All posts by Leonard Kreicas

Best Balance Transfer Offers September 2021

September 1, 2021NewsBalance transfer offerLeonard Kreicas

balance transfer credit cards

No interest on balance transfers until 2023 with special introductory rates on some new accounts

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.

20 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

20 month 0% intro APR for transfers completed first 60 days
No annual fee
Balance transfer fee: 3%
Regular APR is 14.49% to 24.49% once intro period expires

18 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

Citi Double Cash Mastercard®

18 month zero-interest intro APR(valid for first 4 months)
Balance transfer fee: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 13.99% to 23.99% after intro period expires

Citi Diamond Preferred Mastercard®

18 month zero-interest intro APR(valid for first 4 months)
Balance transfer fee: 3%
Also offers 0% APR on purchases for 18 months (other 0% APR purchases offers)
No annual fee
Regular APR is 13.74% to 23.74% once intro period expires

Citi Simplicity

No interest intro APR for 18 first months
Transfers must be completed during initial 120 days
Balance transfer fee: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 14.74% to 24.74% once intro period expires

Wells Fargo Platinum Visa®

0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers
Introductory rate applies only on transfers made within first 120 days
Balance transfer fee: 3%
Also offers 0% APR on purchases for 18 months (other 0% APR purchases offers)
No annual fee
Regular APR is 16.49% to 24.49% once intro period expires

Citizens Bank Clear Value Mastercard®

No interest APR for first 18 months on balance transfers
No cut-off date during balance transfer introductory period
Balance transfer fee: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 13.99% to 21.99% after intro offer expires

15 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

KeyBank Latitude Credit Card

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: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 9.99% to 19.99% after intro offer expires

PNC Core Visa® Credit Card

15 month introductory no interest APR
Balance transfer fee: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 10.99% to 22.99% after intro offer expires

SunTrust Cash Rewards World Mastercard®
SunTrust Travel Rewards Mastercard®
BB&T Bright Visa® credit card

While currently issued as separate products, SunTrust and BB&T have merged to form Truist, so the credit cards will eventually become Truist ones.

15 month introductory no interest APR
No cut-off date for special introductory rate
Balance transfer fee: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 11.24% to 21.24% after intro offer expires

Citi Rewards+ Mastercard®

15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
They must be completed within first 120 days
Balance transfer fee: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 13.49% to 23.49% after intro offer expires

Citi Custom Cash^SM Credit Card

15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
They must be completed within first 120 days
Balance transfer fee: 5%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 13.99% to 23.99% 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 14.99% to 24.99% after intro offer expires

Diamond Resorts World 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: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 15.74% to 24.99% after intro offer expires

TD Cash Visa® Card

15 month introductory no interest APR
Balance transfer fee: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 12.99% to 22.99% after intro offer expires

Mastercard® Black Card (Barclays Bank)
Mastercard® Gold Card (Barclays Bank)
Mastercard® Titanium Card (Barclays Bank)

15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
Balance transfer request must be made within 45 days of opening
Balance transfer fee: 3%
Annual fees are $195 (Titanium), $495 (Black), $995 (Gold)
Regular APR after intro offer expires varies on which card you apply for and credit history

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

15 month introductory no interest APR on transfers within first 60 days of account opening
Balance transfer fee: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 13.99% to 23.99% after intro offer expires

BMO Harris Bank Platinum Mastercard®

15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
Balance transfers must be completed within first 90 days of account opening
Balance transfer fee: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 12.24% to 20.24% after intro offer expires
Available only in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin

Fifth Third Bank Truly Simple Mastercard®

15 month introductory no interest APR
Balance transfer fee: 4%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 11.99% to 22.99% after intro offer expires

Bank of the West (BNP Paribas) Platinum Mastercard®

15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
Balance transfers must be completed within first 90 days of account opening
Balance transfer fee: 4%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 14.99% to 22.99% after intro offer expires

Citizens Bank Cash+ World Mastercard®

15 month introductory no interest APR
Balance transfer fee: 4%
No annual fee
Regular APR is 15.99% to 23.99% after intro offer expires

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 11.99% to 21.99% after intro offer expires

Elan Financial Services

Elan Financial Services issues 20-month introductory 0% APR on selected credit cards on behalf of several banks, which normally have the following terms:

0% APR financing for first 20 months after opening account
Balance transfer fee: 3%
No annual fee
Regular APR of 13.49% to 23.49% once intro period expires (changes depending on prime interest rates)

A small sampling of those banks are:

