Key takeaways
- Unlike variable-rate credit cards, fixed-rate credit cards come with set interest rates that do not change according to an underlying index (like the prime rate).
- There are several circumstances where the interest rate of a fixed-rate card can change, including a change in your credit score or a missed payment.
- Low-interest variable-rate cards and credit cards that offer 0% promotional APRs can be better alternatives than fixed-rate cards in many cases.
Nearly all credit cards come with variable interest rates these days. If you’re looking to find a fixed-rate credit card, you’ve likely noticed the overwhelming majority of card issuers simply don’t offer them. That’s largely because issuers don’t want to be locked in when the Federal Reserve raises interest rates.
But you should know that a credit card with a variable APR won’t necessarily leave you at the mercy of wildly fluctuating interest rates. In fact, in many cases you can get the stability you’re seeking with a variable rate card. Depending on your creditworthiness, you may even get a lower interest rate than you might expect.
Let’s take a closer look at why fixed-rate cards are so hard to find and how you may actually be better served by a variable APR card.
What is a fixed-rate credit card?
Most of today’s best credit cards follow a variable rate structure, meaning that their APR is tied to an underlying index like the prime rate. As the index rate rises and falls, the APR on variable rate cards typically follows. By contrast, as the name would suggest, the APR of a fixed-rate credit card isn’t automatically affected by prime rate fluctuations.
Like their variable-rate counterparts, fixed-rate credit cards can be offered as unsecured cards or on a secured basis (meaning that cardholders must deposit the amount of their credit line to serve as collateral). Fixed-rate cards can offer rewards and may come with an annual fee, though specific offerings vary by issuer.
Fixed-rate credit card offers are rare. While there are some nationwide options, you’ll typically find them at your local bank or credit union. Fixed-rate cards offered by local credit unions may be subject to the organization’s membership requirements, meaning that some consumers may not qualify for these cards.
Fixed-rate credit cards aren’t as stable as you might think
It’s important to understand that a fixed-rate credit card doesn’t mean you’ll have the same interest rate forever. Card issuers can — and do — raise your interest rate even with a fixed-rate card.
A fixed-rate card won’t fluctuate with the prime rate, but a change in your circumstances, such as a drop in your credit score or missed or late payments, may prompt your issuer to raise your interest rate.
The virtual disappearance of fixed-rate cards can be traced more or less to the Credit CARD Act of 2009. This legislation ushered in a number of consumer protections, including protection against random rate increases without warning on their credit cards.
By law, card issuers must lock APRs for an account’s first year (though exceptions do apply). After that, they have the right to change interest rates and other card terms as long as they provide cardholders with 45 days’ written notice beforehand. As long as these requirements are followed, an issuer can decide to change your interest rate on a fixed-rate card at any time after your first year.
According to Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst for Bankrate.com, “[The Credit CARD Act] basically made it so the easiest way for card issuers to raise rates on existing balances became to tie them to an underlying index, like the prime rate,” Rossman said. “So this is why we see so many cards nowadays — really, almost all credit cards — have switched over to this variable rate structure.”
Variable rates are not necessarily as volatile as they might seem. “Even if and when the Fed raises interest rates, what we’ve seen in the recent past is that they’ve been reluctant to do that,” said Rossman. “When they do, maybe it goes up a quarter-point at a time.”
The best card for you probably comes with a variable APR
Before determining whether a fixed-rate credit card is right for you, it’s worth thinking through what you’re hoping to get out of this type of card. Are you looking for a fixed rate because you need to pay for a large purchase over time and don’t want to be derailed by interest rate hikes while carrying a balance? Perhaps you’re consolidating high-interest debt and want a card with a guaranteed lower interest rate to avoid surprises as you work to pay it off?
While a fixed-rate card might seem appealing in these cases, you’ll likely be better off with a 0 percent intro APR card that offers an extended period of time with no interest charges at all. As long as you’re able to pay off the balance of that new refrigerator or much-needed vacation during the introductory APR period, you’ll come out ahead compared to a card that’s charging interest, regardless of whether it’s a fixed or variable rate.
Here are some of the best 0 percent intro APR offers that are currently available — all of which come with promotional periods for both purchases and balance transfers:
| Card name | Intro purchase offer | Intro balance transfer offer | Regular APR (variable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | 21 months | 21 months (on balance transfers made within 120 days of account opening) | 18.24%, 24.74% or 29.99% |
| U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card* | 21 billing cycles | 21 billing cycles (on balance transfers made in first 60 days) | 18.74% to 29.74% |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | 15 billing cycles | 15 billing cycles (on balance transfers made in first 60 days) | 19.24% to 29.24% |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | 12 months | 12 months (on balance transfers made within 120 days of account opening) | 20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% |
If you don’t think you’ll be able to pay off your balance during the promotional period, or if you expect to regularly carry a smaller balance from time to time and need a longer-term option, you might also consider a low-interest credit card.
These cards will charge interest from day one but may offer a lower variable rate than other card options, depending on your creditworthiness. It’s worth noting that some of the cards with excellent intro APR offers listed earlier may also offer a low ongoing APR to cardholders (again, based on creditworthiness).
Here are some of the best cards with interest rates that may be lower than the current average rate:
| Card name | Best for | Variable APR |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® | Fair credit | 14.99% to 29.99% |
| Discover it® Cash Back | First-year rewards | 18.24% to 28.24% |
| Citi Rewards+® Card | Points round-up feature | 18.74% to 28.74% |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Cash back for families | 19.24% to 29.99% |
The bottom line
While a fixed-rate credit card may seem like the best way to control your interest charges, there are usually better ways to pay less interest that are considerably easier to find. Whether your credit card has a fixed rate or variable rate is not as important as getting either the lowest interest rate you can or the promotional interest rate you need to give breathing room on paying off a balance.
If you know you won’t be able to pay your balance in full each month, focus on getting the lowest interest rate you can — whether that’s a card with a 0 percent introductory period or a credit card with an ongoing low APR.
*Issuer-required disclosure statements
Information about U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. Card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card information was last updated on Aug. 10, 2024.
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