Best 0% APR Credit Cards in 2011

Like we’ve noted in several other articles this year, credit card offers in 2011 have been quite phenomenal for consumers. And today we’d like to highlight the best 0% APR credit card offers available. Wether  you’ve accumulated some debt over the course of our financial meltdown and are still paying an unfavorable interest rate on the sum, or you are simply looking to finance a new summer project, small business venture or vacation, then you may want to look into one of the promotional 0% APR credit cards we’ve highlighted below.

There are a few things to consider before applying for a 0% APR credit card. First, if you plan on using the card to make a balance transfer, be sure to read the fine print as to what the balance transfer fee will be. We’ve made note of these fees in the offers we’ve highlighted below, but if you decide to go with another card that’s not on our list be sure to dig up this number (usually tucked away in the fine print).

Second, be sure to know what your APR will be after the promotional period is over. Depending on your credit history, this is usually in the range of 11.99 and 22.99 percent.

Top 3 Credit Cards Featuring 0% APR’s in 2011:

(The intro APR, features, terms and conditions of these offers change regularly. Please visit our balance transfer credit card center OR our low interest credit card center for updated offers.)

1) Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® MasterCard® – Limited Time Offer – This card has been featured on BankVibe.com several times this year because of it’s generous 0% intro APR period, reward structure AND it’s $100 bonus. While this card is a limited time offer it is currently boasting some of the best features of 2011. Currently this card is offering a 0% intro APR for 12 months (on both balance transfers and purchases), a $100 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months, 5% cash back on home improvement, home furnishing, and home & garden stores through 6/30/11, 1% cash back on all other purchases and no annual fee. The balance transfer fee associated with this card is 5%.

2) Discover® More Card – Long Duration Balance Transfer – Recently dropped down from 24 months, this card features a 0% APR period of 18 months on balance transfers and 6 months on new purchases. You’re APR after the 0% intro period will be between 12.99% and 20.99% depending on your credit standing. You’ll get 5% cash back in rotating categories such as home improvement, travel and gas, groceries, restaurants, etc along with 1% cash back on all other purchases. There is no annual fee with this card but it has a balance transfer fee is 5%.

3) Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card – This card comes with 0% APR for 21 months on both new purchases and balance transfers. The zero APR period is then followed by an APR of between 11.99% and 20.99% depending on your credit history. You’ll also incur zero liability on unauthorized purchases, no annual fee, and secure and free online account management. The card features a balance transfer fee of 5%.

Have you taken advantage of a 0% APR credit card in 2011? If so, please share your experience by leaving a comment.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards in 2011

Updated: September 2011 – Today’s Best Offers shown below!

In our continuing coverage of the best credit card offers in 2011, we decided to focus on the best cash back offers this week. Throughout the course of the year, we’ve seen a number of outstanding deals in this category. To get a better idea of what to expect, the best cards in this category will typically offer a combination of cash bonuses along with, perhaps, 0% intro APRs and/or cash back on purchases.

Unfortunately the cash back structure isn’t quite as lucrative as it has been in the past. While it was once typical to receive something along the lines of 5% cash back on ALL purchases, you’ll now have to settle with between 1 and 2% cash back on all purchases with 5% cash back on select purchases in rotating categories. The cash bonus offers, however, have been plentiful in 2011. Today’s best offer is a $150 cash bonus after spending just $500 in the first 3 months.

Top 3 Cash Back Credit Card Offers of 2011:

(The terms, conditions and reward structures of these cards change regularly. Visit our cash back credit card center for all updated offers.)

1) Citi® Dividend World® MasterCard – $100 Bonus® Limited Time Offer – We’ve deemed this the best offer in this category because of the $100 cash bonus and the broad range of additional benefits tied to the card. For example, along with the cash bonus and rewards, this card can also function as a very lucrative balance transfer card as it offers a 0% intro APR for the first 12 months (a standard APR of between 12.99% and 20.99% after the promotional period depending on credit standing). The rewards structure is as follows – earn 1% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on a rotating set of categorical purchases. Plus, there are no tiers or minimum spending amounts required to earn the additional cash back and the card comes with no annual fee.

