Money Blue Book

Updated List Of Low Interest Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers For Life Below

People utilize balance transfer credit cards for a myriad of reasons such as making money from balance transfer and credit card arbitrage, to paying down and reducing high interest debt by applying for zero percent to low interest credit card offers. While those trying to make money from multiple balance transfers are usually more focused on finding no fee 0% offers that last up to a year long, those trying to pay down credit card debt generally have a much longer time horizon span in mind. My focus here is to provide some practical help to those struggling with high interest credit card debt, and help them find more manageable ways of relieving and resolving this financial burden.

Compared to other forms of loans, credit card debt is particularly hard to handle because it is usually associated with high interest rates in excess of 15-20% or more depending on your credit score and credit history. The longer the credit card debt remains unpaid, the more interest continues to accrue, and the quicker the balance can balloon out of control. That’s why it is important to make a concerted effort towards paying off the debt through regular payment increments. The key to making higher sums of unpaid credit card debt more palatable while you chip away at it is to shift those high interest debts over to accounts that provide lower rates. This can be accomplished either by shifting the card balance over to 0% balance transfer introductory APR offers, or it can be accomplished through the use of so-called lifetime balance transfer credit cards that offer low interest rates. For those with above average to excellent credit scores, I recommend taking the 0% balance transfer route and applying for no interest balance transfers since they offer the least amount of financial investment since no interest is imposed so long as you continue to regularly pay off each month’s minimum card balance.

The biggest downside with 0% cards is that the longer duration offers generally impose some type of 3% upfront balance transfer fee. The more attractive no balance transfer fee offers usually have much shorter durations, limited to 6-12 months periods. Of course, another downside with 0% offers is that after the six months or one year promotional period runs its course, you’ll need to apply for another balance transfer card if you intend to keep rolling over your interest-free debt. 0% balance transfer promos work best for those who anticipate paying off their debt soon within a span of a few months or within a year. However, a great number of those struggling with credit card debt are unable to pay off their cards in such a short period of time. Many also have a tough time micromanaging and handling the stress involved with tracking balance transfer offer expiration dates and having to worry about whether they will qualify for another 0% card offer later on when the time comes. Fortunately, there are alternative options for those with sizable credit card debt, and who find 0% balance transfers too short and burdensome to handle.

Choose The Low Interest Fixed APR Lifetime Balance Transfer Option If You Expect To Carry A Balance For A While (1 Year Or More)

If you know it’s going to take longer than 6 to 12 months to pay off your entire high interest credit card balance, it might pay to get a lifetime balance transfer card and avoid having to keep rolling your balance over to another card every time your current 0% deal expires. These lifetime balance transfer credit cards provide a low and predictable fixed interest rate that stays in place until the balance on the card is paid off. Many lifetime balance transfer deals are frequently free of any upfront balance transfer fees, and rates are often lower and just as competitive as the rates offered by the best bank provided personal loans. Thus those individuals that may take one, two, or even three years of steady snowball or snowflake-type payments to pay off their credit cards may want to consider lifetime balance transfers as a hassle-free alternative to 0% interest cards or loan consolidation options.

A major benefit of low fixed interest rate lifetime balance transfer cards is that the interest rate is usually set, fixed, and predictable for the life of the balance until it’s paid off. You avoid having to deal with tricky interest rates that are likely to reset at much higher standard levels at the end of some 0% balance transfer promotional period. After all special 0% balance transfer offers expire, they usually instantly reset to much higher variable rates of 15-20% APR or more. Securing a low interest balance transfer card right from the start helps avoid that issue by committing yourself to something foreseeable, with no expiration, and which will not suddenly skyrocket in payment obligation, presuming you know how to do a balance transfer correctly and avoid making any big mistakes or slip ups. As with all balance transfer credit cards, it’s important not to use the account for further purchases once you’ve made your balance transfers as the zero or low interest rate will usually only apply to the debt you initially transferred. New and additional purchases will generally be charged a much higher rate.

