Finder.com.au
Credit Card Finder Comparison Service Australia

Introductory Credit Card Offers for a Limited Time

Introductory offers are promotions which run on credit cards that are available to applicants for a limited time period.

They are popular and useful as they come with incredibly attractive benefits such as 0% interest, low introductory purchase rates, bonus frequent flyer points and reduced annual fees. Listed below are some the best introductory credit card offers in market.

Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card

Featured Introductory Credit Card Offer

If you are looking for a low interest credit card, without compromising on privileges, the Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card is a great credit card to look at. It offers a long balance transfers and a host of platinum privileges. This offer is exclusive to CreditCardFinder.com.au.

  • $199 annual fee
  • 20.99% p.a. on purchases
  • 0.9% p.a. for 15 months on balance transfers
  • Cash Advance Rate of 21.74% p.a.
  • 55 days interest free
  • Minimum Income Requirement of $35,000 p.a.
  Interest Rate (p.a.) Balance Transfer Rate (p.a.) Annual fee Cash Advance Rate (p.a.)  
Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card
Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card
A Platinum credit card with a long term balance transfers offer and 20,000 Rewards points. 20.99% 0.9% for 15 months$19921.74%Apply Now For The Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card Read More About The Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card
Citibank Clear Platinum Card
Citibank Clear Platinum Card
A low interest rate on purchases, balance transfers with a low annual fee. 11.99% 0% for 12 months with 3% balance transfer fee$9921.74%Apply Now For The Citibank Clear Platinum Card Read More About The Citibank Clear Platinum Card
Citibank ReadyCredit
Citibank ReadyCredit
No annual fee, no monthly servicing and no cash advance fees ever.18.99% 2.9% for 24 months$018.99%Apply Now For The Citibank ReadyCredit Read More About The Citibank ReadyCredit
HSBC Credit Card
HSBC Credit Card
$0 annual fee for the life of the credit card and a great balance transfer offer.17.99% 0% for 8 months with 2% balance transfer fee$021.99%Apply Now For The HSBC Credit Card Read More About The HSBC Credit Card
Westpac Low Rate Card
Westpac Low Rate Card
An introductory offer on balance transfers and purchases, plus a low annual fee.1.9% for 9 months (reverts to 13.49% )3.99% for 6 months$0 annual fee for the first year ($45 thereafter)21.49%Apply Now For The Westpac Low Rate Card Read More About The Westpac Low Rate Card
Woolworths Everyday Money Card
Woolworths Everyday Money Card
Simply change the way you spend at Woolworths stores and be rewarded with money-back rewards every 4 months.0% for 9 months (reverts to 19.84% )5.99% for 6 months$4921.34%Apply Now For The Woolworths Everyday Money Card Read More About The Woolworths Everyday Money Card
Bankwest Breeze MasterCard
Bankwest Breeze MasterCard
Save with a low purchase rate and a low balance transfer offer.0% for 6 months (reverts to 10.99% )4.99% for 9 months$4921.99%Apply Now For The Bankwest Breeze MasterCard Read More About The Bankwest Breeze MasterCard
Commonwealth Bank Low Fee Credit Card
Commonwealth Bank Low Fee Credit Card
No annual fee for the first year with a low interest rate on balance transfers and purchases.

