

  • 21 month zero-interest intro APR on balance transfers(conditions apply)
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • Also 0% APR on purchases up to 21 months after account opening
  • Regular APR is 15.74% to 25.74% after intro period expires

Wells Fargo Reflect® Visa Card

  • No interest APR for first 21 months on balance transfers(conditions apply)
  • Balance transfer fee: 5%
  • Also 0% APR on purchases for 21 months
  • Regular APR is 17.99% to 29.99% after introductory offer expires

Citi Diamond Preferred Mastercard®

  • 21 month no-interest APR on balance transfers(conditions apply)
  • Balance transfer fee: 5%
  • Also 0% APR on purchases for 12 months
  • Regular APR is 17.99% to 28.74% once intro period expires

Citi Simplicity® Credit Card

  • No interest APR for 21 first months on balance transfers(conditions apply)
  • Balance transfer fee: 3% if completed within 4 months of opening new account
  • Also 0% APR on purchases for 12 months
  • Regular APR is 18.99% to 29.74% after intro period expires

Bank of the West Platinum Mastercard®

  • 21 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
  • Balance transfer fee: 4%
  • Regular APR is 19.74% to 27.74% after intro offer expires

18 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

  • Introductory 0% APR apply to transfers made within first 60 days of account opening
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 17.74% to 27.74%

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

  • 18 month 0% APR on new account balance transfers
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • Also 18 month 0% APR on purchases
  • Regular APR is 19.24% to 29.24% after intro offer expires

Citi Double Cash Mastercard®

  • 18 month zero-interest APR on transfers made within first 4 months
  • Balance transfer fee: 3% (on transfers made within first 4 months)
  • Regular APR is 18.74% to 28.74%
  • Earn rewards on purchases

Chase Slate Edge® Visa Card

  • No interest APR for 18 months on balance transfers
  • Balance transfer fee: 3% good for first three months only (5% thereafter)
  • Also 0% APR on purchases for 18 months
  • Regular APR is 19.74% to 28.49% after intro offer expires

Citizens Bank Clear Value® Mastercard®

  • No interest APR for first 18 months on balance transfers
  • Balance transfer fee: 4%
  • Also 0% APR on purchases for 18 months
  • Regular APR is 18.49% to 26.49% after intro offer expires

ELAN FINANCIAL SERVICES

Elan Financial Services offers interest-free financing on credit cards with balance transfers for 18 months having the following terms:

  • No interest payments for first 18 months after account opening
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR of 18.99% to 28.99% once intro period expires

A small sampling of banks using Elan Financial Services are:

Associated Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Busey Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Country Club Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Envision Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Exchange State Bank Visa® Platinum Card
First Financial Northwest Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Fulton Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Highland Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Hillcrest Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Independent Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Pinnacle Credit Union
Superior Choice Credit Union
Webster Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Westfield Bank Visa® Platinum Card

15 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

PNC Core Visa® Credit Card

  • 15 month no interest APR on balance transfers
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • Also 0% APR on purchases for 15 months
  • Regular APR is 15.24% to 27.24% after intro offer ends

Discover It Credit Card

  • 15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
  • Balance transfer fee: 3% (for first 60 days after opening account)
  • Also 0% APR on purchases for 15 months
  • Regular APR is 16.24% to 27.24% after intro offer ends

Truist Future Credit Card

  • No interest on balance transfers made within first 90 days of account opening
  • Low balance transfer fee of 3%
  • Also 0% APR on purchases for 15 months
  • Low APR of 15.49 to 24.49% after introductory period ends

Capital One Quicksilver Rewards Credit Card

  • Pay NO interest on balance transfers for first 15 months
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • Also 0% APR on purchases for 15 months
  • Regular APR is 19.24% to 29.24% after end of intro offer

Citi Rewards+ Mastercard®

  • 15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
  • They must be completed within first 120 days
  • Balance transfer fee: 3% for first 4 months of opening
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 17.24% to 27.24% after intro offer expires

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

  • 15 month zero-interest intro APR(only valid for first 4 months)
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 16.74% to 26.74% after intro period expires

Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards® Card

  • No interest APR for first 15 months on balance transfers made within first 60 days
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 18.74% to 28.74% after intro offer expires

Citi Custom CashSM Credit Card

  • No interest on balance transfers completed within first 120 days
  • Balance transfer fee: 5%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 18.24% to 28.24% after intro offer expires

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

  • 15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
  • Balance transfer request must be made within first 120 days
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 19.24% to 29.24% after intro offer expires

AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays Bank

  • 15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
  • Balance transfer request must be made within first 45 days
  • Balance transfer fee: 5%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 20.99% to 29.99% after intro offer expires

BMO Harris Bank Platinum Mastercard®

  • Within first 90 days of account opening for 0% APR
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 16.49% to 24.49%
  • Available only in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin

Citizens Cash+ World Mastercard®

  • 15 month introductory no interest APR
  • Balance transfer fee: 4%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 19.74% to 27.74% after intro offer expires

TD Double UpSM Credit Card

  • No interest APR for 18 months on balance transfers
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • Regular APR is 19.49% to 29.49%

Regions [Bank] Life Visa® Card

  • 15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
  • Balance transfers must be completed within first 60 days of account opening
  • Balance transfer fee: 4%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 16.24% to 26.24% after intro offer expires

KeyBank Latitude® Credit Card (limited availability)

  • 15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases
  • Balance transfers must be completed within first 60 days of account opening
  • Balance transfer fee: 4%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 19.24% to 26.24% after end of introductory period

Union Plus Rate Advantage Mastercard® (Capital One)

  • 15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases
  • Balance transfer fee: 3%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 15.15% to 25.15% after intro offer expires
  • Members only

NO BALANCE TRANSFER FEE & INTRO 0% APR

Union Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card

  • 15 month introductory no interest APR
  • No balance transfer fee on transfers made within 60 days; 3% thereafter
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 12.74% to 24.24%

Navy Federal Credit Union®Credit Card (members only)

  • 12 month introductory 0% APR
  • No balance transfer fee
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 9.74% to 18.00% after intro offer expires

Purdue Federal Visa Signature (members only)

  • 12 month introductory 0% APR on purchases, balance transfers and cash advances
  • Balance transfer fee: 0%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 13.50% to 17.50% after intro offer expires
  • General membership via one-time $50 fee to join Purdue University Alumni Association as a Friend of the University

First Tech FCU Platinum Mastercard (members only)

  • 12 month introductory 0% APR
  • Balance transfer fee: 0%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 11.24% to 18.00% after intro offer expires
  • General membership via one-time fee to join Computer History Museum or the Financial Fitness Association

Wings Visa® Platinum Credit Card (credit union members only)

  • 12 month introductory 0% APR
  • Balance transfer fee: 0%
  • No annual fee
  • Regular APR is 11.90% to 18.00% after intro offer expires
  • General membership via one-time fee to join Wings Financial Foundation