Introductory Offer Credit Cards

Introductory offer cards have promotions that run on a card for a short amount of time once you receive your credit card. Find out about all the different offers available and how you can benefit from them

Best Introductory Credit Card Offers

Credit Card	Card Details	Interest Rate p.a.	Cash Advance Rate p.a.	Balance Transfer Rate p.a.	Annual Fee	Interest Free Days (Up To)
HSBC Credit Card	Receive no annual fee for the life and an excellent balance transfer offer	16.99%	20.75%	0% for 6 months	$0	55	Apply » More »
Westpac 55 Day Card	Waived annual fee for the first year as well as pay 0% p.a. for 5 months on purchases	0% for 5 months (reverts to 19.34%)	21.24%	1.99% for 9 months	$0 for first year ($30 after)	55	Apply » More »
St.George Vertigo	Excellent introductory card offer with a low rate for balance transfers	12.49%	21.24%	2.99% for 6 months	$55	55	Apply » More »
ANZ First Visa	First year annual fee is waived for new ANZ credit card customers	18.99%	20.74%	7.99% for 6 months	$0 for first year ($30 after)	44	Apply » More »

Introductory offer cards are offered to the public by the credit card companies in order to build up their clientele. This means that you can take advantage of some great deals that are being offered as the competition grows between credit cards. Find out which card would be best for you below.

How to find the best introductory offer cards

Here are some handy tips you can use to find the best offers out there.

1. Choose the one with the longest term

Each card you look at will have its own introductory time period so look for one that lasts a long time. Some cards will only give you 2 to 3 months at the introductory rate while others will give you a full year. If you are thinking about a balance transfer, this extra time will count because it will give you more time to pay off your debt. You must also check to make sure that the purchase rate and the balance transfer rate are both the same and last the same amount of time.

2. Look at the fees

Credit card companies have all sorts of different fees such as balance transfer fees, handling fees, maintenance fees for the account and annual fees. If you are thinking about switching cards make sure that any fees you have to pay make it worth your while to do the switch, especially if you are doing a balance transfer. It will usually cost 2% to 3% of the transferred amount in fees. You'll have to figure out whether you will save money in interest charges after you pay this fee.

3. Find out if there is a rewards program

Even though you may not be specifically looking for some type of rewards program, if you find two cards that have the same features and rates but one comes with a rewards scheme, then you might as well get that one. There is no harm in getting points for shopping if you're going to use your card anyway. Some cards have a cash back rewards program that will end up saving you money, since the cash is put back into your account when you have accumulated enough points. You may get enough back to cover the annual fee.

4. Find out when the promotional rate ends

Introductory offer cards will have an expiry date and you need to know exactly when it ends. If you are doing a balance transfer you need to have your debt paid off before this date or you will end up paying a high interest rate afterwards. Once the promotional time period has ended on the card that transfer balance will revert back to the standard rate of interest.

You should examine the standard interest rate before deciding on a card no matter how good the introductory deal looks. If the interest rate is very high you will probably want to switch cards again once the promotion has ended. Switching cards too often does not look good on your credit history, so it is best to choose a card with a great offer that also has a reasonable or low standard rate of interest right at the beginning.

5. Stick to your budget

Just because you find some great introductory offer cards that charge a 0% rate of interest does not mean that you don't have to make your monthly payments. In fact, if you end up making a payment late or miss a payment altogether the credit card company has the right to take back the introductory offer. You can also be charged fees and will have to start paying the regular interest-rate.

When you choose a card pick one that will fall into line with your budget. If you have a large debt to repay and only have six months to pay it with a 0% interest rate, you may not be able to make a high enough payment every month to get rid of the balance in six months. Take a look at what you can realistically afford to pay every month when you choose your introductory offer cards.

6. Pick the one with the lowest rate of interest

After examining the above points, you should have a better understanding of what you are looking for. At this point, you can look for the right card and see which one has the best interest rate. If you're looking for a long-term balance transfer card for instance, find the one with the lowest rate for the longest term. It is worth your time and energy to compare the rates between cards so that you end up with a card you can afford and one that will serve your purposes.

Introductory offers cards are marketed to the public in such a way that many people fall into the trap of just choosing the first card they see. Offers can look very attractive, but on further inspection they really are not good at all. Now that you know how to choose the right card, make sure that you understand both the short-term and long-term benefits you will get from the card. You have to be very logical when approaching the comparison and not fall for any tactical marketing techniques. If the deal is good enough, there does not have to be any sneaky promotion associated with it.

One of the benefits to this type of card that you may not have thought of is the opportunity to make a large purchase as soon as you get the card and then pay it off before the expiry date. If you have been thinking about getting a new TV, for example, you can take your new card and purchase it and have six months or longer to pay all it off. This means you will get the item you want right away and won't have to save up for it any longer.

If you follow the above guidelines you'll be able to pick your introductory offer cards with more certainty. It can be very difficult to decide on a card if you don't know how to do it right. You can avoid the disappointment of picking the wrong card by following the helpful suggestions listed above.

Editors Choice: Best Credit Card Deals

Credit Card	Card Details	Interest Rate p.a.	Cash Advance Rate p.a.	Balance Transfer Rate p.a.	Annual Fee	Interest Free Days (Up To)
Suncorp Clear Options Standard	An excellent balance transfer offer of 1.9% p.a. for 12 months and a standard purchase rate of 12.24%	12.24%	17.99%	1.9% for 12 months	$39	0	Apply » More »
HSBC Credit Card	Excellent credit card, with a 0% p.a. for 6 months balance transfer offer, and pay $0 for the life of the card	16.99%	20.75%	0% for 6 months	$0	55	Apply » More »
Citibank Emirates Platinum Card	Enjoy 1.9% p.a. for 12 months on balance transfers as well as earn 3 Skywards Miles for every dollar spent, plus all the benefits & privileges of a platinum card.	20.74%	20.74%	1.9% for 12 months	$229	55	Apply » More »