1% for 5 months (reverts to 20.24% )5.99% for 5 months$0 Annual Fee for the first year ($24 thereafter)21.74%Apply Now For The Commonwealth Bank Low Fee Credit Card Read More About The Commonwealth Bank Low Fee Credit Card
Bankwest Zero MasterCard
Bankwest Zero MasterCard
A great $0 annual fee credit card, with a great introductory offer.0% for 6 months (reverts to 17.99% )4.99% for 9 months$018.99%Apply Now For The Bankwest Zero MasterCard Read More About The Bankwest Zero MasterCard
Woolworths Qantas Credit Card
Woolworths Qantas Credit Card
Earn bonus Frequent Flyer points with this card, along with other leading features.19.99% 5.99% for 6 months$8920.99%Apply Now For The Woolworths Qantas Credit Card Read More About The Woolworths Qantas Credit Card
American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card
American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card
Receive 20,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you apply and also enjoy a great purchase rate offer.0% for 6 months (reverts to 20.74% )$149Apply Now For The American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card Read More About The American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card
Virgin Low Rate Credit Card
Virgin Low Rate Credit Card
An introductory balance transfer offer with a low on-going purchase rate and a low annual fee12.99% 2.9% for 9 months$5921.69%Apply Now For The Virgin Low Rate Credit Card Read More About The Virgin Low Rate Credit Card
Virgin Flyer Credit Card
Virgin Flyer Credit Card
Introductory balance transfer and purchases offer.20.99% 1.9% for 12 months$50 (for first year thereafter $99)20.99%Apply Now For The Virgin Flyer Credit Card Read More About The Virgin Flyer Credit Card
Gem Visa Credit Card
Gem Visa Credit Card
An introductory 6 months interest free on any Visa purchase over $250. Plus longer term interest free terms of 1 year, 2 years.6 months interest free on any purchase over $250-reverts to 22.9% $9922.99%Apply Now For The Gem Visa Credit Card Read More About The Gem Visa Credit Card
Westpac Earth Platinum Cards
Westpac Earth Platinum Cards
High platinum earn rate of up to 1.5 Qantas Frequent Flyer points per $1 spend plus a range of Earth Platinum privileges.19.99% 0.99% for 6 months$25021.49%Apply Now For The Westpac Earth Platinum Cards Read More About The Westpac Earth Platinum Cards
Westpac Earth Classic
Westpac Earth Classic
A low annual fee credit card offers you to earn a rate of up to 1 point per $1 spent.19.99% 0.99% for 6 months$7521.49%Apply Now For The Westpac Earth Classic Read More About The Westpac Earth Classic
HSBC Platinum Credit Card
HSBC Platinum Credit Card
$0 annual fee for the first year and a low balance transfer offer for 6 months. Plus earn reward points for every $1 spent.19.99% 0% for 6 months with 2% balance transfer fee$0 annual fee for the first year ($129 thereafter)21.99%Apply Now For The HSBC Platinum Credit Card Read More About The HSBC Platinum Credit Card
Citibank Personal Credit
Citibank Personal Credit
A long term balance transfer offer with a low annual fee. Plus access to a range of worldwide privileges with Citibank world privileges.15.59% 2.9% for 12 months$9915.59%Apply Now For The Citibank Personal Credit Read More About The Citibank Personal Credit
Virgin High Flyer Credit Card
Virgin High Flyer Credit Card
A low balance transfer offer plus earn 2.5 Velocity Points per $1 spent.20.99% 1.9% for 6 months$24920.99%Apply Now For The Virgin High Flyer Credit Card Read More About The Virgin High Flyer Credit Card
ANZ Low Rate MasterCard - Balance Transfer
ANZ Low Rate MasterCard - Balance Transfer
Consolidate your debt with a low rate on balance transfers.0% for 3 months (reverts to 13.39% )0% for 3 months$5821.49%Apply Now For The ANZ Low Rate MasterCard - Balance Transfer Read More About The ANZ Low Rate MasterCard - Balance Transfer
Westpac 55 Day Credit Card - Special Offer
Westpac 55 Day Credit Card - Special Offer
Save with an introductory 0% p.a on purchases for the first 5 months plus $0 annual fee for the first 12 months.0% for 5 months (reverts to 19.59% )3.99% for 6 months$0 annual fee for the first year ($30 thereafter)21.49%Apply Now For The Westpac 55 Day Credit Card - Special Offer Read More About The Westpac 55 Day Credit Card - Special Offer
HSBC Platinum Qantas Credit Card
HSBC Platinum Qantas Credit Card
Apply now for the new HSBC Platinum Qantas Credit Card and receive a bonus 20,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer points with balance transfer offer.20.99% 0% for 6 months with 2% balance transfer fee$19921.99%Apply Now For The HSBC Platinum Qantas Credit Card Read More About The HSBC Platinum Qantas Credit Card
American Express Velocity Gold Card
American Express Velocity Gold Card
Newly Launched Velocity Reward Card: 20,000 bonus Velocity Rewards points if you spend $500 within the first 3 months.0% for 6 months (reverts to 20.74% )$99 for the first year ($199 thereafter)Apply Now For The American Express Velocity Gold Card Read More About The American Express Velocity Gold Card
Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card
Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card

Great features and rewards from Citibank with its Platinum Rewards credit card.

20.99% 0.9% for 15 months$19921.74%Apply Now For The Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card Read More About The Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card
ANZ Frequent Flyer
ANZ Frequent Flyer
For a limited time, receive 10,000 bonus Qantas Frequent Flyer points when you apply and are approved for an ANZ Frequent Flyer credit card.19.89% $9520.99%Apply Now For The ANZ Frequent Flyer Read More About The ANZ Frequent Flyer
Virgin No Annual Fee Credit Card
Virgin No Annual Fee Credit Card
The credit card by Virgin which gives you the freedom of a $0 annual fee for life along with a low balance transfer offer for the first 6 months to get back in control of your finances.18.99% 2.9% for 6 months$020.99%Apply Now For The Virgin No Annual Fee Credit Card Read More About The Virgin No Annual Fee Credit Card
NAB Gold Card
NAB Gold Card
Gold card benefits plus intro offers on purchases and balance transfers.19.49% 1% for 12 months$9021.74%Apply Now For The NAB Gold Card Read More About The NAB Gold Card
American Express Velocity Business Card
American Express Velocity Business Card
Newly Launched Velocity Reward Card: A truly dedicated business rewards credit card. Download all your card expenses in a format readable by Quicken, MYOB, Microsoft Excel and more, helping you simplify your quarterly BAS reporting.% $249Apply Now For The American Express Velocity Business Card Read More About The American Express Velocity Business Card
NAB Low Fee Card
NAB Low Fee Card
A low interest rate on balance transfer plus a low annual fee.19.49% 1% for 6 months$3021.74%Apply Now For The NAB Low Fee Card Read More About The NAB Low Fee Card

Introductory Offer Comparisons

Table of Contents: Guide to Introductory Rate Credit Cards

How Do Introductory Rate Credit Cards Work?

