Which Credit Card Is Best for You?

Yes, if you carry a balance month to month, a low-interest credit card almost always saves you more than a rewards card earns. Most rewards cards offer 1.5% to 2% cash back but charge 20%+ APR on carried balances, so the interest you pay quickly outweighs the rewards. A low-rate card like the WPCU Platinum Low Rate Visa® (starting at 9.75% APR) is the better choice when carrying a balance. Rewards cards, like WPCU’s Platinum Rewards Visa ® (starting at 12.75% APR), make the most sense when you pay your statement in full every month.

Most low-interest credit cards are available to applicants with good to excellent credit, typically a FICO score of 670 or higher. The lowest advertised rates usually go to applicants with scores of 720 or above. Wright-Patt Credit Union considers your full financial picture, not just your score, when reviewing applications, so members with fair credit may still qualify for a competitive rates.

Applying for a new credit card causes a small, temporary dip in your credit score, usually a few points, because the application triggers a hard inquiry. The effect typically fades within a few months, and the new account may improve your score over time by increasing your total available credit and lowering your utilization ratio. The long-term benefit of a lower interest rate or better card almost always outweighs the brief score impact.

The right WPCU credit card depends on how you plan to use it. If you carry a balance or want to consolidate debt from higher-rate cards, the Platinum Low Rate Visa® is the strongest fit, starting at 9.75% APR with no balance transfer fee. If you pay your full balance every month, the Platinum Rewards Visa® earns 1.5% cash back on every qualifying purchase. And if you're building credit for the first time, the First Time User card is designed to help you get started.

A simple everyday rewards credit card is one where the rules never change. No activation windows, no rotating bonus categories, no wondering which purchases earn more this quarter -- just a fixed rewards rate on every purchase, every time. WPCU's Platinum Rewards Visa® is built that way: 1.5% cash back on every qualifying purchase , no spending categories, no earnings ceiling, and no annual fees, even for cash advances or balance transfers. You use the card, you earn rewards.

Flat-rate rewards credit cards earn the same rewards rate across every purchase category, unlike tiered cards that pay more in specific areas and less everywhere else. WPCU's Platinum Rewards Visa® earns 1.5% cash back  on all qualifying purchases with no category restrictions and no earnings cap. Whether you are buying groceries, booking a flight, or paying a utility bill, your rewards rate stays the same.

To earn rewards on every purchase, choose a flat-rate rewards card rather than a category-based one. With WPCU's Platinum Rewards Visa®, you earn 1.5 points for every $1 spent on any qualifying purchase  -- automatically, with no activation or category enrollment needed. Points are tracked through the Lifestyle Rewards™ program and can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel, merchandise, and more.

The best everyday rewards options are simple, flexible, and valuable without requiring ongoing management. WPCU's Platinum Rewards Visa® offers 1.5% cash back on every qualifying purchase  through the Lifestyle Rewards™ program, with redemption options that include cash back to a WPCU checking or savings account, gift cards, travel, merchandise, and pay with points redemption on eligible purchases. No annual fees, even for cash advances or balance transfers, means 100% of what you earn comes back to you.