It’s considered best practice to pay off your credit card in full every month, thus avoiding interest charges. But sometimes life gets in the way and you have to carry a balance. That’s why having a credit card with a low APR, such as the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card, can help.

Note that you must first join USAA to be able to apply for this card. USAA membership is open to United States military members and veterans, precomissioned officers, and spouses and children.

• One the best credit cards for a low APR

  The USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card has a 11.65% to 28.65% APR. If you’re approved for the card and receive an APR at the lower end of that range, that’s one of the lowest interest rates you’re likely to find on a credit card.

  If you’re a USAA member and need a low APR card for those times when you have to roll over a balance, the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card‘s low interest rate could be a great card to have in your wallet.

  Be aware that the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card requires excellent/good credit, and the better your credit score, the better your chances of receiving a low APR on your account.

  Finally, for U.S. military members on active duty, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) offers protections on debt incurred prior to when active duty began, including capping credit card interest rates at 6%. But USAA does even better than what’s required by the law, with a maximum 4% interest rate on accounts qualifying under the SCRA.

• APR won't go up over a late payment

  If you pay late, many credit card issuers will raise your APR — this is called a “penalty APR.” The USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card has no penalty APR, however, so you can have peace of mind that missing your due date won’t cause you to lose your low interest rate.

  However, on-time payments are the most important factor in maintaining a good credit score, and issuers will typically report your late payment to the credit bureaus once you hit 30 days past due.

  Plus, though the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card has no penalty APR, you can still end up facing a late fee of up to $35. So, to avoid late fees and to keep a good credit score, make sure to make at least the minimum payment on time every month.

• Travel with no foreign transaction fee

  Travel abroad with this card and avoid having an extra fee tacked on to purchases thanks to the $0 foreign transaction fee.

• No annual fee to carry the card

  The USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card charges a $0 annual fee.

• USAA membership is restricted

  USAA is known for affordable rates and exceptional customer service, but membership is not open to everyone. You’re eligible if you fall into one of the following groups:

  • U.S. military members and veterans
  • Precommissioned officers
  • Spouses and children

• You won't earn rewards

  While other USAA credit cards earn cash back or points, the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card does not. Consider our list of best rewards credit cards if rewards are what you’re looking for.

• Lacks a 0% intro APR period

  While the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card offers the chance for a very low APR, it doesn’t offer a 0% intro APR period on either balance transfers or purchases. If you’re looking for an intro APR period to avoid interest charges entirely, check out our list of the best cards with long 0% APR promotions.

 

If you’re looking for a card with a low ongoing APR, the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card is hard to beat. But if you need a period of 0% intro APR, where the entirety of your payments go toward your balance rather than interest charges and principal, the Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card is a better option. This card comes with long 0% intro APRs on both balance transfers and new purchases.

Enjoy a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, after which a 17.99% - 29.99% variable APR applies. If you need to transfer high-interest debt, that’s almost two years of no interest. The balance transfer fee is 5%; min: $5.

There’s also a 0% intro APR 21 months from account opening on purchases. After, a 17.99% - 29.99% variable APR applies.

The Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card charges a $0 annual fee and a 3% foreign transaction fee.

The information related to the DCU Visa® Platinum Credit Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

If you meet the membership requirements to join USAA and need a low-interest credit card for those times when you have to carry a balance, the USAA® Rate Advantage Visa Platinum® Card is an excellent choice.

However, if you’re planning a big purchase that you need to finance over time or need to consolidate high-interest debt with a balance transfer, the Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card is worth considering. Cardholders get the opportunity to earn an extension on their initial intro APR period by making on-time minimum payments, resulting in almost two years of no interest.