Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
The Union Bank® Platinum™ Visa® Credit Card used to be an excellent option for refinancing credit card debt. It was the rare card offering both a 0% intro APR on balance transfers and no balance transfer fee on transfers completed within the first 60 days. After U.S. Bank's acquisition of Union Bank, this card is no longer available. See some alternatives and learn what else this card offered in our full Union Bank® Platinum™ Visa® Credit Card review.
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
|
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
|
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Full Union Bank Platinum Visa review
This credit card was a good fit for: Consumers interested in avoiding credit card interest charges, either on existing debt or new purchases.
Pros
- 0% intro APR
- Low intro balance transfer fee offer
- No annual fee
- Purchase security
Cons
- No rewards
- Foreign transaction fees
Top perks
The Union Bank® Platinum™ Visa® Credit Card offered a few high-value benefits.
0% intro APR for 15 months
This credit card had a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months. So, you could use it to pay for expensive new purchases or transfer over any credit card debt costing you money. In either case, it provided 15 months to pay off everything without any interest charges.
That's not the absolute longest offer we've seen, but it's competitive with other 0% APR credit cards. And while many of these cards have a great intro APR offer on purchases or balance transfers, the Union Bank® Platinum™ Visa® Credit Card offered the same low rate on both.
Low intro balance transfer fee offer
This card had a $0 introductory balance transfer fee for transfers completed within 60 days of account opening. After that, each transfer had a 3% fee with a $10 minimum.
COMPARE TOP PICKS: Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
No annual fee
The main reason to get a low interest credit card is to save money. You save more when your card doesn't have any extra fees, like an annual fee. This credit card from Union Bank didn't charge an annual fee.
Purchase security
The Union Bank® Platinum™ Visa® Credit Card had complimentary purchase security, its term for purchase protection. This benefit covered eligible items bought with the card that are damaged or stolen, up to a coverage maximum of $500 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder.
What could be improved
There were a couple of drawbacks to this Union Bank card.
No rewards
This credit card didn't earn any rewards, either in the form of cash back or points. Some cards have a 0% intro and allow you to earn rewards on your purchases.
Interested in earning rewards? Check out The Ascent's picks for the best rewards credit cards.
Foreign transaction fee
The Union Bank® Platinum™ Visa® Credit Card charged a 3% foreign transaction fee. This applied to purchases made outside the United States and with international banks.
Suggested credit score
A FICO® Score of 670 or higher was suggested when applying for the Union Bank® Platinum™ Visa® Credit Card. It was aimed at consumers with good credit or excellent credit.
Want to improve your credit? See The Ascent's guide to how to increase your credit score.
The Union Bank Platinum Visa is right for you if:
The Union Bank® Platinum™ Visa® Credit Card was one of the top options for consumers who wanted to save money on credit card debt with a balance transfer offer. Since it's no longer available, make sure to check out other credit card reviews to find one that fits your needs.
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
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The Union Bank® Platinum™ Visa® Credit Card was a balance transfer credit card. It's no longer available due to U.S. Bank's acquisition of Union Bank.
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The Union Bank® Platinum™ Visa® Credit Card offered a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. It also had a $0 intro balance transfer fee for transfers completed within the first 60 days.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
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Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Wells Fargo is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, PayPal, Target, U.S. Bancorp, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Discover Financial Services and recommends the following options: short June 2024 $67.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.