Those of you who have tried to compare credit cards in the past are very much familiar with introductory credit card offers.

Some credit card companies offer 0% interest balance transfers as introductory offers within the first six months for a balance transfer. Other companies offer a waived annual fee in the first year, while some would offer low interest rates on purchases for the first few months. Plus other credit cards yet would offer extra reward points on purchases. Apparently, all of these introductory credit card offers have one specific goal, and that is to encourage you to apply for the credit card. The question is, should you really apply for the credit card?

Introductory rate credit cards are special deals offered to get your business. Credit card companies may give you no or low interest on purchases or balance transfers for a limited time period to encourage you to open an account with them. While they can be a good way to save money, any consumer should understand how they work before accepting one of these offers.

Introductory rate credit cards can be great deals. As with all best credit cards when you use them you are actually borrowing money from the credit card company to make your purchase. Then you typically have a small window of time to repay that debt for free, after that you are charged interest on the money you borrowed.

Introductory rates usually minimise significantly or completely waive those interest charges. This gives you a chance to borrow money for free or even pay off another credit card for free with a balance transfer. The rate is either low or zero percent and the time period of the honeymoon rates ranges from three months to one year.

A honeymoon rate is often such a money saver that it seems like too good a deal to pass up. This is exactly how the credit card companies market them, big savings of which you would be foolish not to take advantage. There are some tricks and tips though that you should pay attention to in order to avoid falling into a credit card debt trap.

If you are planning to use introductory rate credit cards you expect to save money. Too often people get into these deals and do not read the fine print or pay attention to rates and timetables. They wind up spending more then they anticipated in interest and fees. Try to remember that credit card companies are in business to make money from your financial needs or missteps. Being smart about how you use your credit card and understanding how credit cards work will help your introductory period a cash saver rather then a big mistake.

How To Compare Introductory Rate Credit Cards

Anyone considering opening a credit card account should carefully examine introductory rate credit cards. These cards offer great rates, but only for a limited period of time to earn your business. There are several things to consider so that you save the most amount of money possible on an introductory rate card.

Introductory rate credit cards are a tactic used by credit card companies to lure you into doing business with them. They make it sound like they are offering you the chance to spend freely with zero percent interest on purchases card or to pay of another credit card debt cheaply with a no interest balance transfer. Used effectively you can save a significant amount of cash with one of these schemes. But, used carelessly you can wind up in a financial mess. The goal for a credit card owner is to be as smart about spending as their credit card company is about marketing.

When you look into getting a credit card, whether it is your first or just a new one, there are a lot of things to consider that will effect you long term. Remember that introductory rates are short term but you must consider both the short term and the long term benefit to switching cards or using one particular card over another. In addition, there are a variety of benefits and costs associated with all credit cards, so you must be sure that your introductory rate stacks up with those other benefits. If you switch to a card that offers a low introductory rate, but after six months or a year that rate jumps higher then your current card you will no longer be saving money. You will either have to look for another card and switch again or stay with your current card in order to save money in the long run. This is why introductory rate cards are not for every credit card owner.

Who should use an introductory rate credit card?

  • Someone who needs to do a balance transfer. A balance transfer is when you move the balance from one credit card to another credit card. Most people do this so they can save money on interest. Introductory rate credit cards usually offer very low or no interest on balance transfers. This gives one the opportunity to repay their debt at a low cost. These cards are not a good choice if you need a long period of time to pay off your balance transfer. You should look into a life of balance transfer card which will give you a long time period to pay off your debt.
  • Someone who will be making a large purchase or purchases that they will need some time to pay off. These people can use a no interest introductory rate instead of a traditional interest bearing loan to make these purchases. Some expenses may include emergency medical expenses, auto repair expenses, or even home remodeling expenses. You can spend on your card and have the introductory period, which is anywhere from three months a full year to repay those expenses interest free.
  • If you need to do both of the above mentioned transactions there are some cards that offer introductory rates on both balance transfers and purchases. You should try to get a card that offers the same rate for the same length of time in order to avoid falling into the negative payment hierarchy or allotment of payments trap.

What is negative payment hierarchy?

