Tips for Using 0% Intro APR Credit Cards to Borrow Money

7 Min Read | Last updated: February 16, 2024

Two individuals seated at a table, engaged with papers and laptops, discussing financial strategies for 0% Intro APR credit cards.

This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.

Used responsibly, 0% intro APR credit cards can be a great source of inexpensive borrowing and can add to your financial flexibility. But it pays to read the fine print.

At-A-Glance

A credit card with a 0% intro APR offer makes it possible to borrow money at no cost, making it a great way to finance a purchase.
But depending on your financial circumstances, 0% intro APR credit cards may be well-suited for some financing needs and not-well-suited for others.
They can also become expensive if not used responsibly.

At one time or another, most people will encounter situations where they need to borrow money for a short period of time, from a week or a month to a year or two.¹ For some situations, using a 0% intro APR credit card may be a better approach than alternatives like bank loans, home equity loans, or peer-to-peer loans. However, borrowing money from your credit card can raise a lot of questions.

This article explains the typical features of 0% intro APR credit cards and discusses how to use them effectively to meet certain short-term financing needs.

Typical Features of 0% Introductory APR Credit Cards

You can think of a 0% intro APR credit card as a standard credit card with an introductory annual percentage rate (APR) of zero – much lower than the average U.S. credit card APR of about 21% in August 2023.² A large number of 0% intro APR credit cards are available, all with varying features and benefits. But they have some features in common:

Zero is temporary: The 0% rate doesn’t last forever. Typically, it lasts for about one to two years, though it can be as short as six months.³ At the end of this time, the interest rate reverts to the card’s standard APR, which may be high.³
Not for all transactions: The 0% rate usually doesn’t apply to every type of transaction you can do with the card.³ For example, it might only apply to purchases, not to cash advances.

Check the card’s “Schumer box” – the legally required table-format summary of terms in all credit agreements – to find the card’s standard APR, how long the 0% rate lasts, what it covers, and any fees and charges.⁴

The 0% rate can also be subject to conditions. These might include:

Staying within your credit limit.⁵
Paying at least your minimum payment each month.³
Paying on time.³

If you break any of these conditions, the interest rate could automatically revert to the card’s standard APR.^3,5

Does 0% Intro APR Apply to Cash Advances?

It’s important to know that credit cards have multiple APRs, usually one for each type of transaction – for example, purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.⁶ And a card’s 0% intro APR rarely applies to cash advances.³Instead, when you take a cash advance from your credit card – typically from an ATM or a teller’s window – you’re usually charged an upfront fee, and interest starts accruing immediately based on the card’s cash advance APR.⁷ Unlike with purchases, there is no interest-free grace period.⁷ This is why getting cash from your credit card is considered one of the most expensive ways to borrow money. In addition, most credit cards have a separate limit on cash advances that is lower than the card’s overall credit limit.⁷

When it May Make Sense to ‘Borrow’ Money from 0% Intro APR Credit Cards

If you plan to make many purchases in a short period of time. Suppose you are furnishing a new home or apartment. You may be buying many things over a relatively short period of time, but not all at once. If you take out a bank loan, you’ll pay interest on the whole amount borrowed whether or not you have purchased anything yet. You could use a standard credit card with a typical interest-free grace period of one month, but that might not be enough time to make your purchases and clear your balance before interest charges kick in. So using a 0% intro APR credit card could make sense. It could give you up to almost two years to complete all your purchases and clear the balance without paying interest.³

If you want to finance a large purchase. Suppose you want to go on the vacation of a lifetime and pay for it over 18 months. Using a 0% intro APR credit card could work out, costing you less than taking out a bank loan. And unlike an equity loan, it doesn’t put your home at risk.⁷ Check that the period for which the 0% interest rate applies is comfortably long enough for you to be able to pay off the balance. Also, when calculating the total cost of your holiday, take into account any fees and charges payable on the card.

When considering making a purchase with a 0% intro APR credit card, it’s worth comparing the cost of using the card against any finance offers available for that item, as this might ultimately be cheaper than the card after taking other fees and charges into account.

More Flexibility Than Short-Term Loans

When choosing how to finance such purchases, cost is usually not the only consideration. Flexibility is often a big advantage of using a 0% intro APR credit card instead of a short-term loan.

With a credit card, you can vary your monthly repayment amount, without penalty, as long as you make at least the monthly minimum payment.³ For more, read “How and When to Pay Your Credit Card Bill.” But keep in mind, if you pay only the minimum required, you may not pay off your balance within the 0% grace period.

Still, the ability to reduce your monthly payments and continue to pay off the balance after the 0% period expires is one aspect of borrowing with a credit card that is usually not available with other types of loans, like installment loans. At that point, you’ll pay interest based on the card’s standard APR, but this can nevertheless be an effective way of navigating a temporary variation in your finances.

If you have an outstanding balance at the end of the 0% intro period, you may be able to transfer it to another zero-interest credit card.³ However, card issuers won’t usually let you transfer to another 0% card issued by them, and repeated balance transfers can adversely affect your credit score.¹⁰

Things to Avoid When Using 0% Intro APR Credit Cards

There are at least three things to avoid when using your 0% intro APR credit card:

Using it for general expenses. If you know you’re going to pay for your groceries in full at the end of every month, you may be better suited for a standard credit card with a typical one-month interest-free period and perhaps a cash back or rewards program.
Carrying a balance past the intro period. If you don’t have significant cash savings to pay off your balance in a lump sum, consider setting up a payment schedule that ensures you pay down the balance completely within the 0% period – otherwise, you could face high interest charges on a substantial balance when it ends.³
Breaking the “fine-print” rules. As with all cards, exceeding your credit limit, missing payments, paying late, or otherwise breaking the terms and conditions of the card can adversely affect your credit score. But with 0% intro APR credit cards, it also typically hits your pocket. The issuer could revoke the 0% rate, leaving you paying the card’s standard APR on the outstanding balance and all future purchases.^3,5

The Takeaway

If you’re looking for an inexpensive way of borrowing money for one-off or short-term purchases, 0% intro APR credit cards may be the right answer. When used responsibly, they can cost you less in interest charges than other borrowing options, and their flexibility over repayments can help you manage your finances month-by-month. But as with all cards, be sure your 0% intro APR credit card meets your needs, you understand any fees and charges, and you have a plan for paying down the balance before the introductory period ends.

Blue Cash Preferred Offer Earn $250 Back After spending $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply.

¹ “Credit Cards: Pandemic Assistance Likely Helped Reduce Balances, and Credit Terms Varied Among Demographic Groups,” GAO

² “Consumer Credit - G.19,” Federal Reserve

³ “How Do Intro 0% APR Credit Cards Work?,” Experian

⁴ “What Is a Schumer Box?,” Experian

⁵ “What Happens When You Go Over Your Credit Limit?,” Experian

⁶ “What Is an APR?,” Experian

⁷ “What Is a Cash Advance and How Does It Work?,” Experian

⁸ “Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit,” Federal Trade Commission

⁹ “What Happens When Your 0% Introductory APR Ends,” Experian

¹⁰ “How a Balance Transfer Affects Your Credit Score,” Experian

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Frances Coppola spent 17 years in the financial services industry before becoming a noted writer and speaker on banking, finance, and economics. Her work appears in the Financial Times, Forbes, and a range of financial industry and general-interest publications.

All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.

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