DCU Visa® Platinum Credit Card review

Best for a low interest rate:

• Rewards rate: N/A
• Welcome offer: N/A
• Annual fee: $0
• Purchase intro APR: N/A
• Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
• Regular APR: 8.50% to 18%

Members of DCU Federal Credit Union (DCU) are eligible for the DCU line of Visa cards, including the DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card. It’s a no-frills card that does not offer rewards but advertises a low range of APRs, making it a good option if you anticipate carrying a balance.

Current welcome bonus

The DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card does not offer a sign-up bonus; the main selling point of this card is its low interest rate.

Benefits

You won’t be earning points as you spend, but you will enjoy extras like no annual fee and no fees on balance transfers or cash advances.

Ultralow APR

If you need to carry a balance, the ultra-low APR on this card is a big advantage.

The cash advance APR, which matches your regular APR, is also reasonable. The foreign transaction fee, which ranges up to 2 percent per purchase, is lower than average. The card charges a late fee of $35, but this is standard.

No annual fee

There is no annual fee with the DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card.

Mobile wallet compatible

The DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card works with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, making it easier to complete purchases on the go.

Fraud protection

An embedded EMV chip will protect your personal information to limit your chances of fraud.

Overdraft protection

You’ll receieve overdraft protection with the DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card. If you have a DCU checking account, the balance of any overdrafts will be automatically transferred from your DCU checking account to your DCU Visa Platinum Card (up to your available limit).

Low fees and penalties

The DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card charges no fees for cash advances, balance transfers or foreign transactions. There is also no returned-payment fee, no over-limit fee and no minimum interest charge.

If you miss a payment with this card, you’re likely to lose the low rate and end up paying the penalty APR of 18 percent. This is a significantly lower penalty rate than what competing cards typically charge.

Rates and fees

It’s true that there are many credit cards with no annual fee, but not many forgo other fees. The DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card also has no foreign transaction fees, no over-limit fee and no fees on cash advances or balance transfers.

However, it’s important to note that this card doesn’t offer an introductory 0 percent APR period.

With the ultra-low APR of 8.5 percent for cash advances, balance transfers and purchases, those who tend to carry a balance and are looking to save money on interest payments might want to seriously consider the DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card.

The late payment fee is $35 per occurrence.

How the DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card compares to other low-interest cards

If your main goal is to pay little to no interest on your purchases, you may benefit by choosing another card. There are other cards out there that have an even lower APR, at least for a while. You may want to choose a card that offers a 0 percent APR introductory period and rewards like the Citi Rewards+℠ Card or the Citi® Double Cash Card. While these cards offer higher regular APRs, they come with other perks, like rewards on every purchase. Plus, they both have no annual fee, so you won’t have to spend anything out of pocket just to maintain the card.

See below how these two cards stack up to the DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card.

Best cards to pair with the DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card

When looking for the right credit card, it’s important to weigh your options. For example, you might find some credit cards that offer an introductory 0 percent APR on balance transfers, purchases or both for a period of 12 to 18 months. But their regular interest rates might not be as low as 8.5 percent.

Bankrate’s take—Is the DCU Visa Platinum Credit Card worth it?

The answer is yes if you’re looking for a great interest rate and want or need to carry an ongoing or occasional balance.

The answer is no if you need to float a balance for a few months with no interest or save money by paying off a balance over time. Keep in mind that if you need to transfer a balance, there is no fee. But with no 0 percent introductory APR, you will have to pay the regular APR from the onset. Additionally, if you like earning rewards with your credit cards, the DCU Visa Platinum Rewards Credit Card might be a better option.

It’s also important to note that in order to qualify for the DCU Visa Platinum Rewards Credit Card, you must be a member of the Digital Federal Credit Union. You might be eligible to join if you live in Massachusetts or Georgia. If not, another way for you to qualify is to make a small, tax-deductible donation to a DCU nonprofit organization. This might seem like a lot of work, but this interest rate just might be worth it.

Pros

• Ultralow APR
• No annual fee
• No cash advance or balance transfer fee
• No foreign transaction fee
• No over-limit fee
• If you have a DCU checking account, you’ll have overdraft protection

Cons

• No rewards or cash back program
• No 0 percent APR introductory period
• Limited eligibility