A balance transfer card with a solid intro APR period can be a huge help in paying down debt. The U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card features one of the longest intro APRs on the market, giving you plenty of breathing room to get your finances in order.
CNBC Select dives into the introductory offer, rewards and benefits of the U.S. Bank Shield Visa, whether the card is worth applying for and additional intro APR cards to consider.
The U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card is a rare card that offers rewards (for limited purchases) and best-in-class intro APRs for purchases and balance transfers.
- Best-in-class intro-APR offers for purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Annual statement credit
- Cell phone protection
- Rewards limited to eligible travel purchases made through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center
- No welcome bonus
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- No intro balance transfer fee
U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card intro APR offer
The main draw of the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card is its lengthy intro APR period. You can take advantage of a 21-month intro 0% APR on purchases and eligible balance transfers. Balance transfers must be completed within 60 days of account opening to qualify.
Once the intro APR expires, a variable 17.24% - 28.24% APR applies. There is a balance transfer fee of 5% of the amount of each transfer, with a $5 minimum. Although this fee runs on the high side, the length of the intro APR period means you'll likely offset the transfer fee with the interest you save over almost two years.
Rewards and benefits
The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card doesn't offer much in the way of rewards, though you can earn cash back on travel booked through U.S. Bank. You'll get 4% cash back on select travel booked through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center, including prepaid flights, hotels and rental cars. While this is a narrow set of purchases to earn rewards on, many of the top intro APR credit cards offer no rewards.
You also get several benefits through the card, including a $20 annual statement credit that you earn after making purchases for 11 consecutive months. There's no category restriction on the purchases that earn this credit, so it's incredibly easy to qualify for.
You're also covered by the following shopping and travel insurance protections:
- Cell phone protection
- Rental car collision damage waiver
- Extended warranty protection
- Purchase security
Is the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card worth it?
If your goal is to pay off credit card debt by reducing your interest, this card is a solid choice. Just keep in mind, it has a higher balance transfer fee, and there are options for cutting your interest rate with lower upfront fees.
The biggest drawback of this card (and intro APR cards in general) is that once the intro APR expires, there isn't a strong incentive to keep or continue using the card. If you want a card that offers a better mix of rewards and a good intro APR, consider cards like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card or Citi Double Cash® Card.
What makes the Citi Double Cash® Card special is that it sits near the top of its class in several categories. It is an excellent option if you want flat-rate rewards, a balance transfer intro-APR or no annual fee.
- Balance transfers get a long intro APR
- Generous flat-rate cash-back rewards structure
- Earns transferable rewards
- No annual fee
- It has a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR only applies to balance transfer
- Points transfer ratios are reduced compared to premium cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.49% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High, unlimited flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- Lower introductory balance transfer fee
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Charges a 3% foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee increases to 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) after 120 days
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Additional intro APR cards to consider
Depending on your current balance and interest rate, the Citi Simplicity® Card may be a cheaper option thanks to its lower balance transfer fee. It doesn't earn rewards or offer any notable benefits, but it has an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer with a $5 minimum for the first four months after account opening (after that, it increases to 5% with a $5 minimum).
The tradeoff for the lower transfer fee is that the Citi Simplicity Card has a shorter intro APR period: 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers and purchases from date of account opening (then 17.74% - 28.49% variable). So you'll start paying interest sooner than you would with the U.S. Bank card.
The Citi Simplicity® Card has amazing intro-APR offers and is particularly valuable for balance transfers due to its lower introductory fee.
- Long intro APR offers for balance transfers
- Low intro-fee for balance transfers
- No annual fee
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
The Choice Rewards World Mastercard® doesn't have a 0% intro APR offer, but it features a reasonable variable APR and has no balance transfer fee. So you may be able to reduce your interest rate with this card without paying a balance transfer fee.
Choice Rewards World Mastercard®
Rewards
Earn 2X points on groceries, gas, electronics, medical, household goods and telecommunications, 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 20,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 60 days from account opening
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
11.75% - 18.00% variable
Balance transfer fee
None
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Fair to excellent
Terms apply.
Pros
- Low APR
- No annual fee
- Popular 2X rewards categories
Cons
- Below average amount of time to earn the card's welcome bonus
- No option to transfer points to travel programs
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X to stay up to date.
Read more
* Information about the U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
