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$0
Annual fee
0%
Intro purchase APR
for the first 15 months (then 11.24% to 20.24% variable)
0%
Intro balance transfer
for the first 15 months (then 11.24% to 20.24% variable)
11.24% to 20.24%
Balance transfer APR (variable)
Product Name | BB&T Bright® Credit Card |
---|---|
Card type | Visa |
Annual fee | $0 |
Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 11.24% to 20.24% variable) |
Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 11.24% to 20.24% variable) |
Balance transfer fee | $10 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
Cash advance rate | 22.24% variable |
Cash advance fee | $10 or 3% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater |
Foreign transaction fee | 3% of the transaction value |
Interest free period | Up to 25 days |
Late payment fee | Up to $38 |
Additional cardholder fee | $0 |
Review by
Kliment Dukovski is a credit cards writer. He's written over 600 articles to help readers find and compare the best credit cards. Kliment has also written on money transfers, home loans and more. Previously, he ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies.
This is a simple, no-annual-fee credit card that offers a solid intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases — and a relatively low APR after that. You can also get cash back at participating retailers, but you won’t get rewards on all of your purchases and you won’t get any signup bonuses.
Thanks to automated preapproval, you can get a decision within a minute. If additional information is required, it may take a few business days up to a few weeks to receive a response.
Upon approval, expect your card to arrive in the mail within seven to 10 business days.
Get a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months following your account opening. After that, a variable APR of 11.24% to 20.24% applies. This is one of the longest intro APR periods you can get when compared with other cards.
With great credit, you could qualify for a relatively low 11.24% variable APR. That’s below the average credit card APR of around 16%. However, the APR range goes as high as 20.24% variable, which can be expensive if you carry a balance from month to month.
Get up to 10% back at participating retailers, including AT&T, Chili’s, DirectTV, Jamba Juice, PetSmart, Sears, Sephora and Starbucks.
To use this feature, you need to download the U by BB&T mobile app and open the Deals tab. Based on your purchasing activity, BB&T will give you limited time deals where you need to add every deal and start spending at the retailer. Cash back is credited to your account the following billing cycle.
You won’t pay an annual fee to own the card.
Get assistance and emergency card replacement when you lose your card. Also, get auto car rental insurance, roadside dispatch and zero liability protection in case of unauthorized purchases.
You can turn your card on or off if you lose it or you can restrict your card usage based on location. Also, you can restrict your card on where it’s used — online or in-store — or you can limit the dollar amount that can be spent per transaction.
If you make late payments, you won’t pay a penalty APR. Other cards have a penalty APR of up to 30%, which you’re stuck with indefinitely.
Most cards let you earn a bonus when you become a customer, such as extra points, cash back or free hotel nights. This card, unfortunately, offers no bonuses.
For every transaction you make outside of the US, you’ll pay 3% fee. This may not seem like much, but it can add up quickly on a trip spanning several days.
This card only offers cash back on some purchases. You’ll receive cash back if you shop with select retailers and add them to your account using the U by BB&T app.
You can make a balance transfer when you open your credit card or request one later. To make the transfer, you’ll need the account number of your existing balance. You’ll also need to provide personal information like your income, employment details and Social Security number.
For each transfer, you’ll pay either a $10 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater. This makes a balance transfer of $1,000 cost $30 in fees.
Balance transfer times will vary, but you can request to cancel any balance transfers within 10 days of making them by calling BB&T at 800-476-4228.
To apply for this card, you must be at least 18 years old.
You’ll also need to provide:
You can add authorized users during your application.
To increase your chances of approval, apply with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher. You’ll need a better credit score to get the lowest possible APR and to get a high credit limit.
The Branch Banking and Trust Company has no rating from the Better Business Bureau as of October 2020, though it’s been accredited since 1974.
Customers generally say the card is far from exciting but gets the job done. Some are especially pleased with their low APR. Additionally, many of them say BB&T’s customer service is excellent and quick to respond to fraudulent charges.
The BB&T Bright® Credit Card‘s strongest benefit is its long intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers and the potentially low APR after that. It can be a good balance transfer card, and a solid choice if you need to make a big purchase now and pay it off over time.
If you have an excellent credit, and you want to carry your balance, this could be the right card for you. Otherwise, check out other low APR or balance transfer credit cards to find the one best suited for your financial frame of mind.