You might not need face-paint to show you're a fan...the proof might just be in your wallet.
Branded credit cards are a way for you to demonstrate your true fandom to friends when you're out on the town. But sometimes you need to be careful that banks aren't taking advantage of your brand loyalty through hidden fees and high annual interest rates. Banks with brand sponsored credit cards should not need to charge you any more than a typical card. In fact, branded cards that attract many fans to act in a group often get better deals on credit card rates than the rest of us.
The best credit cards - branded or not - will have three key features:
1. A low annual percentage rate (or APR)
2. Low or no annual fees, and
3. An incentive program that rewards you for using the card to make purchases.
There is a reason I listed those three featured in numbered order. The annual interest rate is the most important consideration, and even in the case where a card offer has better fees or better rewards, you should always place the most emphasis on the card with the lowest rate. Your credit worthiness is often a key factor in how high the APR will be for your card.
If you carry a credit card balance of more than $5,000, you will pay $1,300.00 in interest on a card with an APR of 26%. Hunting down a card that has a lower APR of 14% will save you $600 a year. It is definitely worth it to make sure you are getting the best rate available.
Here are some of the best branded credit cards available today:
NHL® Discover it® Card
Intro: 0% intro APR for 14 months from date of account opening.
Purchases: 13.49% to 24.49%, based on your creditworthiness
Cash Advances: 26.49%
Balance Transfers: 13.49% to 24.49%, based on your creditworthiness
Annual Fee: $0
Additional Rewards:
Earn 5% Cashback Bonus® at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate
Intro: 0% Promo APR for the first six months following the purchase date on select Disney vacation packages or purchase of a real estate interest, including a Member Add On, in a Disney Vacation Club® Resort, provided your account is not past due on the purchase date.
Purchases: 17.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Cash Advances: 26.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Balance Transfers: 17.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Annual Fee: $49
Additional Rewards:
Earn 2% in Disney Rewards Dollars on select card purchases and 1% on all other card purchases.
$200 Statement Credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Purchases: 17.49% to 24.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Cash Advances: 26.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Balance Transfers: 17.49% to 24.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Annual Fee: $49
Additional Rewards:
2,500 Stars after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months, that's enough for 20 food or drink Rewards
Earn Stars everywhere you shop. Enjoy Rewards faster. Earn up to 3 stars for every $1 you spend at Starbucks® stores and 1 Star for every $4 on purchases everywhere else.
Intro: 0% for 12 billing cycles Applies to purchases and to any balance transfers made within 60 days of opening your account.
Purchases: 14.49% to 24.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Cash Advances: 26.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Balance Transfers: 14.49% to 24.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Annual Fee: $0
Additional Rewards:
For each new World Wildlife Fund credit card account that is opened and activated through this offer, World Wildlife Fund receives a minimum of $3. World Wildlife Fund also receives 0.08% of all net retail purchases made with this card and $3 for each annual renewal of the card.
Purchases: 15.49% to 24.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Cash Advances: 25.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Balance Transfers: 15.49% to 24.49%. This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate.
Annual Fee: $0
Additional Rewards:
When you use the H-D™ Visa Signature® card for purchases, you'll earn points. For every 2,500 points you earn, you can redeem them for a $25 H-D™ Gift Card to spend at Harley® dealerships and h-d.com/store.
As with any credit card, your creditworthiness plays a major role in how good the annual percentage rate will be for your chosen card. In many card above, however, you may get as good a rate or better than on cars with no branding. Couple that with rewards specific to the brand, and you may find a winner.
How about you? Do you carry a branded credit card? Ar you aware of any other branded credit card deals that are better than the ones listed here?