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Visa Gold credit card

The golden standard abroad, but a simple card in the US.

Kliment Dukovski
Kliment Dukovski

Updated

Fact checked
In other countries, Visa Gold cards are considered a premium choice. But in the US, Visa Gold cards are mostly characterized by the low APR on purchases and balance transfers.

However, if you’re looking to earn rewards on your purchases, a Visa Gold credit card may not be a good choice.

Who benefits the most from a Visa Gold credit card?

This largely depends on what kind of Visa Gold card you choose. But if you are looking for one or more of these listed features, you might benefit from such a card.

  • Low APR.
    All Gold Visa cards come with low APR, below the average of 17%. A couple come with a fixed APR of 9.99% on purchases.
  • 0% intro APR.
    The PenFed Gold Visa® Card offers 12 months of 0% intro APR period on balance transfers. After that, you’ll pay a variable APR of 7.49% to 17.99%. There’s only one other card with this perk, which also extends the intro period on purchases and cash advances, but it doesn’t last as long.
  • Building credit.
    Your options include two secured Visa Gold cards, which can help you build your credit if you use the cards responsibly.
  • No annual fee.
    You’ll typically find that unsecured Visa Gold cards have no annual fee. Some of the cards even waive foreign transaction fees and balance transfer fees.

What are the drawbacks of a Visa Gold card?

This type of cards comes with specific benefits, but it’s not all shiny. Here’s what to watch out for:

  • Annual fee for secured cards.
    Expect an annual fee of up to $49 if you get a secured Visa Gold card.
  • Foreign transaction fees for secured cards.
    Secured Visa Gold cards tend to come with a foreign transaction fee.
  • No signup bonus.
    No card offers this perk except for the PenFed Gold Visa® Card, which offers a $100 statement credit when you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days of card membership.

Compare Visa Gold cards

Name Product Filter values Rewards Purchase APR Annual fee
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
N/A
9.99% fixed
$48
Apply now
View details
No credit check is required for this secured card. Make a deposit of at least $200 to open this card and get a low 9.99% fixed APR on purchases.
Plains Commerce Bank Visa Gold®
Plains Commerce Bank Visa Gold®
N/A
See issuer's website
$0
View details
Arvest Visa Gold card
Arvest Visa Gold card
N/A
See issuer's website
$0
View details
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Compare up to 4 providers

Bottom line

Despite having gold in its name, this is not a premium credit card. You can choose from secured cards that come with an annual fee and low APR, or unsecured cards that come with no annual fee and a slightly higher APR. However, no Visa Gold card offers rewards of any kind.

If you don’t find this type of card appealing, compare other credit cards until you find the right fit for your wallet.

Image: Shutterstock

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