Secret to low standard CC APRs?

[youngandcreditwrthy]

So getting a 0% apr for a promo offer for 12-18 months is rather easy.
What Im noticing though is that most creditors do not offer me low standard APRs at ALL!
My C1 is at 13.99%, which isn't low at all. It used to be 8-9% before the Credit Crisis.
Had that card for 7 years.
My question is:
How can I get five digit credit lines from prime banks but not a decent standard APR? Is there something I'm missing?
I have about 700 FICO across the board, but even the $10,000 BankAmericard I just opened got the highest after intro apr of 20.99%.
What gives? My aaoa is decent at 3.5 years per myfico and my oldest is 7+ years. I can't even get Crapital One to lower my APR back down to that range. I'm just a little puzzled. Aside from continuing to build my credit history and score, including paying on time and reducing debt, is there an recourse I have?
Make no mistake though, my weighted average is like 3% on some $15k in cc debt. Never pay sticker price rates LOL
Horrible APRs: Travelocity Amex 24.99
BCE 22.24% ( prob will get lowered after 0% is done)
Paypal MC 23.99%
Venture card 13.99%

I know people used to get like 5-10% aprs on the regular, even when the FED had ratea at like 5% lol before 2009....
What gives?

[Creditaddict]

The days of low low fixed or variable APR's on Credit Cards is few and far between.

I RARELY see rates lower than 11.49% these days unless you get a card with NO REWARDS like Barclay Ring, Citi Diamond, etc.

At this point since you use 0% for the balances you are actually carrying I wouldn't worry about it right now... by next year banks might swtich to offering more fixed rate cards vs. intro cards... it comes and goes based on what the consumer thinks they wants and the banks can project the best possible profit on!

Just get a Credit Union to keep on hand for a good fixed lower rate below 10% that you can transfer to for no BT fee if you need to for a bit before picking up another 0% or something... otherwise don't worry.

[CreditJim]

I've recently noticed that an old Capital One card I've had for years and recently PC'd to Quicksilver is 5.9% APR!

[navigatethis12]

Opening multiple accounts and having multiple inquiries is most likely not going to get low rates. Having a long history of paying on time and appearing stable is what will get them.

[Anonymous]

Also, good reward cards usually have higher interest rates.  I just recommend calling every 3-6 months and asking for APR reduction assuming your FICO is good and not carrying balance.  Make sure it is not HP.  Sometimes you will get it, sometimes you will not.

My lowest interest rate is my SFFIre Visa at 7.24% with 1% rewards.  Most of the people with really low rates are one of the following:

1) Like my SF Fire one.  IE From an institution like CU that offers low rate cards

2) Did the above suggestion and have asked for rate reductions over the years

3) Have old card with some old rate that never got raised as some other poster mentioned earlier.

[supervelous]

I have also been getting approved but with higher APR's, but don't mind at all b/c I aspire to never pay interest on credit card balances.  I paid down a decent amount of high interest debt over the years, from about $40K to now about $5K and I hope to never have that again.  I actually swore off cards completely, till I found out about the power of REWARDS, and getting paid to use credit...so now I'm fully on board, but just don't want to carry balances.

But I also understand life throws curveballs, emergencies, layoffs, etc.  I hope to build up enough of an emergency fund to never have to use cards for these things, but I still think it's good to have a lower APR card.  I plan to app for the Barclay Ring maybe sometime in 2014 just in case I ever have to carry a balance and there's no 0% offer.  Would love to hear what others say as well about APR reductions, other cards, etc.

[youngandcreditwrthy]

Thanks for the info!
At one point my Cap One apr was 5.99% too!!
They used to be the best about treating me fairly! I guess it doesn't help that they soft EQ which is my worst score. Somehow my EQ is like 20-30 points lower than my Exp/Tu scores.

I wouldn't mind paying interest if it were in the 10% range, but those killer 20+ aprs are never getting a balance carried on them, at least not a high balance.

As for your interpreted sarcasm @navthis; I'm well aware of those facts, which if you've been FICO stalking me LOL you'll see my present and future actions with regard to my credit. :-)

Furthermore, maybe the banks realize I never have paid those rates anyway and refuse to lower my aprs lol

[09Lexie]

I'm not sure navigatethis was being sarcastic. Your AAOA is on the low side and probably will not garner the best of terms. CUs are well known for their lower APRs due to lower cost/rewards etc.

If you haven't already, I would look into adding a low APR CU card so that you won't have to carry a balance on even 10%.

[koalablue]

Big banks just aren't giving out low rates like they used to, even on their no-rewards cards (though those APRs are generally lower than the rewards cards). Credit unions are your best bet for a low rate card.  The PenFed Promise Visa is 7.5% for 3 years and 9.9% after that.  My local credit union gave me a 8% APR on a visa, and their lowest APR is actually 5% (for credit scores above 760).  The credit union card has a 1% cash back benefit.

[navigatethis12]

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@09Lexie wrote:
I'm not sure navigatethis was being sarcastic. Your AAOA is on the low side and probably will not garner the best of terms.

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I wasn't being sarcastic.

You've opened up multiple accounts over the last year haven't you? New accounts and inquiries do not relate to a stable creditworthy person. I am in the same boat you are. I have opened up multiple accounts and such and only have a three year history. I don't pay attention to rates, but recently looked because so many people talk about it on here. Citi gave me the lowest of 12.99, PNC gave me one point above the lowest at 13.99. American Express always gives me the highest rate. US Bank always gives me 14.99 when they send preapprovals. All but six cards have five figure limits and still have high interest rates. I couldn't care less what the rates are, as I deem my worth by the limit I am given.