[UPDATE: Some offers mentioned below have expired and/or are no longer available on our site. You can view the current offers from our partners in our credit card marketplace. DISCLOSURE: Cards from our partners are mentioned below.]
With the holidays behind us, many credit card users are starting 2015 with significant amounts of credit card debt.
For some people, incurring serious debt will mean the end of their credit card use, at least for the immediate future. Yet others may decide to continue to use credit cards for a number of possible reasons. Some cardholders might want to transfer a balance to a credit card with a lower interest rate, or one with 0% annual percentage rate promotional financing, while others may need to use their credit card benefits including purchase protection and travel insurance. These cards can help you get credit card debt-free, especially if you have a game plan in place. You can see how long it will take you to pay off your credit card debt with this nifty calculator.
So which cards should you consider if you already have credit card debt? Here are five that are well-suited to this situation.
1. Chase Slate
Not only does this card offer 15 months of interest-free financing on both new purchases and balance transfers, it is also the only card available with 0% APR financing on balance transfers and no balance transfer fee. New applicants can complete qualifying transfers within 60 days of opening an account, and avoid the customary 3% balance transfer fee. In addition, Slate offers its cardholders free access to Chase’s Blueprint program. Blueprint allows cardholders to avoid interest charges by paying some new purchases in full, while carrying a balance on others. In addition, Blueprint contains budgeting and goal-setting tools as well. There is no annual fee for this card.
2. PenFed Promise
Rather than going the route of 0% APR promotional financing, some cardholders may prefer a low-APR card with no fees. This card offers a 4.99% APR for balance transfers and standard purchase APRs of between 7.99% and 16.99%, depending on the applicant’s creditworthiness at the time of the application. Yet the most unusual thing about this card is the fact that it doesn’t have any fees. That means no annual fees, late fees, balance transfer fees or foreign transaction fees. Applicants must first become a member of the credit union, which they can do based on their membership in various government, military and defense organizations, or by joining a military support organization for a small, one-time fee.
3. Citi Simplicity
This card offers 18 months of interest-free financing on both new purchases and balance transfers, with a 5% balance transfer fee. This card features no late fees or penalty interest rates either. There is no annual fee for this card.
4. Citi Diamond Preferred
Like Citi’s Simplicity card, its Diamond Preferred features 21 months of interest-free financing on both new purchases and balance transfers, with a 5% balance transfer fee. But instead of offering no late fees or penalty interest rates, the Diamond Preferred includes several valuable travel insurance and purchase protection policies. There is no annual fee for this card.
5. Discover it
With this offer, Discover offers 18 months of interest-free financing on balance transfers, with a 3% balance transfer fee. It also features six months of 0% APR financing on new purchases, along with no penalty interest rate. Cardholders also have their first late fee waived automatically. In addition, cardholders earn 1% cash back on all purchases, plus an additional 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent each quarter in certain categories, which rotate each quarter. There is no annual fee for this card.
Keep in mind that being approved for some of the credit cards above require good credit. You can see two of your credit scores for free on Credit.com to get an idea of where you stand.
Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees and terms for credit cards, loans and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees and terms with credit card issuers, banks or other financial institutions directly.
At publishing time, the Chase Slate, Citi Simplicity, Citi Diamond Preferred and Discover it are offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply for and ultimately sign up for any of these cards. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment.
More on Credit Cards:
- How to Lower Your Credit Card Interest Rates
- 6 Smart Credit Card Strategies
- Tips for Paying Off Credit Card Debt
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