It’s very difficult to find a travel rewards card with the lowest interest rate. In general credit card issuers will either let you have their lowest rates, or their best rewards, but not both.
As a result, all reward cards, including travel reward cards are best used by those who can avoid interest charges by paying their monthly statement balances in full. Those who always carry a balance are usually best off using a card with the lowest possible interest rate, which won’t be a rewards card.
But sometimes, you may want a card that offers you travel rewards, but with a reasonable interest rate, just in case you need to carry a balance occasionally. And other times, there can be competitive reward cards that have 0% APR promotional financing offers for new applicants.
Most travel reward credit cards have a standard interest rate of over 17%, but here are four cards that have the lowest standard interest rates, including some with interest free promotional financing offers:
1. The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express. (Please note, this offer has expired. Click the link for details on the current offer.) This small business credit card offers a standard interest rate of as low as 13.24% for the most qualified applicants, but you may receive a rate of up to 21.24% if you have less than perfect credit (see rates and fees). New applicants also receive 15 months of 0% APR financing on both new purchases and balance transfers, with a 3% balance transfer fee. You also receive 10,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in new purchases within three months of account opening. You can also earn an outstanding 2x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on your first $50,000 worth of purchases each year, then 1x after that. There’s no annual fee for this card (see rates and fees).
2. The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express. This card’s standard interest rate is 14.99%-25.99% variable APR, and new accounts receive 15 months (from date of account opening) of interest free financing on new purchases and balance transfers, with no balance transfer fee. The welcome bonus is 10,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 within three months of account opening. This card features 2x points at US supermarkets for up to $6,000 spent each year, and one point per dollar spent on all other purchases. And if you use your card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period, then you’ll earn a 20% bonus on the points you’ve earned. There’s no annual fee for this card.
3. Citi ThankYou Preferred Card. This entry-level travel rewards card offers you a standard interest rate of 15.49% - 25.49% variable APR, depending on your creditworthiness when you applied. You also receive 15 months of 0% APR financing on both new purchases and balance transfers, with a 3% balance transfer fee. This card offers 2x points on dining out and entertainment purchases, and one point per dollar spent elsewhere. There’s no annual fee for this card.
4. Citi ThankYou Premier Card. This mid-range travel reward card offers an interest rate of 16.49% - 25.49% variable APR. You can also earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on new purchases within three months of account opening. You earn 3x points on travel purchases, including gas, 2x points on dining out and entertainment purchases, and one point per dollar spent elsewhere. There’s a $95 annual fee for this card that’s waived the first year, and no foreign transaction fees.