People who are looking to take advantage of the lifetime balance transfer method of clearing debt should look for the lowest fixed interest rate offer(s) they can find. In some limited circumstances, it may require that you apply to more than just one low fixed rate card to consolidate your high interest debt into lower APR accounts. While owning a low interest rate credit card still means the cardholder is required to pay some interest, having to pay 5%-7% APR is a lot easier and less depressing than having to face an out of control 15%, 20%, or even 25% APR interest rate. However, I highly encourage you to work diligently and persistently at paying off the balance regardless of whether you are under a temporary 0% offer or whether you have a fixed rate for the life of the balance. While the interest rate may be zero or low, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Don’t forget - in the long run, low interest credit card debt is still debt - so get rid of that hanging sword sooner than later!

Special 0% Lifetime Balance Transfer Offers Via Targeted Mailing Offers From Discover Card and Certain Card Issuers

As an additional note, there are certain card issuers out there, most notably, Discover Card, that occasionally send promotional mailers to select consumers for 0% lifetime offers. These offers are quite amazing since the 0% balance transfer deal is for the life of the balance. The invite terms vary depending on individual mailers but in the case of Discover Card, they usually include custom invitation codes that must be entered on their online website to activate.

The Discover Platinum Card lifetime balance transfer offer usually provides a 0% interest rate for a 6-12 month period or so with the right to extend the zero percent balance transfer offer indefinitely thereafter. The catch is that you must make 2 purchases or cash advances for each billing period. As readers of my balance transfer dangers article will know, payments made towards the balance transfer card get counter-intuitively applied to lower interest balances first. Thus, until the larger 0% balance is paid off, additional purchases get pushed to the back of the line where they silently accrue interest at the standard high rate for purchases. Some of the Discover Card mailer terms impose no minimum limit to the purchase amount so in theory you could use the card to buy two 25 cent candies each month and qualify for the 0% lifetime balance transfer forever. However, not all of the offers are the same and some mailer invitation terms require a minimum monthly purchase charge of $50 or more to maintain the 0% lifetime balance transfer program.

Unfortunately, because this is a targeted offer based on Discover Card’s own snail mail marketing efforts, there are no direct online sign up links. I am also not aware of any other direct online application links to zero balance transfer credit card offers for life provided by other card issuers.

The Following Credit Cards Offer Low APR Interest Rates For Balance Transfers (Currently, The Vast Majority Of Fixed Low Interest Lifetime Balance Transfer Deals Have Been Abrogated In Favor Of Term Offers):

As always, note that even consumers can qualify for business credit cards simply by listing their Social Security Numbers (SSN) as their business tax ID’s. This is perfectly legal and permissible as even individuals can operate as sole proprietorship businesses utilizing their personal names.

1. Advanta Platinum Business Card With Unlimited Rewards - Get a 0% APR rate for 15 months on introductory balance transfers, and a 7.99% fixed APR thereafter. There is a 3% balance transfer fee, but it is limited to a maximum of $90.
2. Capital One Platinum Prestige - Get a comparatively low variable 8.9% APR on both purchases and balance transfers. There is a balance transfer fee of 3%.
3. Clear From American Express - The Amex Clear Card has a 3.99% fixed APR for 12 months on all balance transfers submitted during the online application process. The card also offers up to 12 months of 0% APR for all credit card purchases. There is no balance transfer fee.
4. Blue From American Express - Get a very low 2.99% fixed APR interest rate for 12 months transferred during the application process. There is a 3% balance transfer fee but it is limited to a maximum of $99.
5. Blue Cash® From American Express - Get a very low 2.99% fixed APR interest for 12 months on all balances transferred. The Blue Cash also offers an introductory 0% APR rate for all purchases for a period of up to 12 months. There is a 3% balance transfer fee but it is limited to a maximum of $99.
6. Blue Sky From American Express® - Get a 2.99% fixed APR for 12 months for balance transfers made at the time of the application. There is a 3% balance transfer fee but it is also limited to a maximum of $99.

Warning: Before you apply for a 0% balance transfer credit card offer, you need to read and heed the following words of advice. If you want to know how the actual zero percent balance transfer process works, please read this guide to making balance transfers as well - in tandem with the article below. Both will help better educate you regarding this powerful but rule-laden process.

