The Citi Simplicity® Card is extra of an interest-fighting weapon than a bank card. It’s not for everybody. However if you’re battling high-interest debt, you may get loads of worth from this card.
Should you carry a big steadiness on excessive APR bank cards, the Citi Simplicity Card might prevent 1000’s of {dollars} in the long term. Our evaluate will enable you to determine if it’s an excellent match to your pockets.
Citi Simplicity Card
Credit score rating wanted
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Steadiness switch intro apr
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TIME’s Take
The card_name has annual_fees annual price, comes with an almost unprecedented 0% intro APR supply for steadiness transfers, and waives issues like late and returned cost penalties.
Sadly, that’s the place the advantages finish. The cardboard doesn’t supply rewards and has no different ongoing perks value mentioning. For that cause, it is best to solely think about the card_name if you could consolidate high-interest debt from one other card.
Professionals and cons
Professionals:
- Glorious intro APR supply for steadiness transfers
- No late cost penalties
Cons:
- No normal welcome bonus
- No rewards program
- Minimal ongoing advantages
Who’s the cardboard for?
The card_name is for anybody who’s struggling underneath the burden of excessive bank card curiosity fees every month. The cardboard presents 0% intro APR for 21 months on steadiness transfers and 12 months on new purchases. When the intro APR interval ends, the speed strikes to 19.24% to 29.99% Variable. Transferring debt from different excessive APR bank cards allows you to get a break from the curiosity fees you’ve incurred by carrying a steadiness month-to-month.
The credit score restrict you’re authorized for will rely in your creditworthiness, so it’s essential to have a “good” FICO credit score rating of at the least 670. And you’ll’t switch a steadiness greater than your credit score restrict. In different phrases, in case your credit score rating solely qualifies you for a $2,000 credit score restrict, it gained’t assist a lot if you’re paying curiosity on a $10,000 steadiness.
Options
Intro APR supply
The card_name’s largest upside is its intro APR supply. You’ll obtain 0% APR (then 19.24% to 29.99%) on:
- Steadiness transfers for 21 months.
- Purchases for 12 months.
It’s the perfect steadiness switch supply within the enterprise, palms down.
No late charges
The card_name doesn’t cost a price for those who make a cost after your due date. Many playing cards cost penalties of as much as $41 for this.
No penalty APR
Most playing cards will cost a better rate of interest for those who make a late cost or your cost is returned on account of inadequate funds. The card_name doesn’t do that. In case your cost is late, your APR stays unchanged.
The superb print
Annual price
The card_name is a no-annual price bank card, so that you gained’t pay to maintain this card in your pockets whether or not or not you’re utilizing it. You need to use the cardboard as a device to construct your size of credit score historical past and keep a decrease credit score utilization even after you’ve moved on to higher playing cards.
APR
The card_name fees an everyday buy APR of reg_apr,reg_apr_type, primarily based in your creditworthiness. Should you by no means carry a steadiness in your bank card, this gained’t have an effect on you.
There’s a money advance APR of cash_advance_apr, which is able to start accruing as quickly as you’re taking out the money advance.
Steadiness switch charges
Whenever you switch a steadiness to the card_name through the first 4 months from account opening, you’ll pay both $5 or 3% of the quantity you switch, whichever is bigger. After that, you’ll pay between $5 or 5% of your transferred quantity, whichever is bigger.
Different charges
Different normal bank card charges nonetheless apply to the card_name, together with:
- A international transaction price of foreign_transaction_fee.
- A money advance price of cash_advance_fee.
- A returned cost price of $41.
What could possibly be improved
The card_name will not be a rewards bank card. You’ll be able to’t earn money again or factors while you spend, and there’s no welcome bonus. In different phrases, the cardboard loses most of its worth after you’ve used up the 0% intro APR supply. If Citi have been so as to add even a modest rewards program, the cardboard wouldn’t turn out to be out of date after a few years.
The card_name might additionally improve its intro APR for purchases from a modest 12 months. Loads of bank cards supply an identical or higher interest-free interval for purchases.
Card options
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Backside line
When you’ve got an excellent credit score rating, quite a lot of high-APR debt, and need to keep away from as many ancillary charges as doable, the card_name might prevent a whole lot (even 1000’s) of {dollars} in curiosity funds.
Citi Simplicity Card
Steadiness switch intro apr
balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration
Common APR
reg_apr,reg_apr_type
Welcome supply
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Steadily requested questions (FAQs)
Is the card_name laborious to get?
The card_name isn’t laborious to get. It’s best to have at the least an excellent credit score rating (670 or above) for the perfect likelihood at approval.
What sort of card is card_name?
The card_name is a 0% intro APR bank card, with an interesting steadiness switch supply.
How typically does card_name improve its credit score restrict?
You’ll be able to request a credit score restrict improve as soon as each six months. Citi will base its determination in your creditworthiness—approval will not be assured.
The data offered right here is created independently from the TIME editorial employees. To study extra, see our About web page.