Low APR Credit Card - The Battle for Your Business

Posted by Nick Niesen on October 29th, 2010

We all know how great it is to have a credit card, we can purchase all kinds of luxury items for ourselves and then pay them off a little bit at a time every month as long as we do not mind paying the interest rates that are tacked on. With low rate credit cards, you will not be paying so much in interest payments, however, if you choose a credit card with 17 % APR then you will find yourself paying huge amounts of money in interest payments if you have any type of balance of your credit card.

The large credit card companies know this and are all fighting to give you a low APR credit card that will give you even more freedom, the problem is that you may have trouble choosing which one is best for you and your lifestyle.

American Express understands these above and beyond other credit card companies that offer low APR credit cards because they also offer a 0% introductory offer for your first 15 months, which rises to a 3.99% fixed rate after that initial period. Many companies increase the APR to 17% and beyond after the introductory period expires. Citibank is offering individuals the chance to transfer their balances to a 0% APR for 12 months and a 5% cash back with some purchases such as grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies and even a 1% cash back at all other stores. JP Morgan offers a cash back program with 0% interest for 12 months on balance transfers. These low APR credit cards can be great as long as you read the fine print and learn how long the low APR will last and what it will be once the special interest rate expires.

Remember, just because a credit card company is offering a low APR credit card, this does not mean it will always be low. There are many factors that can change the APR, such as the introductory special expiring and economic indicators, which cause the interest rate to fluctuate.

Many credit card companies that offer a low APR credit card may only have the low APR for 3 months and if you are lucky, can be as long as 15 months. Before you apply for a low APR credit card be sure to read all the terms and conditions, look for such things as the end of the introductory special, balance transfer procedures, and if there are any other membership fees, or annual fees that will be applied to your low APR credit card.