Credit card offers available for a limited time

Credit cards with introductory offers

Introductory credit card offers can help you save on fees, earn more points or get cash back to your account when you sign up. Usually, these promotions are only available for a limited time and you'll need to tick a couple of boxes to get the deal.

How can I get a promotional credit card offer?

You usually have to meet a set of requirements to be eligible for an introductory offer on a credit card. These conditions vary but can include:

• New customers. Introductory offers, such as bonus points, are usually reserved for new credit card customers. For example, if you have a card issued by American Express, you likely won't be eligible for another Amex introductory offer. Or, if you want to get a balance transfer to pay off existing card debt, you usually need to apply for a credit card from another issuer.
• Application dates. Many promotional offers are only available to applicants who apply and are approved by a set date.
• Application details. With balance transfer offers, you usually need to request the balance transfer (and include details of the debt you want to transfer) when you apply for the card. With frequent flyer bonus point offers, you need to include your frequent flyer membership details on your application to be able to collect the points.
• Spend requirements. When a bonus points offer is available, often you'll be required to meet a spend requirement by a set date to receive the points. For example, you may need to spend $3,000 in the first 90 days of card approval to earn your bonus points.

Before you apply for a card with an introductory offer, make sure you fully understand these terms and conditions to ensure you can get the full value from the offer.

What types of introductory credit card offers can I get?

There are different introductory offers available depending on what you want from a credit card. For example, if you want to save on debt, you could look at balance transfer offers that give you a low or 0% introductory interest rate. Or, if you want rewards for your spending, then you can compare cards that offer introductory bonus points. With so many different introductory credit card deals in Australia, here we've summarised some of the most popular options you can compare.

0% balance transfer credit card offers

A 0% balance transfer credit card can be a useful tool to consolidate and repay debt without the cost of interest for 12 to 26 months. Once the promotional offer ends, a standard revert rate applies and any remaining debts will begin to collect interest, often at the higher cash advance rate.

Interest-free balance transfers are only available for a limited time, so you'll be required to apply and receive approval before the offer end date to take advantage of the promotional 0% interest rate. You can usually request the balance transfer and provide the details of your existing account when you apply.

Credit cards that offer 0% interest on purchases

You can save by paying a low or 0% introductory interest rate on your purchases during the honeymoon period. At the end of the introductory period, the promotional rate reverts to a standard interest rate that applies to any balance carried from these purchases.

Purchase rate offers can be useful if you have a lot of planned expenses coming up and want a flexible and affordable way to pay them off over time. To get the most out of low or 0% purchase rate deals, you should aim to pay off the new charges before the end of the introductory period.

Reduced or no annual fee credit card offers

This type of introductory offer charges a $0 annual fee or reduces the annual fee for a promotional period (usually the first 12 months). Depending on the credit card, these promotions can save you tens or hundreds of dollars. You usually need to apply before a specific date to enjoy an introductory annual fee offer.

After the introductory period, the standard annual fee will be applied to the account. So, if you plan to use your credit card beyond the promotional period, you should pay attention to the standard annual fee when comparing credit cards.

Bonus reward point credit card offers

Many rewards credit cards offer bonus points when you apply and are approved for the card. Depending on the offer, you could get up to 200,000 bonus points.

Bonus points offers are usually only available when you apply by a certain date and meet the spend criteria. For example, you may need to spend a set amount of money in the first few months to collect the bonus points. As long as the spend requirement fits within your budget and doesn't outweigh the value of your bonus points, it can be an easy way to boost your points balance as soon as you apply for the card.

Credit cards that offer bonus frequent flyer points

Many frequent flyer credit cards also offer bonus points on sign up. Most cards offer either Qantas Frequent Flyer or Velocity Frequent Flyer points but many other rewards cards also let you transfer your bonus points to other programs such as Emirates Skywards, KrisFlyer or Asia Miles. Again, you usually need to apply by a certain date and spend a minimum amount within a set period of time to qualify for the bonus points offer.

Cashback credit card offers

This type of introductory offer gives you cashback when you get a new credit card. You usually need to spend a minimum amount of money on the card before you can enjoy the cashback offer. For example, an offer might give you $200 cashback if you spend $500 in the first 3 months you have the card.

Some cashback offers also require you to spend the minimum amount in a specific way. For example, by making contactless payments. This type of offer can give you extra value if you have planned purchases you want to make on your credit card, but may not be worth it otherwise.

Other introductory credit card offers

As well as the major introductory offers outlined above, some credit card companies may offer other more unique deals for new customers. These introductory offers could include:

• Gift cards. This is a variation of cashback credit card offers and gives new customers a complimentary gift cards (instead of cashback on the account). The gift cards are often for an affiliated store or brand. To be eligible, you usually have to apply during the promotional period and may need to enter a promotional code online.
• Discounted purchases. Some credit cards may offer you a discount on specific transactions. For example, a frequent flyer credit card could offer 10% off flight bookings made with the affiliated airline during the promotional period.