  • Also referred to as an allotment of payments clause, this is when credit card companies apply your payments to the cheapest debt first. All credit card companies do this and it is a perfectly legal but somewhat sneaky way they turn a profit. For a borrower though, it means they could be stuck paying higher interest on a small debt for a long period of time, waiting for their lower interest debt to be paid off. For example, let's say you get a new card and you have a zero percent balance transfer rate. You then transfer $1500 to your new card with the intention of paying down that debt interest free. You then make a purchase for $50 at an 18% purchase interest rate. That $50 purchase will not be paid until the original $1500 balance transfer is paid in full. Even if you pay $50 extra that same month toward your bill, all of your payment will go to the balance transfer only. If it takes you six months to pay off your balance transfer you will pay 18% interest each month on your purchase balance. Credit card interest is compounded so the first month you will pay on $50, but the second you will pay on the original $50 plus $9 in interest charges from the previous month. It will continue to add on each month with you paying interest on the increasingly higher balance. Even if you make a purchase first and then do the balance transfer your lower interest rate debt will be paid first. Payments are not applied in order of transfer instead they are applied in order of interest rate with the lowest always being paid off first.
  • Introductory rate credit cards that offer a low rate on both balance transfers and purchases can save you from this trap, but only if they are for the same length of time. If the balance transfer rate is for one year but the purchase rate is only for six months your payments will be applied to the balance transfer until it is paid off, even within that six month grace period the only difference is the interest will not compound.

If you meet the criteria and understand the payment structure for an introductory rate credit cards there are still a few things you should consider before sending off your application. This is another way to read the fine print and make sure that actually wind up saving money on your new card. You might be surprised to find out how many people sign up for these introductory rate cards and wind up in debt or spending more money then they would have had they simple left things as they were. This almost always happens because they do not pay attention to the regulations of their new card or because they chose the wrong card to begin with. It is easy enough to avoid this just by knowing your own needs and understanding your credit card.

How to know whether introductory credit card offers are worth your consideration:

When comparing credit card introductory offers, you need to consider that these offers are not going to last long. Aside from that, you need to remember that every credit card application you make will reflect on your credit file for five years. Therefore, you should not think that it will be a wise decision to accept one credit card offer over another simply based on the special deal. Here are some ways on how to know if the introductory offer of the credit card is any good for your needs:

Determine the terms after the introductory offer is over:

Check whether the interest rate of the credit card will suddenly become higher after the introductory offer runs out.

Determine if you will truly benefit from the introductory offer: If the introductory credit card offer offers you a special balance transfer rate and you don't have anything to transfer, then it will just be useless. It wouldn't be very helpful if you will be applying for a credit card that has a low interest introductory offer if you are already able to enjoy an 55 days interest free feature. Generally, it would all depend on how much you are actually spending on the card.

The regular credit card terms should always be your priority when you are applying for a credit card while the introductory offers should only be considered as a bonus. This way, you will be able to enjoy your credit card for longer rather than putting your focus on an introductory offer that would only last for a few months.

Advantages of being a new applicant

Credit card companies and banks are always looking for new applicants and tend to reserve their best card offers for their brand new customers.

Credit card issuers provide special offers which aren't always available to their existing clients, and that is why it is a good idea to change your credit card company as a regular routine.

New credit card holders

Credit card issuers know that new customers are very lucrative and can bring in money for many years to come. Their marketing is targeted towards getting new customers and that is why promotional offers are constantly being updated and improved. The idea is to lure in more clients.

These credit card companies have found that attracting new customers with credit card offers is more cost effective than offering their existing clientele special promotions.

You can use this to your advantage by searching out these good deals and by being prepared to change cards from time to time. An example of this is called "stoozing". A customer will open an account on a balance transfer card with a 0% introductory rate, and when the promotional period has expired, he will apply for a new 0% balance transfer rate credit card. This is, in fact, basically the same thing as taking out a short-term loan without interest.

New customers only

While loyalty should be rewarded, it is not in the credit card industry. These card offers are only available to new customers and customers that have been around for a while do not have access to them. This means that you are much better off being disloyal to the card companies so that you can take advantage of their generosity.

Even if you have a card that has never been used, you can still not apply for the special deals being offered. It is better to cancel an account that has never been used. It takes approximately 6 to 12 months before you will be seen as a new customer again with a credit card company.

Some cards you may want to consider as a new customer are cashback offers if you are planning on making a big purchase in the near future. Some promotional offers will give you an accelerated cashback offer and this can be for as much as 5% on some cards.

Being a new customer of a credit card has its advantages, and it is worth your while to change cards regularly to keep on top of the great deals being offered by the card companies.

Rewards you may get by opening a new credit card

Competition among banks and credit card companies is fierce. In order to entice new customers over to their banking facilities, they often release special sign-up offers and new card rewards that are very tempting.