2) Chase Freedom® Visa – $200 Bonus Cash Back – This card offer, while only available for a limited time, has been featured on BankVibe.com several times in 2011 because of it’s industry best $200 cash bonus after spending just $500 in purchases within the first 3 months. Along with the cash bonus consumers will receive a standard 1% cash back on all purchases, as well as the opportunity to earn 5% cash back on select purchases throughout the year (subject to a maximum). The categories in which you can earn 5% cash back rotate on a quarterly basis – for example, from January through March you may get 5% cash back on gas and grocery store expenditures whereas from April to June you may get rewards based on travel, car rentals and hotel stays. You’ll also be able to earn 10% cash back when shopping at select merchants through Chase’s website. This card also comes with no annual fee.

3) Blue Cash Everyday(SM) Card from American Express – The Blue Cash Card from American Express recently updated it’s reward structure in 2011. Currently the card will provide consumers with 3% cash back on supermarket purchases, 2% cash back on gas and department store purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases. While this card doesn’t provide any cash bonuses like the first two offers, it still boasts one of the the most lucrative cash back structures on the market. In the long term (and depending on how much you spend) this card could easily blow away the first two offers for cash back earnings. This card also comes with a respectable 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months as well as a $25 referral fee for sending them new customers. Plus, unlike many other American Express credit cards, no annual fee is associated with this card.

Have you taken advantage of a noteworthy cash back credit card offer in 2011 that we haven’t already mentioned above? Please share your by leaving a comment!

Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards in 2011

Looking to obtain a balance transfer credit card this year? We’ve got the scoop on the best offers in 2011. Balance transfer cards are geared towards individuals (and small businesses) that are being weighted down by high interest rates on their current credit card(s). The 0% intro APR on these types of cards varies by offer, but you’ll be happy to know the competition between these credit card companies has been fierce so far in 2011. In 2010, a good balance transfer card would offer consumers a 0% intro APR for 12 months, however, this year we’ve seen cards step up this promo term from 12 months to 15 months to 18 months to 21 months, and now one card offers a 0% intro APR for an industry best 24 month period!

One thing to keep in mind with these offers is that they almost always come with an upfront fee which is derived as a percentage of the overall balance you’re intending to transfer. These fees can range anywhere from 3% – 5% so you’ll need to look carefully at the terms and conditions before opening.

Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards 2011:

1) Discover More Card – 0% Intro APR for 18 months! (Terms Have Changed 5/1/2011) This card tops the industry for longest duration of 0% intro period in 2011. If you’re looking to make purchases with your card as well, you’ll receive a 0% intro on new purchases for 6 months. Some other noteworthy features of this card are the 5% cash back structure on rotating categories such as food, travel, gas, entertainments, home improvement, etc. This card also comes with no annual fee. The balance transfer fee is either $10 or 4% of the transfer amount (whichever is greater). A regular APR of between 12.99% and 20.99% follows the 24 month intro period.

2) Citi Platinum Select MasterCard – 0% intro APR for 21 months. After the intro period is over you will incur an APR between 11.99% and 20.99%. This card comes with no annual fee and a generous cash back structure that includes gift cards, travel, merchandise ,etc. The balance transfer fee is slightly lower than the Discover Card with a fee of just $5 or 3% of the transfer amount (whichever is greater).

3) Chase Slate Visa Card – 0% intro APR for 15 months. After the intro period is over, you’ll incur an variable rate APR of between 11.99% and 16.99%. This card is specifically designed for balance transfers and comes with a low fee structure of either $5 or 3% of the transfer amount (whichever is greater). Because this card is strictly a balance transfer card it comes with very little perks and/or cash back.

Keep in mind these 3 cards are not ranked in order from best to worst. We simply ranked them on the duration of their 0% intro APR. You will want to pay close attention to the balance transfer fee when determining which card is right for you. Also, you should have a realistic time frame in mind of how long it will take to pay down your existing debt.