Depending on the credit card, you may be able to take advantage of more than one of these offers at a time. For example, a card that offers a 0% balance transfer rate could also have a discounted annual fee for the first year, while a card with bonus points may also offer 0% interest on purchases during the honeymoon period.

How to compare credit card introductory offers

While introductory offers can sweeten the deal when you sign up for a credit card, you should also look at the card's other features. Thinking about the following factors will help you find an introductory offer that suits your needs in the short-term and a credit card that fits your circumstances in the long-term.

Interest rates

• The promotional interest rate. Depending on the card, the promotional offer may have a low or 0% interest rate. Usually, the lower the interest rate, the more savings you'll make. However, you should also weigh up the promotional interest rate against the length of the offer and the annual fee to help you decide which credit card offers the most savings.
• The length of the introductory period. With a low purchase rate or balance transfer offer, the promotional rate applies as soon as your card is activated. It's important that you calculate how much you need to pay each month to repay the entire balance before the introductory period ends. Otherwise, any remaining balance will attract the standard interest rate and begin to cancel out your savings.
• The promotional offer end date. Credit card offers are only available for a limited time, so you need to apply before the end date to take advantage of them. Check the terms and conditions to make sure any offers you want are still available before you apply.
• The standard interest rates. If you have a card with a low or 0% purchase or balance transfer deal, the standard interest rates will apply to any balances remaining at the end of the introductory period. These rates are generally much higher than those of the introductory offer, so looking at them before you apply will help you avoid nasty surprises when the promotion ends.

Fees

• Standard annual fees. If you get a credit card that offers a reduced or waived annual, make sure you check the standard annual fee so that you know how much you will have to pay after the first 12 months. If you only plan to use the card while the waived annual fee is in place, make sure you know when the standard annual fee will apply and close your card before that date to avoid paying extra.
• Other fees and charges. As well as the annual fee, check for any balance transfer fees, cash advance fees, foreign transaction fees and late payment costs. You can use the reviews on Finder browse a full list of rates and fees associated with a credit card. This helps you understand exactly how much you have to pay when you use the card.
• Interest charges. If you have to meet a spend requirement to earn bonus points or redeem an introductory offer, remember that these purchases will collect interest (unless they are eligible for an interest-free period). This is why it's important to check that the spend requirement fits within your budget – otherwise the interest costs could easily outweigh the value of the points or bonus offer.

Rewards and extras

• Bonus point requirements. Most cashback and bonus point offers require you to spend a minimum amount in a set timeframe. You might need to spend as little as $100 or as much as $10,000 depending on the card, so it’s important to check before you apply to make sure you can afford to take advantage of the offer. Some bonus point offers require you to keep the card for at least 12 months, offering bonus points to you after you've paid the annual fee for a second year. If that's the case, check how much this fee will cost before deciding if the points are worth it.
• Standard rewards points. As well as the bonus points, make sure the regular rewards program (including the earn rate and how you can redeem your rewards) suits your spending behaviours and rewards goals.
• Complimentary extras. Additional, ongoing perks such as international travel insurance, extended warranties and concierge services can bring more value to the card that you choose. However they can also attribute to higher annual fees, so make sure these are features you'd take advantage of before you apply.

Is it worth getting a new credit card just because it has an introductory offer?

Even when you're happy with your existing card, bonus points and introductory interest rates can be tempting – but that doesn't always make it worth applying for a new credit card.

Beyond the promise of sweet, sweet bonus points or 0% interest savings lies the fine print for these offers. With bonus points offers, for instance, you usually need to spend a set amount of money in a fixed period of time – such as $5,000 in the first 3 months you have the new card, while with 0% p.a. purchase rate offers, you need to check what transactions are eligible for the interest-free offer.

Regardless of the type of offer, you also need to apply during the offer's promotional period. On top of the offer details and requirements, there are also ongoing features to think about – including the annual fee and interest rates.

For example, some rewards cards (and other premium credit cards) charge hundreds of dollars each year in the form of an annual fee. And most 0% p.a. balance transfer offers revert to the card's purchase or cash advance rate, which usually ranges between 12% p.a. and 21% p.a. or more. If you're still paying off debt at the end of the introductory period, charges from the card's revert rate could quickly add up.

So before you decide whether or not to switch cards because of an introductory offer, take a look at whether or not you're getting enough value from your current card.

This could be as simple as asking yourself the following questions:

• How much is your current annual fee?
• What do you pay in interest charges each month?
• Does your card have any extras or perks, such as rewards points or travel insurance? If so, do you use them?

If you're happy with the answers to these questions, you might decide to stick with your current card.

But if something isn't quite right – for example, the annual fee or the perks you're getting – you can compare your card to other options and see if you can get a better deal. Just remember to look at both introductory offers and ongoing features.

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