New customers can take advantage of some of these special offers and end up with plenty more than even the bank's existing customers receive.

Some very common sign-up offers can include free gifts or even great discounts on fees or interest rates. However, there are some attractive new card rewards to be grabbed if you know what you want most.

Introductory Rates

The sign-up offers that include very low introductory rates on balance transfers can be ideal for anyone wanting to reduce how much they spend in interest costs. Banks will offer new customers an ultra low rate for a period of time for any balances they transfer over from other credit cards.

This entices new customers to them and is often a cheaper way to advertise their available banking products. Of course, the customers who can benefit most from these types of offers are those currently trying to repay large credit card debts or paying high interest rates on other cards.

Bonus Reward Points

Some customers use their credit cards very frequently, so the opportunity to sign-up for a new credit card with a bonus offer of extra reward points can be really enticing for them.

The generous new card rewards can sometimes help a customer to make a decision about which card will be best for their purposes, especially if they're already accumulating reward points or air miles with their existing credit card.

Frequent Flyer Point and Free Flights

Customers who fly frequently love to accumulate frequent flyer miles, so a sign-up offer that includes extra frequent flyer miles can be very attractive to these customers.

In fact, one sign-up bonus offered even included a complimentary flight for applying for their credit card prior to a specified date. Another bonus offered for new customers was the benefit of receiving a companion airfare for every airfare purchased using that card. Effectively, new customers were rewarded with 2 for the price of 1 air fares.

Store Discounts

Some stores offer store-issued credit cards that include new card rewards for new customers. For those customers who sign up for this type of credit card, they may benefit from receiving a discount on transactions made within that store.

The types of sign-up offers available will change from time to time, but it's always possible to find several banks, lenders, financial institutions and credit card companies offering tempting deals. If you're shopping around for a new credit card, see if you can find a way to benefit from these great new card rewards.

Credit card special offers

When you decide to get a credit card one of the important things to review are credit card special offers. These offers can be anything from reduced interest rates to free balance transfers to extensive rewards programs.

It is important to review these offers and understand completely how long the offer lasts before you decide to give your valuable business to a specific company.

Clearly not all credit card special offers are created equal. What is key when deciding who you will do business with is what offers are of the most value to you. This will require you to carefully examine your spending habits so that you can reap as much of the benefits from a given card as possible.

For some people a rewards program has little value because they will not use them. For others the lowest interest rate for the longest time period is most valuable because they will use their card often and will likely not pay it off each month. Others still might only care about the annual fee because they know their card will be used for emergencies and then paid off quickly so the lowest annual fee they can find will save them money. It is up to you to decide which credit card special offers to take advantage of, just be sure that whichever you pick you actually use.

One of the tricks that credit card companies use is the offers on discount credit cards.

It should be mutually beneficial, you get a special rate or bonus offer and they get your business. These offers can get tricky though because there are so many discount credit cards available that you might not know which one to choose.

Worse, you might not fully understand the discount so you might not take full advantage of it or lose it all together.

The first thing to understand with any discount credit cards is they are subject to you paying your bill on time. Customers must pay at least the minimum balance on time each month in order to retain their sign up discount. This means that if you have a card that offers a $0 annual fee for the first year and you make your payment even one day late you are likely to lose that benefit. At that time the annual fee will revert to something else that was in the fine print of your application.

Some credit cards have valuable rewards packages. If you think the rewards will save you money then those are the discount credit cards you should look into. Cash back, frequent flyer miles, and shopping discounts are just some of the savings that are offered. Find the one you will use the most and it is likely your best deal. If you are trying to get out of credit card debt you might find a card that has a 0% interest rate on balance transfers for the first few months or longer. This kind of deal can be a real money saver. If you are paying a high interest rate on another eligible card you can transfer it and not spend all of that extra money on interest. The trick is to pay that bill on time so that you don't wind up having made the transfer only to start paying interest rates and other fees again. No two credit cards offer the exact same deal. If you are looking for discount credit cards you first must establish what discounts are important to you. What might be gold for your budget might have no effect on another persons budget and vice versa. It is a personal decision that requires you to be brutally honest about your spending habits. In the long term though it can pay off as these discount credit cards save you money.