Hillcrest Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Exchange Bank(NE Missouri) Visa® Platinum Card
Exchange Bank(Oklahoma) Visa® Platinum Card
Fulton Bank Visa® Platinum Card
People’s United Bank Mastercard® Platinum Card
Sterling National Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Suncrest Bank Visa® Platinum Card
The Bank of Missouri Visa® Platinum Card

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% after that (terms)
No annual fee
Regular APR is 8.49% to 19.99% after intro offer expires

Navy Federal Credit Union®Credit Card (members only)

12 month introductory 0% APR
No balance transfer fee
No annual fee
Regular APR is 5.99% 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 11.50% 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 6.99% 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 8.15% to 18.00% after intro offer expires
General membership via one-time fee to join Wings Financial Foundation

Best Credit Card Sign-Up Offers September 2021

September 1, 2021NewsSign-up offersLeonard Kreicas

When making a purchase or payment $500 or larger, consider opening a new credit card account with a cash back sign-up offer of $200 or more.

You could earn hundreds of tax-free dollars a year by planning your credit card applications the smart way.

Since the sign-up offers usually require spending a certain minimum amount on the card, plan your larger purchases by getting a new credit card account.

Many of card’s bonus can only be redeemed for travel or store purchases. The offers below give the cardholder account holder actual cash in the form of a tax-free rebate, i.e. statement credit.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

$1,000 cash back (100,000 bonus points) after you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
5X points on travel purchased through Chase
3X points for online grocery purchases (excludes Walmart, Target, wholesale clubs)
3X points for dining at restaurants (includes takeout and delivery)
3X points for select streaming services
2X points on travel (taxis, mass transit, airfare, lodging, etc)
1% on other eligible purchases
Cash back is redeemable as a statement credit
$95 annual fee (waived for first year)

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

$600 cash back (60,000 points) after you spend $4,000 on purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
10X points on Chase Dining^SM
10X points on hotels & car rentals purchased through Chase
3X points on travel and dining, includes delivery and takeout
1X point other eligible purchases
Points worth 50% extra if redeemed for travel and other select categories
$300 annual travel credit
$550 annual fee

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa® Signature Card

$500 cash back (50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 in the first 120 days.
4 points per dollar spent on travel and at gas stations
2 points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, dining and streaming services
1 point on other eligible purchases
$30 credit for annual streaming service purchases such as Netflix, Apple TV+ and Spotify®
$95 annual fee (waived first year)

Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card

$500 cash back (50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
2 points per dollar spent at grocery stores (expires 1/1/2022)
2 points per dollar spent on travel and dining
1.5 points on other eligible purchases
Preferred Rewards members earn 25% to 75% more points per purchase
Get cash back when you redeem the points you earned (100 points = $1).
$95 annual fee

Fremont Bank World Mastercard®

$500 cash back bonus after a minimum charge of $5,000 on your new card within first 3 months.
3% per dollar spent on travel and dining
2% per dollar on gasoline
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
$95 annual fee (waived the first year)

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

$350 back after you spend $2,000 on Amazon.com ($200 rebate) and get a $150 statement credit after charging a minimum of $3,000 within the first 6 months.
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months.
Everyday Cash Back: 6% at U.S supermarkets (superstores like Walmart or Target don’t qualify), up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1% cash back
6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
3% at U.S gas stations and on transit (includes rideshares, parking, tolls, buses, trains, and more)
1% other eligible purchases
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars redeemable as statement credit.
$95 annual fee (waived for first year)

Capital One Savor® Rewards Credit Card

$300 cash back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
4% cash back on dining and entertainment
2% cash back at grocery stores
1% other eligible purchases
$95 annual fee

Disney® Premier Visa® Card From Chase

Get $300 statement credit with minimum spend $1,000 on purchases with new card within first 3 months
2% in Disney Reward Dollars on select purchases
1% in Disney Reward Dollars on all other eligible charges
$49 annual fee

Star Trek Credit Card from NASA FCU

$300 cash back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 3 months.
1.5% as statement credit on eligible purchases
$39 annual fee
Credit union membership required

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

Get $200 back (20,000 bonus points) with minimum spend $1,000 on purchases with new card within first 3 months
0% intro APR on purchases for first 12 months
4x points on dining, takeout, food delivery
2x points at grocery stores (including delivery)
2x points at gas stations
2x points on streaming service subscriptions
1 point on all other eligible charges
Rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
No annual fee

Wells Fargo Active Cash^SM Credit Card

Get $200 cash rewards after charging $1,000 within first 3 months
0% intro APR on purchases for first 15 months
2% cash rewards on eligible purchases
Rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
No annual fee