Using A Balance Transfer Card As A Financial Safety Net

While some debt reduction pundits discourage the use of balance transfer credit cards, I respectfully disagree with their blanket rejection of this invaluable financial tool. While I concur that the use of credit cards is not for everyone and misuse can lead to out of control credit card debt, I think the responsible use of credit should be viewed as an integral aspect of debt reduction and sound financial planning.

I myself have relied and depended on 0% balance transfer offers in the past to get through periods of financial difficulty. There were several times in my life when I incurred major unexpected expenses that I was unable to financially cover on my own - examples such as large unanticipated tax bills and emergency car repair charges. Other times I simply did not have the cash flow available to pay off my monthly bills despite having a stable, entry level job at the time. Rather than resorting to something reckless like stooping for a high interest payday loan, I applied for credit cards that offered introductory 0% APR interest rates on 12 month balance transfers. With the infusion of instant money on 0% balance transfer credit, I was able to weather the financial storm, rather than relying on the charity of family or friends. Balance transfers help you bail yourself out of difficult times but still maintain that key financial independence, and doing so in a responsible and planned out way.

Using A Balance Transfer Card To Make Money and Profit

While I’ve used 0% balance transfer offers for emergency parachute purposes, I’ve also used them to earn free interest money. By depositing the 0% balance transfer funds into a high yield savings account, I was able to make money from what was essentially zero interest loans. Whether your need or want for credit depends on a single card or multiple card offers, the risks and pitfalls with balance transfers remain the same. Balance transfer cards are certainly very lucrative and powerful financial tools, but they have rules that must be followed and adhered to.

Here are some of the key mistakes and pitfalls to avoid, that all balance transfer enthusiasts must pay attention to. These are all key balance transfer components that have a high tendency to trip people up. Proper knowledge and credit education can help cardholders avoid turning their balance transfer lifelines into balance transfer disasters.

1) Some 0% Balance Transfer Offers Have Balance Transfer Fees - When you apply for a balance transfer offer, there are two important components you must find out - the balance transfer APR interest rate and the balance transfer fee, if any. The interest rate is the percentage rate that you will need to pay the card company if you carry an unpaid credit balance from month to month. With new introductory 0% balance transfer offers, the interest rate should be zero.

The balance transfer fee is the one time cost of executing the balance transfer transaction. The usual fee percentage is 3%, but many cards set maximum fee limits of $50-$75 for the one time charge. However there are some special balance transfer cards that offer 0% interest rates with no balance transfer fees. The terms and conditions of no balance transfer fee cards usually expressly indicate that pursuant to the 0% balance transfer offer, the transfer fee is waived. Those types of offers are perfect for consumers looking to transfer high interest debt to a zero percent credit card and for those looking to weather a financial emergency, because it’s possible to avoid all upfront or subsequent fees completely. On the other hand, those looking to profit or make money from balance transfer arbitrage usually don’t mind the balance transfer fees as much, because their goal is to maximize their total 0% credit line.

If you don’t want to go through the trouble of examining the detailed fine print of all available credit card offers, I’ve done most of the work for you:

• List of All 0% Balance Transfer Cards - Includes a complete list of all 6-12 month offers with everything from 0% to 3% balance transfer fees.
• List of 0% No Balance Transfer Fee Cards - Only balance transfer cards with no fees are listed. The length of each introductory 0% APR period varies.

2) Keep Track of the Balance Transfer Duration and Expiration Date - Along with the interest rate and balance transfer fee, savvy consumers need to know and remember the length of the 0% introductory period. The length of most promotional offers is usually 6-12 months although the period varies based on individual card terms. The introductory balance transfer clock usually starts when the first balance transfer request is made. So long as there are no credit card term violations such as a late monthly payment, the 0% interest rate remains in effect for the duration of the promotional period. Once the transfer has been made, I highly recommend calling or emailing your card issuer to request the exact expiration date of the balance transfer. I suggest that you circle the target date on your calendar. I personally use my Yahoo email calendar function to set online reminders for myself a month and a week before balance transfer expiration.