Have you opened a balance transfer card in 2011 that was offering terms better than the ones listed above? If so, let us know by leaving a comment!

Citi mtvU Platinum Select Visa Card for College Students: Review

ATTENTION: THIS CARD OFFER HAS EXPIRED. Please visit our credit card center for current offers.

The Citi® mtvU Platinum Select Visa Card is one of the latest student credit cards to hit the market. It comes with an inspiring and innovating set of rewards and features designed specifically for college students. The most noteworthy and beneficial rewards associated with this credit card are it’s tiered reward structure for favorable GPA’s and the ability to use the reward points to lower the principle of a student loan.

Features and Rewards of Citi mtvU Platinum Select Card:

(accurate as of December, 2010)

1) Earn Reward Points for Solid GPAs.

2) Collect points on a wide array of student related purchases (books, music, restaurants, fast food, movies – cinema and rentals, entertainment, etc).

3) Use reward points to lower your student loan principle.

4) Earn 25 points every billing cycle if you pay your minimum payments on time and do not go over your credit limit.

5) Until January 15, 2011 earn a $50 statement credit after just $50 in purchases! See other Citi cards featuring this bonus in our holiday coverage of Citi Bank’s Credit Card Promotions.

Corresponding Reward Points with GPA Score:

- With a GPA of between 2.50 and 2.99 earn 250 reward points.

- With a GPA of between 3.00 and 3.49 earn 500 reward points.

- With a GPA of between 3.50 and 3.99 earn 750 reward points.

With a 4.0 GPA earn a whopping 2,000 bonus points.

The above bonuses are available twice annually.

Additional Details – Citi mtvU Platinum Select Visa Card:

- 10% at MTV Stores – Cardholders can get a 10% discount at mtvshop.mtv.com and the MTV store in New York City.

- Unique Rewards – This card is based on Citibanks’ ThankYou Redemption Network reward program, which has both travel and shopping rewards. For this card, you can get a free ticket to MTV Videos Music Award for 30,000 points. You can also use points to reduce your student loan principal.

- Fees and Rates – There is no annual fee. New cardholders may get a 0% Intro APR for purchases for 7 months.

- Other Benefits and Services – You will also get platinum benefits like one million dollars travel accident insurance, auto rental insurance, online account management and Citibanks’ 24/7 customer service, annual account summary.

Slate from Chase Mastercard: Full Review

Attention! Some of the card statistics in this review may be outdated. Visit Chase Slate’s Current Offer Here!

The Slate(SM) from Chase MasterCard is an ideal card for those with decent credit and are looking for a 0% intro APR in which to transfer higher interest balances from. Consumers looking to obtain a Slate credit card can choose between a Visa or Mastercard while still being provided with the budget management program that Chase’s Blueprint offers. (Blueprint helps you customize your payments to meet your budget while tackling any credit card debt you may have).

APR’s associated with Slate from Chase Mastercard:

- If you have excellent or good credit you’ll receive a 0% APR for 12 months on purchases and/or balance transfers. After that you’ll incur an APR of between 11.25% to 17.24%.

- If you have average credit you’ll receive 0% APR for 6 months on purchases and/or balance transfers. After that you’ll incur an APR of 22.24%.

Important Card Terms and Conditions:

- APR for Cash Advances – 19.24% for Elite and Premium Pricing or 23.24% for Standard Pricing. Your APRs will be based on your creditworthiness. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.

- APR for Overdraft Advances – 19.24% for Elite and Premium Pricing or 23.24% for Standard Pricing (not available in some states). Your APRs will be based on your creditworthiness. These APRs will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.

Penalty APR and when it applies:

29.99%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.

The Penalty APR will apply to your Account if you:

• fail to make any Minimum Payment by the date and time due (late payment);
• exceed your credit line;
• make a payment to us that is returned unpaid; or
• do any of the above on another account or loan you have with us or any of our related companies.