Citi Custom Cash^SM Credit Card

Get $200 cash rewards after charging $750 within first 3 months
0% intro APR on purchases for first 15 months
5% cash back in eligible categories(up to $500 per billing cycle)
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
Rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
No annual fee

BMO Harris Bank Cash Back Mastercard®

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $2,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
0% intro APR on balance transfers (made within first 90 days) for first 12 months (3% fee)
2% on eligible gas and grocery purchases (maximum $2,500 combined, then 1%)
1% cash back on all other purchases
No annual fee

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
0% Intro APR on purchases for first 15 months after account opening
Earn 5% cash back on grocery purchases
Get 3% cash back at restaurants (includes takeout and delivery)
Get 3% cash back on drug store purchases
1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases
No minimum amount when redeeming for cash back
No annual fee

Chase Freedom Flex^SM

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
0% Intro APR on purchases for first 15 months after account opening
Earn 5% cash back on grocery purchases
Earn 5% cash back in bonus categories (rotates quarterly)
Get 3% cash back on dining and drug store purchases
1.0% cash back on all other eligible purchases
No minimum amount when redeeming for cash back
No annual fee

American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card

Get $200 back after you spend $1,000 on purchases with new card within first 3 months
0% intro APR on purchases for first 15 months
3% cash back on groceries at supermarkets ($6,000 limit)
2% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations
2% cash back at select department stores
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
No annual fee

American Express Cash Magnet® Card

Get $200 back after you spend $1,000 on purchases with new card within first 3 months
0% intro APR on purchases for first 15 months
1.5% cash back on eligible purchases
Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
No annual fee

Bank of America® Cash Rewards Visa® Card
MLB™ World Mastercard® from Bank of America

Get $200 online cash rewards after a spend of $1,000 with first 90 days
Introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers for first 12 billing cycles
3% cash back on category of your choice
2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
1% rewards on all other eligible purchased items
Get the logo of your favorite Major League Baseball team on the card
No annual fee

Capital One Quicksilver Rewards Card

Get $200 back after you spend $500 on purchases with new card within first 3 months
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for first 15 months
1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases
Cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open
No annual fee

Capital One SavorOne® Rewards Credit Card

$200 cash back after you spend $500 in purchases on your new card within the first 3 months
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
3% cash back on dining and entertainment
2% cash back at grocery stores
1% other eligible purchases
no annual fee

Elements Financial CU Signature Rewards Visa® Card

Get $200 cash bonus after you spend $1,000 on 10 or more purchases with new card within first 3 months
Introductory 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months
1.5% cash back and rewards on eligible everyday purchases
No balance transfer or foreign transaction fees
No annual fee
Credit union membership required

Use Credit Card Bonuses Wisely

Apply these common sense rules before applying for too many credit cards at once.

Use the signup bonuses with a definite purpose.
Before you pick a program, explore each one in depth.

Apply for a maximum of two cards per year.
You may earn more rewards by signing up for more, but that could limit your ability to earn bonuses in the future.

Pay your balance in full every billing period.
Banks rely on the fact that they earn more in interest and fees than what they give back in bonuses or rewards.

Avoid cards with annual fees.
They cost more than the services they provide and closing an account limits your buying power.

Chase Slate Edge Visa Card

August 27, 2021BankChase, Intro APR, Sign-up offersLeonard Kreicas

Chase Slat Edge Visa Credit card Chase Slate Edge offers cardholders a way to build their credit score and reduce their interest rate by 2% each year. Plus receive an introductory sign-up bonus of $100 and 0% APR(Annual Percentage Rate) for 12 months.

LOWER INTEREST RATES OVER TIME

Suppose you start with the highest APR of 23.74% after the generous 0% APR period. Your APR could automatically go down to 21.74% after 12 months if you charge at least $1,000 and pay on time. Best of all rate could drop to 19.74%, 17.14%. 15.14%, 13.14% over the years if bills are paid regularly.

RAISE CREDIT LIMIT AFTER SIX MONTHS

If you pay on time and spend at least $500 Chase will automatically review your Slate Edge account after six months for a higher credit limit.

INTRODUCTORY $100 BONUS CREDIT

Charge $500 or more on your new Chase Slate Edge card and receive a welcome bonus of $100 as a statement credit. Great way to reduce debt and manage expenses.

INTRODUCTORY 0% OFFER ON BALANCE TRANSFERS

Should you prefer to make a balance transfer instead of a purchase, you will receive the same generous 0% APR for 12 months. Take note a 3% balance transfer fee applies.