3) Don’t Make A Cash Advance Instead Of A Balance Transfer By Mistake - Do not make the very critical and significant mistake of requesting a cash advance rather than a balance transfer. While they may seemingly operate in similar ways, they are not the same. A cash advance is initiated when you cash one of those credit card convenience checks that the card issuer occasionally sends you, or when you use your credit card at an ATM machine to access your credit limit. Always avoid cash advances if you can because unlike 0% balance transfer offers, a cash advance usually has very high fees and high interest rates. If you make a cash advance, it effectively destroys the benefit of your introductory 0% balance transfer offer. Always make sure and verify that it is indeed a balance transfer being made, and not a cash advance.

It should be noted that certain credit card issuers like Citibank do issue balance transfer checks. Rather than requiring from you a credit card balance to transfer, Citibank will upon request, simply send you a balance transfer check for the entire balance transfer amount you request. The check can be deposited into any bank account you wish like any ordinary check. While it may resemble a cash advance convenience check, it is labeled and categorized differently.

3) Always Make Sure You Pay Your Monthly Credit Card Bill On Time - This point is absolutely critical. Should you accidentally or intentionally default or fail to pay your monthly credit card bill on time, your introductory zero interest rate will reset at much higher rates. Normal credit card interest rates vary, but they usually average around 10-20% APR give or take. The rate might not seem like a lot but when you are talking about balance transfers, imagine defaulting on a $10,000 balance transfer offer and suddenly having to pay back the entire amount immediately or face significant interest fees. Thus, you want to always make sure you pay off your minimum balance on time every month. I cannot overemphasize enough - Do not fail to pay or make a single late minimum payment. In the event you are late, there is a small chance the card issuer may be generous enough to restore your introductory 0% balance transfer rate as a courtesy gesture. It worked for me at least once in the past, but then again, I had a blemish free payment history prior to that.

I highly recommend setting up automatic debit payments to have the minimum balance instantly withdrawn from your linked bank account when the monthly balance comes due. Setting upon account alerts is also a smart idea. You should always review your monthly statement regularly to check for any unintended or unknown charges, just in case.

As an additional reminder, if you are transferring a balance from another credit card, make sure the old card’s balance has been completely paid off and the bill has been set to zero before you stop paying it. Sometimes it takes a week or more for the balance transfer request to be made effective.

4) The 0% Balance Transfer Offer Does Not Extend To Purchases - While the credit card balance you transfer to the 0% card will carry the introductory zero fee rate, subsequent purchases using the credit card will not enjoy the same 0%, but rather will be applied towards the card’s ordinary interest rate for purchases. If you are using the card primarily as a balance transfer card, I recommend that you remove it from your wallet and place it at home so that you don’t accidentally use it to swipe a purchase. I always attach a “do not use” Post-It warning on my active balance transfer cards at home so I don’t use it by mistake. If you are interested in credit cards that offer 0% APR interest rates for both balance transfers and credit purchases, you will need to apply for those that have that particular promotion.

• Here is a list of 0% purchase and balance transfer credit card offers that I’ve compiled.

5) Payments Are Applied To Lower Interest Charges First - Almost all balance transfer fine print will specifically indicate that payments made by cardholders towards their card balance will be applied to lower interest charges first. This means that when you make a payment, it goes toward the 0% portion of your credit card balance first, not the higher-rate portion for purchases. This is crucial because it is completely counter-intuitive and opposite of what cardholders would logically do.

Let’s say you transferred a balance of $5,000, then made a purchase for $100. You will now be paying the regular credit card interest of 15% on that $100 item until the $5,000 balance is completely paid off. This is a balance transfer killer that you absolutely want to avoid since you will now be compelled to pay off the entire balance in full immediately or face recurring interest charges. If you want to make 0% interest purchases, then seek a credit card that offers 0% for both purchases and balance transfers.