Tips for finding the best introductory rate credit cards:

  1. Know your needs. Will you need your card for a balance transfer, for purchases, or both? Not all cards carry the same rate on different types of expenses, some only offer it on purchases or balance transfers. Others might offer zero percent on both but not for the same period of time. Choose the card that gives you the best rate for the longest period of time for your personal financial situation.
  2. Try to find one that offers a zero percent interest rate. If you need balance transfer or purchases or both, there are cards available that offer no interest at all. Why pay even a little bit of interest when you can pay none? If you are unable to qualify for or can not find a zero interest credit card then choose one with the lowest interest rate available. Keep in mind that this will require you to do a lot of comparison shopping. It is easy to find credit card rate comparisons online.
  3. Look for the introductory rate credit cards that have the longest term. Some cards only offer three months of the introductory rate while others extend it for a full year, get the most bang for your buck by getting the longest term. This is especially helpful if you are doing a balance transfer because it gives you a longer time to pay off your debt. Again, remember to double check on the length of time for introductory rates on both purchases and balance transfers because they might not be the same.
  4. Pay attention to fees.Find out what other fees you will be charged. Not many cards are completely free. There is usually a fee for the balance transfer that is somewhere around three percent of the amount transferred. There might also be account maintenance fees applied to your account. Usually these fees are far less then you would spend on interest, but you should sit down and do the math to be certain that you are saving money by getting a introductory rate card. There are all sorts of fees charged by credit card companies. Annual fees, account maintenance fees, handling fees, and balance transfer fees just to name a few. Sometimes they are waived along with the introductory rate but often they are not. Make sure that whatever you spend on fees is worth the money you will save by switching cards or doing balance transfer. Balance transfer fees are usually 2% to 3% of the amount you will transfer. It may seem like a lot of money, but compared to how much you would spend on interest it is likely worth the investment.
  5. Keep in mind that just because there is no interest does not mean you do not have to make payments. As a matter of fact, in most cases missing a payment or making a late payment is grounds for the credit card company to rescind its introductory offer. These offers are usually dependent upon your holding up your end of the deal, by not missing payments and not going over your limit. If you do this the credit card company will immediately charge you a fee and slap you with regular interest rates. It is best to set up a direct debit from your cheque account to the credit card each month to pay your bill. This way you will not have to worry about missed payments or a cheque getting lost in the mail.
  6. Know when your introductory rate expires. If you are using a zero percent interest rate for a balance transfer, aim to have that debt paid off before the introductory rate runs out. Similarly if you have racked up purchase debt you should try to have it paid down as much as possible before the honeymoon expiration. Your rates will jump immediately on the expiration date and the new interest will be applied to any remaining balance. In order to really save money on introductory rates your aim should be to have as much as the debt paid off before it expires. Especially with balance transfers, setting up a budget so that you can be clear of that debt is the best way to make it worthwhile. This may mean that you have to curb your spending or make double payments, but the reward of being free of credit card debt will be worth the sacrifice. Make no mistake, the moment the introductory rate expires the credit card company will tack on interest to whatever balance remains on your card.
  7. Take into account the regular interest rates on the card. Once the introductory rate expires you will probably continue using that credit card. Ensure that the rates you will be charged are fair and reasonable for your financial situation. If they are going to jump too high you might choose not to use that card anymore, just be sure to pay off your balance. Bear in mind that constantly jumping from one low interest rate to another is not a good way to manage your debt. All of those applications and open lines of credit do not look good in your credit file. Eventually, you will stop being approved for them anyway, so try to find a card that has rates you can afford.
  8. Examine the rewards program. While this is not the most important thing to consider when you are choosing a credit card it can be a deal breaker when picking between two similar cards. Some cards offer valuable rewards points that you can use toward purchases, others offer frequent flyer miles, some even give cash back. Once the honeymoon rates expire you should still have some incentive to stick with that credit card. If you do not plan to use rewards then find a card that offers you something instead, like a very low annual fee instead of a rewards programme.
  9. Understand allocation of payments. This is a perfectly legal but tricky thing that credit card companies use to make money. Your payments will always go to the debt that carries the lowest interest rate first. This means that if you have a balance transfer rate of zero percent and a purchase rate of 18% all of your payments will go towards paying down the balance transfer until it is completely paid off. Even if you only make a ten dollar purchase and then add an extra ten dollars to your monthly payment, it will not make a difference. That ten dollar purchase will sit, collecting interest at 18% until the balance transfer is paid. Tricky yes, but avoidable. Just decide what you will use a particular card for and then use it for nothing else until that previous balance is paid. This gives you the full benefit of your honeymoon rate.
  10. Beware of cash advances. Almost always introductory rates do not apply to cash advances. These often include gambling purchases and any ATM transactions. The rates for anything deemed a cash advance is usually more then 20%. Again, your payments will be applied to your introductory rate charges first so those cash advances wind up being very expensive.

Choosing a credit card is no easy task. When you are trying to decide between introductory rate credit cards it gets even more sticky because you have to compare special offers and weigh their short term and long term benefits, it can be enough to make your head spin. However, if you want to be financially stable it is in your best interest to take a good amount of time to research all offers and compare the costs and benefits of each one. It might be worth paying a little in interest to have a longer time to pay back your debt or you might not need to make purchases on a card so the balance transfer rate is the only number that really matters.

