The question is why? What makes one person a great candidate, but not another? Some people may believe it is luck. The truth is, there are secrets to getting the best credit card rates possible. With a little knowledge and planning, almost anyone can qualify for lower rates.

Maintain A Good Credit Rating

The most important thing you can do is maintain a good credit rating. The better your credit rating is, the lower rate you will qualify for. Those with a bad credit rating are simply too much of a risk. If they do not pay their balance or file for bankruptcy, the company makes nothing. With a good credit rating, the company knows they are more likely to be paid back on time.

A few ways to maintain or improve your credit rating include:

- Pay all bills on time
- Stay well below your credit limit
- Check your credit report for errors regularly
- Be aware of changes to your credit card terms

Any recurring bills, such as loans or credit card payments, affect your credit score. Always pay these on time. You must pay the minimum payment in order to avoid any penalties. This not only establishes credit, but prevents lower scores.

People with the best credit scores only use around 25% to 30% of their available credit at any given time. This is the total available credit you have from all outstanding loans and credit cards. Basically, this tells companies you are good at managing your debt and do not rely solely on credit cards to make purchases.

Credit reports are not perfect. Check your own report regularly, at least every quarter, to ensure there are no errors. Common errors include missed payments that were paid on time, additional credit you do not have and accounts not showing up. Correct these errors to see your score rise.

Some people get in trouble because their terms change. With the exception of variable rates and promotional terms, companies must inform you of any and all changes to your credit terms. If you cannot manage the new terms, cancel the card, pay off the balance and avoid a hit to your credit score.

Talk To Your Credit Card Company

Though it may sound simple, talking to your credit card company may help you get a better rate or at least better terms. Most companies offer a variety of cards. Ask if they have a card more suited to your needs. While you may have qualified for a higher rate before, you may now be eligible for a new lower interest card. If the problem lies with the payment date, this can often be changed as well to help you pay your debt off quicker without late fees. Pay on time and you qualify for better rates.

Best Rate Credit Cards – Rewards Or Interest

Sometimes the best rate comes in the form of rewards. The best rate credit cards often have a mid-range interest rate of around 12% to 14%, but offer excellent rewards, such as cash back. One of the best kept secrets of credit cards is the balance between rewards and interest rate.

Some of the best credit card rewards include cash back on purchases, points for travel and deposits in your savings account. For those who use their cards often, these rewards often add up to better benefits than a low interest rate.

Remember, the best rate can mean low interest, rewards or a combination of both. The best rate credit card depends mainly on each person’s needs.

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The people who qualify for a lower interest rate are in the minority. There are ways to increase your eligibility changes. It also helps to understand interest rate changes and how your low rate may not stay that way for long.

Qualifying For Lowest Rate Credit Cards

While there is no magic formula for getting approval for a low rate credit card, there are a few things you can do to increase your changes. At the very least, you create a better credit score for future credit applications.

- Never miss a payment
- Establish credit if you have not already
- Limit credit usage

Missing a credit card payment is one of the worse things you can do for your credit. A fee is not the worst thing that happens. Instead, the mistake is listed on your credit report for seven years, which affects you eligibility for low rates and new credit.

You will only be able to apply for a credit card interest low rate if you already have established credit. This is not difficult. Open a bank account and use a debit card. If possible, apply for a single credit card which you pay off at the end of every month. Any type of financial aid or student loans you pay back also helps establish credit.

The less credit you actually use, the better your credit report looks. While you may have a $10,000 limit, ideally, you should never use more than $2,500 or $3,000 of it at any given time. Maxing out your credit makes creditors see you as unreliable and unable to manage money.

Types Of Interest Rates

A credit card has several types of interest rates. While the lowest interest rate credit card may have an APR of 5% on purchases, balance transfer APR may be 10%. A cash advance could have an APR of 12%. You must choose credit cards based upon how you plan to use them. Always look for lower interest for the type of use that is right for you.

You should also look carefully at whether the rate is promotional, fixed or variable. The lowest rate credit cards often start at a promotional rate, which increases after six months to a year. You will be provided with the new rate when you apply. A fixed rate means your low rate will remain the same for a predetermined amount of time.

A variable rate means the rate fluctuates based upon the interest index used by the credit provider. While the rate may start low, significant index changes and your rate could as much as double within a few months. Be sure you know the type of rate your card uses before applying so there are no surprises.

Using The Lowest Rate Credit Cards

Two of the most common uses for lower rate credit cards are balance transfers and occasional large purchases. Due to the low rate, you can save on interest by transferring a balance from a higher rate card. For large purchases, a lower rate is always the best alternative.

In order to maintain a lower rate, always pay your bill on time. Try to pay the full amount or at least more than the minimum. The better financial management skills you show, the less likely you are to have your rate increased randomly.