OTHER FREE BENEFITS

No annual fee
Monitor your credit scores with alerts about changes or suspicious activity
Convenient tap to pay (no signature required) feature where available
Purchase protection up to $500 per claim
Extended warranty by an extra year
Zero liability on unauthorized purchases
Chase Offers with select merchants

BBVA Compass ClearPoints Visa Card

August 21, 2021RewardsBBVA, Groceries, Intro APR, No annual feeLeonard Kreicas

BBVA ClearPoints credit card

After merger with PNC Bank the BBVA ClearPoints credit card is no longer accepting new applications.

Material below is for archival purposes.

Flexible choices give you better deals. The BBVA credit card allows you how you want to be rewarded. You get extra savings, 3% or 2%, from among these ten categories.

Business
Dining
Entertainment
Gas
Groceries
Health Care
Maintenance
Retail
Travel
Utilities

Choices are made quarterly, so you can plan ahead of time which charges to put on the card to maximize savings.

These points can be redeemed for an account credit without any complicated math.

As an incentive BBVA offers an 0% introductory APR for 13 months to new credit card holders qualifying purchases.

Pay NO annual fee for the BBVA Compass ClearPoints credit card and add additional authorized users at no cost.

Multiple Payment Options offers you the ability to pay your bill by mail, automatic debit, online banking or at any local branch

Security alerts notify you of possible suspicious activity on your account, as well as convenience notices for payments, balances, special offers and more.

You never pay interest if you pay your balance in full every month.

Additional free services include:

Free extended warranty for up to one year
Generous free insurance coverage up to $10,000 per purchase, with a $50,000 maximum per cardholder
Free Common Carrier Insurance: A full Benefit Amount of $500,000 is payable for accidental loss of life, two hands or two feet, sight of both eyes, one hand or one foot and sight of one eye, speech and hearing in both ears or any combination thereof.
The Visa Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver benefit (“Auto Rental CDW”) provides—at no additional charge—reimbursement for damage due to collision or theft up to the actual cash value of most rental vehicles, when certain terms and conditions are met.

BBVA has an another special bonus offer for Everyday Heroes:

Everyday Heroes get 5,000 bonus CompassPoints when they open a new Clear Points or Visa Signature Credit Card within 60 days of registering with the Everyday Heroes specialty program. This relationship is limited to

Teachers
Law enforcement members
Fire fighters and first responders
Healthcare workers including nurses, pharmacists, medical technicians
Active, reserve, and retired U.S. Military personnel

CREDIT CARDS

Choose the right credit card for you

All posts by Leonard Kreicas

Best Balance Transfer Offers September 2021

No interest on balance transfers until 2023 with special introductory rates on some new accounts

CHECKLIST

THE CARDS

20 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

18 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

15 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

NO BALANCE TRANSFER FEE & INTRO 0% APR

BBVA Compass ClearPoints Visa Card

After merger with PNC Bank the BBVA ClearPoints credit card is no longer accepting new applications.

Material below is for archival purposes.

No interest on balance transfers until 2023 with special introductory rates on some new accounts

CHECKLIST

THE CARDS

20 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

18 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

15 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

NO BALANCE TRANSFER FEE & INTRO 0% APR

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa® Signature Card

Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card

Fremont Bank World Mastercard®

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Capital One Savor® Rewards Credit Card

Disney® Premier Visa® Card From Chase

Star Trek Credit Card from NASA FCU

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

Wells Fargo Active CashSM Credit Card

Citi Custom CashSM Credit Card

BMO Harris Bank Cash Back Mastercard®

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase Freedom FlexSM

American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card

American Express Cash Magnet® Card

Bank of America® Cash Rewards Visa® Card MLB™ World Mastercard® from Bank of America

Capital One Quicksilver Rewards Card

Capital One SavorOne® Rewards Credit Card

Elements Financial CU Signature Rewards Visa® Card

Use Credit Card Bonuses Wisely

LOWER INTEREST RATES OVER TIME

RAISE CREDIT LIMIT AFTER SIX MONTHS

INTRODUCTORY $100 BONUS CREDIT

INTRODUCTORY 0% OFFER ON BALANCE TRANSFERS

OTHER FREE BENEFITS

After merger with PNC Bank the BBVA ClearPoints credit card is no longer accepting new applications.

Material below is for archival purposes.

Wells Fargo Active Cash^SM Credit Card

Citi Custom Cash^SM Credit Card

Chase Freedom Flex^SM

Bank of America® Cash Rewards Visa® Card
MLB™ World Mastercard® from Bank of America