How Long Will the Penalty APR Apply? If an APR is increased for any of these reasons, the Penalty APR will apply indefinitely to future transactions. If we do not receive any Minimum Payment within 60 days of the date and time due, the Penalty APR will apply to all outstanding balances and future transactions on your Account; but if we receive six consecutive Minimum Payments when due, beginning immediately after the increase, the Penalty APR will stop being applied to transactions that occurred prior to or within 14 days after we provided you notice about the APR increase.

All Fees associated with Slate from Chase Mastercard:

Balance Transfers – Either $5.00 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advances – Either $10.00 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transactions – 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.

Late Payment -$35.00

Over the Credit Limit – $35.00

Return Payment – $35.00

Return Check – $35.00

Annual Fee – NONE

Household Bank Premium MasterCard Review

The Household Bank Premium MasterCard from HSBC is geared towards those who may already have mediocre or even good credit scores but would like to build their score further. The card offers members a special introductory rate on purchases for the first 9 months (0% APR) and then comes with a variable rate of 19.90% APR after wards. The interest rate is not incredibly low, however if you only have “fair” credit then this APR may be a few points lower than what you’re currently receiving. This card regularly reports to the three major credit bureaus which can be a great benefit to your credit score if you’re regularly repaying your debts on time and in full.

Household Bank Premium MasterCard List of Features and Facts:

- An excellent choice for people with fair or good credit

- 0% Introductory APR on Purchases for 9 months and a Variable 19.90% APR thereafter

- 1% Cash Back Rewards on every credit card purchase

- Acceptance at millions of locations worldwide, including website purchases and reservations

- Online Account access

- Email and text messages available to remind you of your upcoming payment due date

- On-call customer service representatives to assist you with questions or concerns

Apply Now

Household Bank Premium MasterCard Fees:

$75 Bonus PLUS 0% APR on balance transfers for 12 months!

The infamous Discover More Credit Card has topped itself once again with it’s $75 sign up bonus AND 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 12 months. If you have plans to repay your credit card debt within a 12 month period, this offer is a can’t miss! Simply transfer your existing credit card balance to this card and pay down your debt while adding no additional interest… plus get $75 in your pocket!

Apply for this offer!

A couple things to note with this card – first, the $75 bonus is only available if you spend at least $500 on the card within the first 3 months of owning it. So if you have $175 in monthly expenses (be it – gas, food or recreation) put them on this new card and snag your $75. Just be sure to pay the balance in full each month and repay your total balance transfer debt within one year. Second, if you cannot pay off the amount transferred you will incur an APR of between 11.99% and 20.99%.

Terms, Conditions and Credit Card Features:

• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for a full 12 months, then the Regular APR
• 0% intro APR on purchases for a full 6 months, then the Regular APR
• Get $75 Cashback Bonus when you make $500 in purchases within 3 months
• 5% Cashback Bonus in categories that change like travel, gas, groceries, restaurants, home improvement stores and more
• Up to 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus on all other purchases
• No Annual Fee

Apply Now!

Compare this offer to other balance transfer credit card offers in our database!

Discover Student Credit Card Bonus: 5% Cashback

Discover Bank, a leading provider of cash back credit cards, currently has a fairly nice bonus offer for their new student “mix tape” credit card customers. From April until June, card members can earn 5% cash back bonus on up to $400 in home and fashion purchases. This reward structure rotates between different sets of category purchases. After the fashion related bonus ends in June, the 5% cash back can then be applied to gas, hotels and movies throughout the summer (through September), the categories then shift back to fashion and restaurant purchases next Fall.

****    The “Mix Tape” student credit card by Discover was the winner of a card design contest and it received roughly a quarter of a million votes!    ****

The student credit card by Discover Bank also features a nice 0% APR intro rate for the first 6 months. The APR then moves to the standard variable rate of between 15.99 and 19.99% APR. We would discourage students from taking cash advances however, because the APR associated with them is a much higher 23.99% APR. It also comes with a default rate of up to 20.99% variable and up to 24.99% variable for purchases (up to 28.99% variable for cash advances).