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Contact Customer Service

Call customer service for your credit card. Explain to them how you have been a loyal customer and have never missed a payment. Mention that you have been considering switching to a low interest rate credit card from a competitor. In many cases, your interest rate will be lowered. The object is to not ask for too much of a decrease.

This works best if you have been a card holder for at least three years. Asking for a rate decrease too soon does not give the company any real knowledge of your payment habits. Establish a rapport with the company before you ask for a rate decrease.

Never Miss A Payment

To keep a credit card low rate, always pay your monthly payment on time. If possible, pay early. When you begin to miss payments, your rate may start to increase. This hurts your credit score, which affects not only your current credit but future credit.

If the current payment date does work well for you, contact your credit card company to discuss a new payment cycle. For instance, if you are paid at the end of the month, but the payment is due the week before pay day, money may be tight. Ask for a more convenient payment cycle to ensure you never miss a payment.

Avoid Over Limit Fees

When you start going over your card’s limit, you risk gaining a reputation of poor financial management. By not being able to effectively manage your debt, your interest rate could increase. This also prevents any rate decreases, even if you ask.

A single lapse will not hurt your credit as much. Repeated problems will prevent you from applying for new credit, result in a closed account and as much as double your previously low credit card interest rate. The consequences of going over your limit do not stop with a fee.

Reduce Your Number Of Cards

The more credit cards you have, the harder it is to manage them. While it may be appealing to have numerous cards, having too much credit often results in higher interest rates. It also prevents creditors from wanting to give you new credit. Limit your number of cards to less than five if possible.

The best way to reduce your number of cards and qualify for the lowest rate credit cards is by completely paying off existing debt on the cards you wish to cancel. You save on interest and can take advantage of lower rates on the cards you keep by contacting customer service.

Transfer Your Balance

If you cannot get your current rate lowered, consider applying for a new card with a lower credit card interest rate on balance transfers. Some cards offer a 0% APR on transfers during the first year. You will be able to pay off your debt, cancel the higher rate card and even take advantage of a new, lower rate card.

You can qualify for a lower rate on your current card by managing your credit carefully. Never be afraid to contact customer service to negotiate new rates.

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Interest Rate Vs APR – Which Is More Important

One is not necessarily any more important than the other. It all depends upon the terms of your lender. For instance, credit cards have an APR, while short term loans only have a periodic interest rate. This is why it is vital you carefully look at interest rate comparisons to see which types of rates you will be charged.

If APR is involved, the lender is legally required to provide you with this rate upfront – the same for any other type of interest rate. Every interest rate is important. What many consumers do not realize is multiple interest rates may apply to a single loan. This is most common in credit cards.

For instance, the average credit card may have a purchase APR of only 8%. This applies to purchases you make on a daily basis. If you pay off the owed amount each month, you pay no interest. Cards usually have higher APR for balance transfers, such as 15%. When looking at rate vs APR, take every interest type into consideration. More than one rate may apply.

APR Explained

As with interest rates, there are multiple types of APRs. The four main types include:

- Introductory
- Penalty
- Fixed-rate
- Variable-rate

When you first receive a credit card, you might qualify for an introductory APR. By law, this rate must last at least six months. Carefully read the terms to ensure you know exactly when the introductory period ends. Most rates start between 5% and 9%, though some cards actually offer lower rates, especially for balance transfers. Often, these rates are as low as 1%. After this period, though, your APR will increase, sometimes even doubling.

Though you already know the importance of paying your bill on time, you may not know you could face a penalty APR for paying late. Add a higher interest rate to your penalty fee and it pays not to miss a payment. The higher APR applies to all purchases made after you triggered one of the penalties listed in the contract terms.

Ideally, a fixed rate APR is best. For a set period of time, your rate cannot rise. The downside is it will not decrease either. These are perfect if you are able to fix a low rate in the beginning.

The opposite is the variable-rate APR. As interest rate indexes change, your rate can increase and decrease. This is outside the credit card company’s control. They will disclose how often your APR may change.

What Exactly Is An Interest Rate

In short, an interest rate is the price one pays for borrowing money. Think of an interest rate in terms of sales tax. If the tax is 5%, you will pay an additional five cents for every dollar you spend. If you borrow $1000 with a simple interest rate of 5% with a term of three years, you would actually pay back $1150.

Understanding Interest Rate Vs APR

Rates are not about interest rate vs APR. It is not an either/or situation. Instead, APR is a type of interest rate. APR is most often associated with credit cards, which may have multiple types of APR rates.

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The lowest rate credit card is made up of more than just a single interest rate. Most consumers believe applying for a credit card with a low purchase APR means they have the best card possible. This is a common misconception as many factors must be considered before one says they actually have a low rate credit card. Low rates also depend heavily upon how a consumer plans to use their card on a regular basis.

