Comparing Credit Card Applications
Choosing the right credit card application requires a little investigation. Credit card applications are filled with fine print that can be downright confusing, if not deceptive. One key element to pay close attention to is the go to interest rate. This is the rate of interest you will be charged once any introductory period has expired. Unfortunately, credit card applications, whether online or via the mail, only provide an APR range. It is not until your credit card application has been processed and approved that you will learn what your long term interest rate will be. Consequently, it is important to carefully check your credit card terms when it arrives in the mail, especially if you are doing a balance transfer or generally carry a balance from month to month.
Below you can compare credit card applications from companies that provide 0% interest rates and also offer low long term interest rates. You can also compare all 0% credit card applications in their respective section of Smart Credit Choices.
Top 0% APR Credit Card Applications
CAPITAL ONE® NO HASSLE CASH(SM) REWARDS - EXCELLENT CREDIT |
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- 2% cash back on gas and groceries
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No limit on the cash you can earn and cash won't expire
- Redeem cash rewards for statement credit, check or gift card
- Get your cash back whenever you want, even set up automatic redemption
- 0% intro APR on purchases until August 2011
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
- To apply online click the Apply Now button or call 1-866-960-8708
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Intro APR on Purchases
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Intro APR on Transfers
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% until 8/2011*
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n/a*
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14.9%(V)*
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None
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Excellent
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CITI® PLATINUM SELECT® MASTERCARD® |
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- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months and 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months. After that, the APR will be 11.99%-19.99% based upon your creditworthiness. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate*
- Extra Cash from Citi: enjoy discounts on gift cards,travel, merchandise and more
- Citi® Identity Theft Solutions
- Secure, free online account management
- No annual fee
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Intro APR on Purchases
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Intro APR on Transfers
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% for 12 Months*
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0% for 18 Months*
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11.99-19.99% Variable*
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None
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Good
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DISCOVER® MORE® CARD |
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- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for a full 15 months, then the Regular APR
- 0% intro APR on purchases for a full 6 months, then the Regular APR
- 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
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Intro APR on Purchases
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Intro APR on Transfers
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% for 6 Months*
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0% for 15 Months*
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11.99% - 20.99% (V)
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None
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Good
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CAPITAL ONE® VENTUREONE(SM) REWARDS CREDIT CARD |
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- 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
- Redeem miles for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals and more
- No limit on the miles you can earn and miles won't expire
- Fly free on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
- Use rewards for travel, merchandise, gift cards and more
- 0% intro APR on purchases until August 2011
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
- To apply online click the Apply Now button or call 1-866-960-8708
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Intro APR on Purchases
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Intro APR on Transfers
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% until August 2011*
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n/a
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13.9%(V)*
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None
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Excellent
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Examining 0% Credit Card Applications
Another area to examine on a credit card application is the 0% interest rate. On some credit card applications, 0% rates are advertised for up to 12 months, but consumers may only be approved for as little as three months. All of the credit card applications on this page offer 0% rates for the full advertised term. However, many companies engage in tiered pricing where they advertise one rate but may provide consumers with another. Be careful should you choose to apply for one of these offers.
Final Words on Credit Card Applications
Before you submit a credit card application, be sure the card you are applying for offers features that will benefit you the most. For many, this means locking in a 0% interest rate for a full year and securing a low long term interest rate. As discussed above, the only way to be confident that you will get these features is to avoid credit cards that offer 0% rates for "up to" a certain period and interest rates "as low as." If this language is on your credit card application, there is a chance the card that ends up in your wallet will not be as good as the card you applied for.
*Important Disclaimer: See online credit card applications for complete details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the “Apply Now" button, you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the issuing company's website.
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