The U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card just about has it all when it comes to intro APR offers.
You can receive a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 21 billing cycles. Once the intro APR expires, a variable 17.24% - 28.24% APR applies. Balance transfers completed within 60 days from account opening qualify for the intro APR, and there is a 5% balance transfer fee ($5 minimum).
The gold standard of no-interest offers is 21 months, and the Shield Visa provides that for both purchases and balance transfers. It also has a small list of benefits that provide a bit of extra value.
Before you hit apply on an application for this card, here's a breakdown of the benefits and alternative cards, because you can get a balance transfer offer with a much lower transfer fee.
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 review
Welcome bonus
The U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card has no welcome bonus, outside of its intro APR.
Benefits
Unlike other top intro APR credit cards, the U.S Bank Shield Visa earns (limited) rewards and offers a couple of useful perks.
You'll earn 4% cash back on prepaid airfare, hotel and rental cars booked through U.S. Bank's Travel Center. You can also earn a $20 statement credit every year after making purchases with your card for 11 consecutive months. While these aren't incredibly lucrative rewards, this card has no annual fee, so it's extra cash in your pocket.
If you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your Shield Visa, you'll be covered by this card's cell phone protection as well; it offers up to $600 in coverage against damage or theft. A $100 deductible applies and you are limited to a maximum of one claim per 12 months. You can also take advantage of the card's other protections, including:
- Rental car insurance (secondary in the U.S.)
- Purchase security
- Extended warranty protection
Rates and fees
The U.S. Bank Shield Visa has no annual fee. There is a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it's not a great option for your next overseas vacation. Late payments and returned payments cost up to $41 each.
Alternatives to the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card
U.S. Bank Shield Visa vs. Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is similar to the U.S. Bank Shield Visa, but the card you prefer may simply come down to whether you want to bank with Wells Fargo or U.S. Bank.
It offers a 0% intro APR for 21 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a variable APR of 17.74%, 24.24%, or 28.49% applies. There is a 5% balance transfer fee with a $5 minimum.
Outside of that, there are four key differences:
- Extended opportunity to transfer balances: The Reflect card provides up to 120 days to transfer balances and have them qualify for the intro APR, which is twice as long as what the Shield Visa offers.
- Enhanced cell phone protection: The Reflect's cell phone protection has the same coverage limit as what the Shield Visa offers (up to $600 per claim), but the deductible is lower ($25 vs. $100) and you can make up to two claims per 12 months instead of one.
- Slightly higher standard APR: APRs vary based on your credit, but the Reflect's APR range is 0.25% to 0.5% higher than what the U.S. Bank Shield Visa offers.
- No rewards or credits: While the Shield Visa doesn't offer much in the way of rewards, it's better than the Reflect, which offers nothing in that department.
The Wells Fargo Reflect also offers roadside dispatch and rental car insurance (secondary in the U.S.).
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is one of the absolute best cards you can apply for if you want to save on interest and pay down debit quickly thanks to its extra generous intro-APR offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
- Incredible intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Cell phone insurance: up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
- High balance transfer fee
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.
- 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.74%, 24.24%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.
Balance transfer fee
5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
3%
U.S. Bank Shield Visa vs. Citi Diamond Preferred
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card offers new cardholders a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening and an intro 0% APR on balance transfers for 21 months (then a variable 16.74% - 27.49% APR applies).
The Citi Diamond Preferred isn't as valuable for purchases, but it's a better option for balance transfers. You have four months from account opening to complete transfers and qualify for the intro APR, and it has a 3% intro balance transfer fee ($5 minimum) for the first four months. Then, the fee increases to 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).
The Citi Diamond Preferred has an intro balance transfer fee that's 2% cheaper than what you'd pay with the Shield Visa. A 2% decrease in the balance transfer fee may not sound like much, but it can add up quickly, especially for larger balances. If you want to pay less interest on purchases, the U.S. Bank Shield Visa is the way to go, but the Citi Diamond Preferred is a better option for balance transfers.
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card has an exceptionally long intro-APR for balance transfers and is also notable for its reasonable 3% intro fee for balance transfers.
- One of the longest intro-APR offers for balance transfers
- Lower intro balance transfer fee
- No annual fee
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 16.74% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- 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).
- No Annual Fee - our low intro rates and all the benefits don't come with a yearly charge.
- Buy now and pay later. Split your payment for eligible purchases of $75 or more into a fixed payment with Citi® Flex Pay.
- Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
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. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Is the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card right for you?
The U.S. Bank Shield Visa is a stellar option for anyone who wants to access low-cost financing. Its intro APR offer matches the length of the top cards in this category. Plus, it offers a limited set of cash back rewards, insurance perks and a statement credit. While none of these benefits will blow you away, they exceed what you get with many comparable credit cards.
The main drawback of this card is its lack of long-term value. Once the intro APR expires, the ongoing benefits are hardly enough to justify spending on the card, even with its $0 annual fee.
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