This card is a decent way for students to start building some credit, however, don’t get sucked into overspending during the promotional 0% intro APR period because the default rate after the promotion could hit you pretty hard. Or, if you are already in some credit card debt, check out our top 3 cards for rebuilding credit. We suggest using this card primarily for emergencies and the cash back category purchases, but be sure to pay your balance in full and on time! Check out our top 5 rewards categories for cash back credit cards.

Other Facts from the Fine Print…

Your due date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing period. They will not charge you periodic finance charges on new purchases, or any portion of a new purchase, paid by the due date on your current billing statement if you paid your entire balance on your previous billing statement in full by the due date on that statement.

This card comes with zero annual fees, cash advance transaction fees of 5% for each cash advance, with a minimum of $10 and no maximum. It also has a late fee of $19 on balances up to $250 and $39 on balances over $250.

Student Card by Discover – Features in Foucs:

• Build your credit with our contest-winning student card design – 250,000 votes on 7,000 submissions resulted in the new Mix Tape. Get yours today!
• 5% Cashback Bonus® in categories like travel, gas, groceries, restaurants, and more
• 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus® through our exclusive online shopping site
• Up to 1% unlimited Cashback Bonus® on all other purchases

Apply Now!

Public Savings Bank Secured Credit Card: 0% APR for 6 months

UPDATE: The following post is outdated. Please view the updated terms for the Public Savings Open Sky Secured Visa Credit Card here.

The Public Savings Open Sky Secured Visa Card offers 0% APR on all purchases for 6 months. This card is ideal for those who are attempting to build credit. Secured cards work differently than general credit cards in that you must make an upfront deposit in order to buy items on the card.

Simply deposit funds from $300 up to $2,000 and you’ll be able to purchase any item interest free. However, you must make sure that you’ll be able to pay off these purchases in their entirety within six months, or you’ll be charged interest on the remaining balance.

The most notable benefit of the Public Savings Bank Secured Card is that the card reports to all three credit bureaus on a monthly basis. Plus, there are no annual or monthly fees associated it.

Another added bonus to this credit card is that, as of January 4, 2010, their are no penalty APR’s, free fraud protection as well as wide ranging acceptance. You can use this card anywhere you see the VISA logo.

Public Savings Bank Secured Credit Card Quick Facts:

• Build credit history – they report to all 3 major credit bureaus
• 0% APR on all purchases for the first 6 months
• No annual fees or monthly maintenance fees
• No credit check
• No checking account required
• Your credit is not a factor!
• Choose your initial credit limit from $300-$2000
• Lifetime credit lines up to $5,000
• Free fraud protection against unauthorized use
• Use the card everywhere you see the Visa logo

0% APR on balance transfers for 12 months with Discover More!

The infamous Discover More credit card has sweetened their offer during this holiday season. Traditionally, the Discover More card has been known for providing the most cash rebates on more items than any card on the market. And just last week they made this product even more enticing. Currently, when approved for a new Discover More card you will receive two additional outstanding benefits…

1) 0% APR on ALL balance transfers for 12 months!

2) 0% APR on ALL purchases for 6 months!

While we always recommend paying off your entire debt in full each month, if you must carry a balance, this card will now allow a fairly nice no-interest grace period in which you can scrounge up the funds to pay it off. 

Additional Features:

• 5% Cashback Bonus® in categories like travel, home, gas, restaurants, movies and more
• 5% to 20% Cashback Bonus at top retailers through our exclusive online shopping site
• Up to 1% Cashback Bonus on all other purchases automatically
• Unlimited cash rewards
• Increase, even double, your rewards when you redeem for gift cards from our 100 Cashback Bonus Partners
• 0% Intro APR for 6 months on Purchases, and up to 12 months on Balance Transfers* 

Please Note: This is a limited time offer

Apply Now!