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Adobe Stock November 04, 2022 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. Jamie Johnson is a contributor for Bankrate and a Kansas City-based personal finance and credit expert. Her past and current clients include Credit Karma, Business Insider, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Quicken Loans and The Balance. Claire Dickey is a product editor for Bankrate, and . Before joining Bankrate, Claire worked as a copywriter for brands within the telecommunications industry as well as a hybrid marketing and content writer. Brady Porche is an editorial director for Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com. He has two decades of professional experience as a writer and editor. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Citi is an advertising partner. If you’re looking for a no-frills card with a generous introductory , the Citi Simplicity Card or U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card could be suitable options. Both of these can help you pay down debt while saving money on interest and fees. But if you’re hoping to earn credit card rewards or a welcome bonus, you’ll want to consider other options. Here’s a look at how these cards stack up against each other, including tips on which card is best for you, depending on additional benefits and the required credit score range for approval. Main details
Details Citi Simplicity Card U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card Rewards rate None None Welcome bonus None None Intro APR on purchases 0% intro APR for 12 months 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles Intro APR on balance transfers 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers made within the first four months 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on balance transfers made within the first 60 days Regular APR 16.99% to 27.74% variable 18.24 % to 28.24% variable Balance transfer fee 3% ($5 minimum) 3% ($5 minimum) Annual fee $0 $0 Citi Simplicity vs U S Bank Visa Platinum Card highlights
Intro APR winner U S Bank Visa Platinum Card
Given the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum offers an 18-billing-cycle zero-interest period on both purchases and balance transfers (followed by a variable APR between 18.24 percent and 28.24 percent), it beats out the Citi Simplicity in this category. The Simplicity offers a much shorter time frame for new purchases — though if you’re strictly interested in transferring a balance, the extra month offered by the Simplicity could tip the card in your favor. To boot, the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum’s ongoing variable APR is slightly lower than that offered by the Simplicity. Both cards require that you transfer your balance within a set period of time after account opening, so keep that in mind as you consider which option to apply for. Balance transfer fee winner U S Bank Visa Platinum Card
The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum also wins in this category, as it charges a 3 percent ($5 minimum) compared to the Citi Simplicity’s 3 percent fee ($5 minimum). This charge certainly matters, as it’ll be tacked onto your overall transferred balance. Annual fee winner Tie
Neither card charges an annual fee for card ownership, making them both good options if you’re looking to keep costs low. Foreign transaction fee winner U S Bank Visa Platinum Card
Both cards charge on purchases made outside of the U.S., but the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum’s fees are slightly lower in specific circumstances. The card charges a 2 percent foreign transaction fee if the transaction abroad is in U.S. dollars, and a 3 percent fee otherwise. The Citi Simplicity charges a 3 percent foreign transaction fee, no matter what. Which card saves you more
Below, we’ve broken down how much you’d pay every month to wipe out your debt during each card’s introductory window — taking into account balance transfer fees, as well. Balance transfer example
Let’s say you have $5,000 in outstanding . If you transfer that money to the Citi Simplicity, you’ll pay a $250 balance transfer fee, bringing your total balance to $5,250. With 21 months to pay off your balance, you’re looking at a $250 payment each month for 21 months, sans interest. With the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum, your balance transfer fee is only $150, bringing your total balance to $5,150. With 20 billing cycles to wipe out your debt free of interest charges, you’ll pay $257.50 each month for 20 months. As you can see, you’ll end up saving a bit more each month with the Citi Simplicity thanks to its extra month of no interest. But things change when it comes to paying off a large purchase over time. Purchase intro offer example
If you have a $5,000 purchase on the horizon and plan to utilize either card’s intro APR offer on new purchases, here’s how things will shake out. With the Citi Simplicity, you’ll pay just over $416 per month for 12 months to cover the purchase without additional interest tacked on. But with the U.S. Bank card, you’ll pay $250 per month for 20 billing cycles. Why should you get the Citi Simplicity
The for anyone looking to pay down debt, as it offers one of the longest zero-interest periods available on the market today — but not necessarily for those looking to fund a large upcoming purchase. Additional benefits
Minimal fees: The Simplicity doesn’t charge late fees, and there’s no . However, you will have to pay foreign transaction fees and a balance transfer fee, as noted above. Flexible payment due date: Citi allows cardholders to pick their payment due date. Choose any date that works for you at the beginning, middle or end of the month. ID theft protection: The card comes with an ID theft protection program offered by Mastercard. You can enroll for free and receive alerts about any suspicious activity on your account. Recommended credit score
Citi doesn’t publish a recommended credit score, but states that the APR is based on creditworthiness. Your approval odds will be higher if you have a credit score of 670 and above, otherwise known as a . Why should you get the U S Bank Visa Platinum
The if you’re interested in both paying off a large purchase and wiping out existing credit card debt (for a comparably smaller balance transfer fee). Additional benefits
Choose your payments: U.S. Bank lets you pick the payment date that works for you, though the fine print states that some due dates may not be available. Cellphone protection: If you pay your monthly phone bill with the Visa Platinum, you’ll receive up to $1,200 in annual coverage for damages or theft. Credit monitoring: U.S. Bank offers monitoring through its app or online banking. Recommended credit score
Similar to the Citi Simplicity, your approval odds for the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum are greater if you have a good credit score or better (670 and up). The bottom line
The and both come with a handful of stand-out benefits, including zero-interest introductory periods and low fees. Before you make the decision to apply, be sure to read through Bankrate’s list of the to see if another option piques your interest — or better suits your needs. The information about the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer. SHARE: Jamie Johnson is a contributor for Bankrate and a Kansas City-based personal finance and credit expert. Her past and current clients include Credit Karma, Business Insider, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Quicken Loans and The Balance. Claire Dickey is a product editor for Bankrate, and . Before joining Bankrate, Claire worked as a copywriter for brands within the telecommunications industry as well as a hybrid marketing and content writer. Brady Porche is an editorial director for Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com. He has two decades of professional experience as a writer and editor. Related Articles