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Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.
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There's no such thing as the perfect credit card, so you'll need to make compromises here and there. The Alliant Visa Platinum credit card is a perfect example. It has an intriguingly low balance transfer fee, but the intro APR offer isn't that competitive, especially if you don't qualify for the best rate. See how it works, and more, in our complete Alliant Visa Platinum review.
3.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 3.00 out of 5 stars.
3.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Score:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good (670-850)
Intro APR
As low as 0% introductory rate for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers.
Purchases: as low as 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: as low as 0%, 12 months
Regular APR
15.49%–27.49% (Variable)
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
A low transfer fee and decent intro offer can make this a useful card. However, not everyone will get the best APR, and there are far longer intro offers out there.
Intro APR offer
Low transfer fee
No annual fee
No rewards
APR offer varies
As low as 0% introductory rate for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers. (After the introductory period, a low standard variable rate applies ranging from 15.49%–27.49%. Balance transfer fee of 2% of the amount transferred, $5 minimum.)
Great for balance transfers to consolidate your debts from high-interest cards into one payment
$0 fraud liability guarantee
No annual fee
Generous credit lines
Low standard APRs
EMV chip for enhanced security
Works with Google Pay™, Apple Pay™ and Samsung Pay™
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
N/A
1% - 5% Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for cash back
Up to $300 cash back
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
1.5% - 5% cash back
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
Intro:
0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for earning travel rewards
75,000 Miles
75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
2X-5X miles
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
This credit card is a good fit for: Applicants with good credit who want a low-fee balance transfer card with a modest intro APR offer.
Top perks
This isn't a showy card, but it does have a few perks.
Intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
The main draw of this card for many will be the introductory APR offer. Depending on your qualifications, you could get an intro APR as low as 0% for the first 12 months after card opening. This APR would apply to both new purchases as well as balance transfers. After the promotional period ends, the standard APR listed in your card's terms will apply.
This is a decent, though not particularly competitive, offer. And did you note the "as low as" caveat? More on that in the "What could be improved" section below.
Competitively low balance transfer fee
Arguably the most interesting thing about this card is its balance transfer fee. This is a fee charged every time you transfer a balance to a new card. Typically, balance transfer fees are between 3% and 5%. However, this card has a comparatively low 2% of the balance transfer amount ($5 minimum). This isn't a promotional fee, either; it's the same no matter when you transfer your balance.
No annual card fee
There's no annual card fee with an Alliant Visa Platinum. This means you don't need to pay a fee just to keep your card open. Since most folks interested in this card are likely looking to save money on interest, it makes sense that Alliant isn't tacking a costly annual fee onto this card.
What could be improved
Although this card has potential, there are a few downsides worth considering.
No purchase rewards or welcome bonus
If you're a fan of the Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature, then you'll be bummed to know that this card does not compete on the rewards. In fact, this card doesn't earn any kind of rewards at all. And, perhaps worst of all, there's no welcome bonus. While this isn't a big deal if you're just doing balance transfers (transferred balances don't earn purchase rewards), it may be a deal breaker for folks looking to use the intro APR offer on new purchases.
APR offer varies and can be confusing
So, let's discuss that "as low as" language for the intro APR offer. Basically, not everyone who is approved for an Alliant Visa Platinum will actually receive a 0% APR offer. The intro APR offer you're given will depend on your specific qualifications as a credit user. You could receive 0% for 12 months -- but you could also get an introductory APR as high as 5.99%. While this is still a lower rate than the go-to rate on a typical credit card, it's not nearly as valuable as an offer that guarantees 0% APR.
Have to be a credit union member to apply
Alliant is a credit union. This means you need to be a member to use its financial products. Getting a membership isn't difficult -- you can do it online while applying for the card -- but it does mean you'll need to be part of an eligible organization, even if that means joining one as part of your application process. You'll also need to open (and keep open) an Alliant savings account.
Suggested credit score
Alliant doesn't specifically say what the credit score range is for this card. In general, intro APR cards are designed for folks with at least good credit, or a FICO® Score of 670 or higher.
That said, credit unions are generally more flexible about their approval requirements. Additionally, this card has a range of potential intro APR offers. So, you may be approved with less-than-stellar credit, but you may not receive the best rate on your intro APR offer.
The Alliant Visa Platinum is right for you if:
This could be a solid option if:
You want a balance transfer card;
You qualify for the 0% intro APR; and,
You don't need more than as low as 0%, 12 months to pay off your balance.
Overall, the feature that makes this card stand out from other balance transfer cards is the low balance transfer fee. Otherwise, you can find cards with better intro APR offers that last longer and guarantee a 0% APR to everyone who is approved.
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
Alliant doesn't publish its credit lines for this card, but the website advertises "generous" credit limits. Users report receiving starting limits up to $15,000. Your credit history, income, and other qualifications will impact your approved credit limit.
Yes, you can add an authorized user during your application, as well as online or by phone after you're approved.
Alliant says it primarily pulls from TransUnion for its loans, but it doesn't specify if the same is true for credit card applications. A card issuer can pull from any (or even all) of the three credit bureaus when you apply for a new card.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Brittney Myers has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, JPMorgan Chase, Target, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.
The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
