Looking for a CC with either 0% introductory rate or 0% balance transfer for my mom--UPDATE

[kroberts67]

Does Simplicity have a BT fee?

[ramblinggirl]

There are plenty choices out there. Recently, I have gotten 0%  offers for 18-24months from PNC, Discover,  Barclaycard, Chase Freedom, Citibank  and Capitalone but I do have those cards so they are targeted offers. With your mom's credit score there should not be an issue in getting this card. The only suggestion I have is not to accept any offers for less than 12 months. Not worth it.

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@mt2va wrote:

Since these type of cards are out of reach for me I admit I'm really not up to speed on what is out there for folks with excellent credit.  Can someone recommend a CC with preferably 0% introductory rate, but would be willing to accept 0% balance transfer for about a year or longer would be better.  This is for my mom.

FICO:  826 (not sure which bureau but she pulled it here & I would expect all 3 to be about the same)

AAOA:  Unknown (but she & my dad tend to have 1-2 cards for a long long time and they rarely add new credit)

Util:  I'm guessing under 5%  (they tend to PIF or at most may have a balance for a large purchase 1-2 months if they don't want to tap into their savings to pay for it)

Current cards:  $10K at their local CU, $10K Sears MC, & $10K FNBO

Inq:  0

Baddies:  None

The card would need to have a starting limit of at least $5K.  I'm pretty sure my mom's credit history and income can support that as she's had multiple CC in the past with up to $25k CL but chose to close them.  She isn't going to care about any type of sign up bonus or ongoing rewards.  Just looking for something at 0% for the 1 year or longer time frame to meet a short term need.

Thanks.

ETA:  Not looking for recommendations at CU etc that she would have to join first.  Looking for recommendations from major lenders.

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[ramblinggirl]

I wanted to add that the cards all comes with transfer balance fees. Most are 3% but PNC is 1%.

[Themanwhocan]

If 12 months is long enough, then the Sallie Mae Mastercard is a good choice:

https://www.salliemae.com/credit-cards/sallie-mae-card/

You just have to pay the BT transaction fee, 3%

[mt2va]

The preference is for as long as 0% as possible. 

Update:  My mom called Citi to clarify a couple things about the 0% intro for purchases/balance transfers.  She went ahead & apped by phone & said they would let her know if she was approved.  Are phone apps not instant approval?  I'm just surprised as I would have thought she would get instant approval for whatever she wanted. 

[mt2va]

Last update.  She was approved for $7k but I noticed the card is not a Visa Signature card.  I guess that isn't automatic?  I've never had a signature card so don't really understand how all that works.  I'm pretty sure the limit was so low because this is the only CC she has that is not a joint with my dad.  (his income is higher because he has SS + AF retirement)  In fact she just recently received the Visa Signature version on her FNBO Visa CC even though she's had the card a couple years and there was no change in her limit.  Just curious if anyone can explain how the Visa Signature part works.  It doesn't really matter for her purposes.

[rlx01]

You didn't say which card she applied for so we can't answer your question.

[lg8302ch]

I just see that I am too late... my other suggestion would have been to see if she does not have great offers for BT with 0% and 1% BT fees with her scores on her  existing cards?  I get many 0% with 2% BT fees for up to 15-18 months almost every months. And my scores are much lower and I do have quite a bunch of inquiries. Just recently got 12 months 0% with 1% BT fee from Cap1. This would have been a nice alternative to a new card application IMO.

[wacdenney]

I think you went the right direction with Citi.  I think 18 months is the longest intro available.  I think you can get that on either Diamond Preffered or Simplicity and maybe others.

[mt2va]

She got the Citi Simplicity card.