Whatever you choose, be diligent in reading everything the credit company sends to you before you sign off on it. There are few things more important then maintaining or regaining your financial stability. The right credit card can either help you on the path to financial health or it can be a debt that plagues you for years. Do not let yourself become one of the statistics of people who made poor choices and wound up drowning in credit card debt.

How To Use An Introductory Rate Credit Card

Understanding how to use introductory rate credit cards helps you save money. Paying attention to different interest rates and the way your payments are allocated are some of the important things any credit card owner should understand. Introductory rates can be great deals if you understand how to use them appropriately.

If you do not know how to use introductory rate credit cards to your advantage you might be missing out on big savings. An introductory rate card is a marketing scheme where credit card companies offer you very low rates for a limited period of time in order to tempt you into owning one of their cards. The deals can be outstanding, sometimes zero percent interest on certain transactions for up to one year. Depending on what your card offers you can save money on interest for large purchases, trips, or even balance transfers. As with all things though, there are some tricks to using these cards to their fullest advantage.

How to use introductory rate credit cards for maximum savings:

  • Avoid cash advances or cash transactions. There are a few transactions that are deemed cash advances by credit card companies they include, getting cash at an ATM, buying foreign traveller's cheques or currency, even making a gambling transaction. These activities garner a significantly higher interest rate then purchases or balance transfers. Also, they will not be paid off until after your introductory rate debts are paid in full which means they could sit and gather loads of interest costing you far more then you anticipated.
  • Those who know how to use introductory rate credit cards also know to take full advantage of the reduced rate period. If the rate applies to purchases use the full time period to make purchases without paying interest. You may be tempted to use another credit card or in store credit offers but, those do not save you actual cash. Nothing is more valuable then cash savings is it?
  • If you plan to do a balance transfer make your application for it as soon as possible. Usually you can include the balance transfer in your application for the actual card. This will give you the most amount of time possible to pay down that credit card debt, again at zero interest.
  • Set up a budget to pay off any debts within the interest free period. The money you save will quickly be lost if you let your debt sit and begin to gain interest for a long period of time. You may have to make double payments to do it, but by paying off your debt within the introductory period you maximise the money you save. It is important that you know the date when your introductory rate will expire so that you can meet this deadline.
  • Pay attention to the terms of the offer and abide by them. In most cases, an introductory rate is dependent upon the owner of the card abiding by the fine print on his contract. This usually means you can not go over your credit limit, you can not miss payments, and you can not make late payments. If you do any of these things your credit company is likely to remove the introductory rate and slap you with fees and regular interest rates on your remaining balance.
  • Cards that offer the same introductory rate on both purchases and balance transfers for the same length of time are best, but not always easy to find. Pay close attention to the two different rates and lengths of the contract. You could wind up paying more in interest then you intended due to an allotment of payments clause. This gives credit companies the ability to apply your payments to the cheapest debt first, paying it in full before it is applied to a higher interest debt. So, if you have a balance transfer at zero percent it will have to be paid in full before your interest bearing purchase balance even begins to be repaid.

Now that you know how to use introductory rate credit cards shop around for the best possible deal. Look for cards that offer the lowest rates possible for the longest period of time. This will help you save the largest amount of money. Also, pay attention to any fees associated with a certain card to ensure that you do not wind up spending more in fees then you are saving in interest. Once you find the perfect card, read every single thing the credit card company sends you so that you understand the terms of your agreement before you sign on the dotted line.

What happens when the introductory period has finished?

Your features will simply revert back to the standard interest rate or cash rate, depending on the particular card.

In conclusion, you should make the most out of introductory credit card offers, but you should also take advantage of the normal credit card terms that will take effect once the introductory period is over. That way, you will be able to make a wise financial decision. Remember to choose wisely when applying for credit cards and think about the long term rather than the short term benefits.

St.George Vertigo

Featured Instant Discounts Credit Card

The St.George Vertigo MasterCard is a fantastic low interest rate credit card with a low introductory rate on both purchases and balance transfers for the 6 months. Enjoy savings all year round with these great low rates.

  • $55 annual fee
  • 13.24% p.a. on purchases
  • 0.99% p.a. for 6 months on balance transfers
  • Cash Advance Rate of 21.49% p.a.
  • 55 days interest free
  • Minimum Income Requirement of $15,000 p.a.
  • Cannex 5 star rated credit card

Subscribe to our newsletter and get "The Ultimate Guide to Balance Transfers"

If You Like This Post...

Get all the latest deals, guides and loopholes go in Credit Card Finder's free bi-monthly email. Don't miss out - join the thousands who get it emailed!

We Respect Your Privacy


  • Exclusive Limited Time Offers & Deals

    Exclusive Deal for CreditCardFinder.com.au Users As a loyal user of CreditCardFinder.com.au we are proud to feature the following exclusive credit card offers. These offers are only available to users of CreditCardFinder.com.au. Exclusive Deals   Interest Rate (p.a.) Balance Transfer Rate (p.a.) Annual fee Cash Advance Rate (p.a.)   Citibank Rewards Credit Card – Platinum Card [...]