Lowest Rate Credit Card Terms

Credit cards typically have three different rates. Each rate is completely independent of the other. Consumers must look at each rate to determine whether a card is truly the lowest rate possible. Rates include:

- Regular purchases
- Balance transfers
- Cash advances

The first rate consumers look at is the regular purchase APR. This is often the moderate rate, though it may be extremely low during a promotional period. Purchases are the most common type of transaction. In order to appeal to consumers, creditors offer a moderately low rate on purchases. Often, this rate increases or varies based upon the terms of the agreement.

The lowest rate typically offered is found with balance transfers. In order to entice consumers with existing cards, an extremely low balance transfer APR is offered, sometimes as low as 0% for the first year. This allows you to transfer existing balances to save on interest.

The last type of transaction also has the highest interest rates. A cash advance lets you borrow against your credit card. Instead of making a purchase, you receive cash. The rates for cash advances are often higher than 15%. If you make regular cash advances, you could also be subject to additional fees.

A true credit card low rate offers lower rates on all three types of transactions. No matter what your primary use, you never know when you may need to use the card for something else.

How Rewards Factor In

When you consider a low rate card, interest should not be the only thing you look at. Rewards can also be part of the package. If you use a card regularly, a slightly higher rate may balance out if the rewards are good enough. Rewards can be redeemed for cash back, retail products, gas, travel and certain services. For instance, some cards offer as much as 5% cash back on certain types of purchases.

If you make regular large purchases which are paid off within a few months, an interest rate of 10% is actually better than no rewards and a card with an 8% interest rate. Always figure in rewards, if applicable, when seeing which company offers the lower credit card interest rate.

Getting The Lowest Rate Credit Card

In addition to interest and rewards, you must also factor in fees. A low rate card which requires you to pay an annual fee does not save you as much as you think. Some companies offer the lowest rate credit card possible, but charge a fee for everything you do.

Common fees include: Cash advance, Annual Activation, Monthly maintenance
Late payments and Over limit fees. All these fees can quickly add up to hundreds every year. A slightly higher interest rate often saves you more than a low rate card with numerous feeds. Always consider every fee, reward and desired usage when deciding if a card is truly the lowest rate.

Interest is not everything. Read all details in your card terms to ensure the card is actually working for you and not against you. The lowest rate credit card gives you the best scenario for your needs.

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What Is Fixed Rate Interest

Your credit card contract terms set a period of months or years during which your interest rate cannot change. This fixes your APR so it does not change. Fixed credit allows you to keep an interest rate without worrying about sudden changes in the economy or index fluctuations.

This differs greatly from variable rate APR which fluctuates as financial indexes change. Your credit card company does not control the indexes. If interest rates increase, so will yours. If they decrease, so will yours. The second scenario is the main benefit of variable rate, which may not always happen.

Credit Cards Fixed Rate Interest Disadvantages

While having a rate that does not change may seem ideal, there are a few disadvantages. Before you decide upon a fixed rate credit card, you should know exactly what to expect.

- Rates can drastically increase after a predetermined period
- Fixed rates may be higher than variable rates
- Fixed often starts higher than variable
- May not be eligible

There is no way to determine what the APR may be after your fixed rate period ends. While you may be used to a fixed rate of 9% for three years, you could be facing 17% after the period ends. However, you are open to negotiating new terms at this point.

Since variable rates have the potential to decrease, a fixed rate may not always be the lowest. The best fixed rates tend to fall somewhere between low and mid-range, such as 8% to 12%. A variable rate may decrease to below 8%, leaving you paying a higher fixed rate.

Variable rate cards often entice consumers by starting at a low rate. Companies know they will make money later should rates change. Fixed rates tend to begin at a slightly higher percentage. By starting higher, the credit card company ensures they earn their profit, even if a variable rate increases. The rate is still lower than a variable one should it increase.

If you have poor or bad credit, you may not be eligible for a fixed rate card. These are typically reserved for those with decent credit. It is looked at as a sort of reward for maintaining one’s credit.

Choosing The Best Credit Card Rate

If you carry a monthly balance, you know the importance of having a low APR. You also know how an increasing APR makes paying off and managing debt even more difficult. The reason most consumers choose a fixed rate over a variable is to have that stability. You know exactly what your terms will be from month to month, or at least until your period ends.

At the end of your fixed rate period, you usually have the opportunity to contact your card provider to discuss a new rate. Some companies simply assign you the current APR for another set period. All of this is listed in your credit card terms.

If you want a rate that does not fluctuate, credit cards fixed rate is best for you. If you do not mind taking a chance on changing rates, then variable offers the best chance of receiving a lower rate. Overall, fixed rates are the more responsible way to manage your finances.

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