Both the Citi Diamond Preferred and U.S. Bank Visa Platinum have similar offers. However, when you look at the details, the Citi Diamond Preferred is the winner — but only by a few inches. The Citi Diamond Preferred offers a 0 percent introductory APR on balance transfers for the first 21 months (17.49% – 28.24% (Variable) thereafter). The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum has extended its intro APR offer from 18 billing cycles to 21 (17.99% – 28.99% (Variable) thereafter), making it much more competitive.
For the purchase intro APR, the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum card offers a 0 percent intro APR period on purchases for a whopping 21 billing cycles (17.99% – 28.99% (Variable) thereafter), while the Citi Diamond Preferred offers a 0 percent intro APR on purchases for 12 months (17.49% – 28.24% (Variable) thereafter). That makes the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum equally attractive for consumers trying to pay off their debt or who need a breather to buy an expensive item.
On the flip side, it can also be a distraction to those who want to focus solely on paying down their debt. This is where the Citi Diamond Preferred takes the lead, especially considering that its ongoing interest rate is lower than the U.S. Bank Platinum’s. Plus, with the Citi Diamond Preferred, you’ll have four months to transfer your balances, whereas the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum only provides 60 days to qualify for the introductory APR.
In essence, the Diamond Preferred is likely ideal for balance transfers, while the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum is a good option for funding large, upcoming purchases.