  • Credit Card Deals for Existing Customers

    Compare Credit Cards with Discounts for Existing Customers If you are an existing customer of a bank, there are sometimes benefits available to existing customers if you are looking to apply for a credit card. More often than not, your bank can discount the annual fee on your credit card or offer you a special [...]

  • March 2011′s Top Pick Credit Card Offers

    There are a lot of new credit card offers to wade through each month. If you’re looking to get a new card, and you want to get the best deal (which you do, whether you know it or not), let us help you by showing you some of March’s top picks. Read on to find out what you need to know!

  • American Express Special Offers

    There are some cards that carry a certain cache and that is certainly the case with American Express. They are known for the supreme customer service and excellent benefits. Carrying American Express means you want to get more from your card.

  • Why Brand Names Are Seen On Credit Cards

    It is not uncommon to see various credit cards with the names of certain shops or brands printed on them. While it is, in its own way, a form of advertisement, it is actually a business strategy that is beneficial for both bank and business.

  • Reasons Why Car Makers Offer Credit Cards

    There are quite a few car makers that offer credit cards to their customers, who in turn receive discounts on various services and products. You might be wondering why car makers would want to offer discounts and credit cards period scratch that. After All, don’t they make enough money selling cars? Read on to find out the answer to your question.

  • Reasons Why You May Avoid Credit Card Introductory Offers

    Introductory offers for credit card deals are not always as good as they seem at first glance. There are a few things you should check before taking the plunge and getting a new credit card.

  • New Bank Account Special Offers & Promotions 2010

    Now is the best time to start looking at the new bank account offers and promotions available for 2010. There is fierce competition between banks for your business so you should take advantage of this opportunity and get yourself a deal.

  • Balance Transfer Offers Explained

    Understand how balance transfer credit card offers work. Find out what there is to choose from and what you should be looking for to get the best deal.

  • Introductory Rates & Honeymoon Rates on Credit Cards

    Introductory rates and honeymoon rates on credit cards might seem appealingly low at first glance, but they may not always be as good as they appear. If you intend to benefit from these low rates, then there are some things you should consider.

  • Current Credit Card Promotions In Australia

    If you are looking to apply for a credit card here in Australia, then it is important that you review the available credit card promotions in Australia.

  • Interest Free Deals

    It is without question that you have at some stage in your life been exposed to the various interest free credit deals that are available in the marketplace, with large retail stores like Harvey Norman and Bing-lee regularly running interest free promotions on purchases. Read more about interest free deals before you go to sign on the dotted line.

  • The Truth about Promotional Purchase Rate Credit Card Offers

    Over the past couple of months, low interest rate promotions have been all the hype in the Australian credit card market.


    Read more on how these offers work, view a comparison of two great low rate cards and find out if there are any catches associated with these promotions.



Popular Credit Card Offers

Interest rate (p.a.) Balance transfer rate (p.a.) Annual fee Cash advance rate (p.a.)
ANZ Platinum Credit Card
ANZ Platinum Credit Card
A unique platinum credit card offer with a low balance transfer and purchases rate. 0% p.a. for 6 months (reverts to 19.39% p.a.) 0% for 6 months $0 annual fee for the first year ($0 thereafter) 20.99% Apply Now For The ANZ Platinum Credit Card
Read More About The ANZ Platinum Credit Card
HSBC Credit Card
HSBC Credit Card
A 0% balance transfer, $0 annual fee for life credit card. 17.99% p.a. 0% for 8 months with 2% balance transfer fee $0 21.99% Apply Now For The HSBC Credit Card
Read More About The HSBC Credit Card
Westpac Low Rate Card
Westpac Low Rate Card
A low rate on purchases, balance transfer and a $0 annual fee. 1.9% p.a. for 9 months (reverts to 13.49% p.a.) 3.99% for 6 months $45 annual fee for the first year ($0 thereafter) 21.49% Apply Now For The Westpac Low Rate Card
Read More About The Westpac Low Rate Card
Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card
Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card
An extended 15 month balance transfer offer with 20,000 bonus reward points. 20.99% p.a. 0.9% for 15 months $199 21.74% Apply Now For The Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card
Read More About The Citibank Rewards Credit Card - Platinum Card
Bankwest Breeze MasterCard
Bankwest Breeze MasterCard
Low ongoing purchase rate from Bankwest, with an introductory purchase rate credit card. 0% p.a. for 6 months (reverts to 10.99% p.a.) 4.99% for 9 months $49 21.99% Apply Now For The Bankwest Breeze MasterCard
Read More About The Bankwest Breeze MasterCard
\