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If you want an affordable card that doesn’t charge a ton of interest and lets you earn rewards, the First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard® is a fair choice. It has a lower-than-average ongoing 12.50 to 18.00% APR. You’ll earn points on every purchase, with extra points on everyday categories like gas and groceries. It also includes a modest sign-up bonus.
But, this card doesn’t come with an intro APR on purchases or balance transfers, so you’ll be subject to interest charges right away if you carry a balance. Plus, many cards offer a higher rewards value than the First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®.
Lower than average APR
The First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard® offers one of the lowest APRs you’ll find ranging from 12.50 to 18.00% APR. According to a LendingTree study, the average credit card is around 24.92% as of August 2024, so this card can offer significant savings if you carry a balance from month to month. To secure the lowest APR, you’ll need to meet certain credit score requirements.
See our top picks or low-interest credit cards.
See our top picks for 0% APR credit cards.
Rewards on everyday purchases
Purchases that earn 2 points per $1 spent include:
There’s no limit to how many rewards points you can earn and your points never expire. Rewards points can be redeemed for cash back, travel, merchandise, gift cards, events and experiences.
How does it compare to other cards?
This card offers decent rewards on a variety of spending categories, but the earning rate is low compared to other cards. It only awards you 2x points in a handful of categories, and those points are only worth $0.01 each. Many other cards offer higher rates in their earning categories or a higher flat rate on all purchases. For example:
Decent sign-up bonus
How does it compare to other cards?
This sign-up bonus is comparable to what you’ll see with similar cards. For example, the Citi Custom Cash® Card offers the chance to earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Limited fees
While the majority of balance transfer credit cards charge balance transfer fees ranging from 3% to 5% of the amount of each transfer, the First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard® is one of the few cards that charges a $0 balance transfer fee.
The card also comes with a $0 annual fee and a $0 foreign transaction fee.
Other benefits
The First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard® comes with the following World Mastercard® benefits:
No intro APR on purchases or balance transfers
The First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard® doesn’t offer a 0% intro APR on purchases or balance transfers, You’ll be charged a 12.50 to 18.00% APR if you carry a balance on your card from month to month.
If you’re planning to finance a large purchase or do a balance transfer, it’s better to choose a card that has a 0% intro APR because your entire monthly payment will go towards paying down the principal balance rather than the balance plus interest. You can typically find a card with a 0% intro APR for anywhere from six to 21 months. The Citi Simplicity® Card is one of your best bets if you’re strictly interested in transferring and paying down a large balance.
Credit union membership required
To apply for the First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®, you must first become a member of First Tech FCU. There are many ways to be eligible for membership, including:
If you don’t fall into one of these categories you can schedule an appointment with First Tech to see if you still qualify. If you aren’t interested in becoming a First Tech member, there are plenty of other credit card options that don’t require a membership.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Intro Balance Transfer APR | Regular Balance Transfer Rate | Balance Transfer Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®*
|
N/A | 12.50 to 18.00% APR | $0 | ||
Citi Custom Cash® Card*
|
0% intro APR for 15 months on Balance Transfers | 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) | Balance transfer fee applies with this offer; 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum. | ||
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
 Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months | 18.99% - 28.49% Variable | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
BankAmericard® credit card*
|
0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days | 15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR on balance transfers | 3% intro fee for 60 days, then 4% |
Plus, this card offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases and a 0% intro APR for 15 months on Balance Transfers. Then, a 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) APR applies. This intro offer gives you a substantial period to save on interest, and if you qualify for the lower end of the APR range, it’s still below average.
This card also has a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months and a 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months. After the intro period, a 18.99% - 28.49% Variable APR will apply. There are good travel and purchase protections like extended warranty, purchase protection, rental car insurance and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
If you’re in the market for a balance transfer credit card with no balance transfer fee, the First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard® is a good choice — especially when you consider the low ongoing APR, rewards program and $0 annual fee.
But, although there’s a low APR, you won’t get an intro APR on purchases or balance transfers, which can result in extra interest costs if you plan to carry a balance. Additionally, if you’re looking for more value without having to apply for a membership, you might want to consider another rewards card like the Citi Custom Cash® Card or Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
The information related to the First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®, Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, Citi Custom Cash® Card and BankAmericard® credit card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
