What is a Credit Card Introductory APR?

An APR, or Annual Percentage Rate, is the yearly interest rate charged on a credit card. Many credit cards offer an introductory period during which the APR is significantly lower than what it will be after the introductory period expires. In fact, it’s not unusual for this introductory APR to be 0%.

How Does 0% Intro APR Work?

You might have received offers for a 0% intro APR credit card in the mail and wondered how you could have a credit card with no interest. A 0% intro APR credit card offer allows for an introductory period, usually over a set number of months, that starts as soon as the account is open and charges no interest on purchases, a balance transfer, or both until that period of time expires.

Benefits of 0% Intro APR

A 0% intro APR can help you save money on interest. If you carry a balance on your credit card, a 0% intro APR can mean significant savings over the introductory period because the balance does not accrue interest during that time. A 0% intro APR can also be helpful if you're planning a major purchase and can pay it off before the introductory period ends. You still, however, must make minimum payments on time during the introductory period. If you don’t make on-time payments, the credit card issuer may cancel the 0% intro APR and apply a penalty APR, which can be the highest APR on your card.

The 0% Intro APR May Not Apply to All Transactions

Not every activity on your credit card is categorized the same way. It’s possible to have different interest rates on the same credit card, despite a 0% intro APR on purchases or balance transfers. Here's how the 0% intro APR offer works for different kinds of credit card transactions:

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Purchase APR:

Purchase APR is the interest rate for new purchases made on the card. This might be covered under your 0% intro APR offer depending on the details of the offer.

Balance Transfer APR:

Balance transfer APR is the interest rate for debts moved to your credit card account from another credit card. Balance transfers must be approved by the card issuer and often come with a balance transfer fee. However, credit cards with a 0% intro APR often offer that rate on balance transfers for a significant period. This gives you a longer window to strategically pay down debt.

Cash Advance APR:

Cash advances are not covered under a typical introductory APR offer. With a cash advance, you will likely begin accruing interest from the date the transaction posts to your account, and the interest rate is often higher than even the standard purchase rate.

Penalty APR:

Unfortunately, an introductory APR doesn’t protect you against a penalty APR. If you fail to make a minimum payment on time, the credit card issuer might end the introductory APR and instead charge a high penalty APR in its place.

Keep an Eye on the Length of Time for the 0% Intro APR

Let’s look at some ways to make the most out of your 0% intro APR period. If you plan to do a balance transfer, think strategically about how you will use the time when the 0% intro APR applies. How will you focus on paying down your debt? If you want to use the card for shopping or making a large purchase, make sure the balance is fully paid off before the introductory period ends and the standard purchase rate begins, or that balance will begin to accrue interest.

A 0% Intro APR Credit Card Can Impact Your Credit Score

Because of the way your credit score works, it can still be impacted by purchases or balance transfers made during a 0% intro APR period. Your credit utilization ratio affects your credit score. This is the percentage of all your available revolving credit currently in use. If you make new purchases, even if they don't accrue much or any interest, your credit utilization ratio will increase — which can impact your credit score. However, paying down your debt after a balance transfer can be good for your credit utilization ratio. What's more, opening a new credit card account can increase your total available credit.

Know What It Takes to Qualify for a 0% Intro APR Offer

To qualify for a 0% intro APR offer, it's best to have excellent credit and a good payment history. Furthermore, if you want to do a balance transfer with a 0% intro APR offer, your creditworthiness can help determine the credit limit on your new card, which determines the amount that can be transferred.

Deferred Interest Offers vs. 0% Intro APR Credit Cards

Both deferred interest offers and 0% intro APR cards do not charge interest if you pay off the entire balance before the introductory period expires. The difference is what happens when you don't. A 0% intro APR credit card will only start to charge interest on the remaining balance once your introductory period ends. A deferred interest offer, on the other hand, charges interest that accumulated on the entire balance during the introductory period. You’ll start charging interest on the remaining balance after that period. This is why it’s important to read the fine print on a credit card offer and stay aware of your timelines.