6) Don’t Rush To Pay Off Your 0% Balance - You should try to take the most advantage of the interest free grace period offered by the balance transfer offer by putting the extra cash in a high yield savings account. At the end of the 0% grace period, you should then withdraw the money from the bank account and use the accumulated money, plus the interest it has earned, to repay your credit card bill. After paying off the balance, there should be leftover interest money - profit from taking advantage of the 0% balance transfer offer.

7) Don’t Cancel Your Balance Transfer Cards After The 0% Introductory Grace Period Is Over - While this one is merely advisory and not a crucial mistake like the ones above, I think there are a few solid reasons why you shouldn’t cancel your card after the balance transfer period is over. You should keep the card active because sometimes the card issuer will try to attract you with another complimentary 0% no balance transfer fee offer. Another reason is that closing your card account has the noticeable effect of dropping your FICO credit score because it lowers your total credit line available, and increases your credit utilization ratio. If you insist on canceling the card, at the very least you should roll the credit limit onto another card by the same credit issuer. That way, while you reduce the number of cards, you still maintain the same credit utilization.

Follow The Above Rules, And You Will Succeed With Balance Transfers

Another thing you might be wondering is - if these balance transfer deals are truly free and cost nothing, how do credit card companies make money from these type of offers? The answer lies in the fact that statistically, some balance transfer cardholders will inevitably fail to follow the card offer terms and wind up making one of the key blunders described above. Credit card issuers know that some consumers won’t pay attention to the details and will end up paying penalty fees and interest.

Remember to play by the credit card rules to fully profit and benefit from lucrative 0% balance transfer offers. Using a balance transfer is not really meant to be some clever trick or credit card hack - so long as you pay attention to details and educate yourself thoroughly, you too can learn to utilize it as one of your financial planning tools, just like me.

Updated Compilation Of All The Best 0% Balance Transfer Offers Below

If you are searching for a promotional balance transfer card, or if you are looking to eliminate some high interest debt by shifting your balance over to versatile credit cards that offer zero to low interest rates, then you’ve definitely come to the right place. The following list is a good starting point for credit card arbitrage and 0% balance transfer seekers looking to borrow interest free money or to make a profit. Below is my compilation list of the best no interest balance transfer offers available from all issuers. I am always on the lookout for new and better balance transfer credit cards so do check back for future updates.

As a general matter, taking on a 0% balance transfer goes beyond just requesting your balance transfer check. Getting the 0% credit card loan is relatively easy - the trickier part is learning to properly micro manage the transferred balance details from credit card application to promo expiration. But once you familiarize yourself with how to make a 0% balance transfer and understand the benefits and risks of balance transfer cards, you will find the procedure rather straight forward. As with all financial vehicles, the key is to understand the ins and outs before taking on the responsibility and assuming the inherent, but controllable risks involved.

Balance transfer offers are uniquely versatile in that they can serve numerous functions including balance transfer arbitrage and high interest debt reduction. For those struggling with high interest credit card debt but still maintain a decent credit score, shifting debt onto 0% APR balance transfer cards to hold back the burden of high interest rates while gradually working towards paying off debt is always a viable safety net option. Personally, I’ve taken advantage of balance transfer offers numerous times before, usually to weather through unexpected financial emergencies. Of course I always strive to pay back the full balance transfer amount at the end of the offer period.

All of the individual balance transfer credit card deals listed below offer introductory 0% APR interest with no annual fee. I have also listed the length of the balance transfer promotional period for each offer and indicated whether any balance transfer fee applies.

0% Balance Transfer Offers With No Fees (6-9 months)

1. IberiaBank Visa Platinum Rewards Card - 6 months (no balance transfer fee)
2. IberiaBank Visa Gold Cash Back Rewards Card - 6 months (no fee).
3. IberiaBank Visa Classic Card - 6 months (no fee)
4. Pulaski Bank Visa Card - 6 months (no fee)
5. Pulaski Bank Gold Visa Card - 6 months (no fee)

Best Of The Rest 0% APR Credit Card Offers For Balance Transfers (Unless Otherwise Noted, All Are For Balance Transfer Periods Up To 12 Months) - Note That Some Are For Periods Of 15 Months!

(Sign-up bonus offers are noted. Balance transfer fee percentages and maximum transfer fees are listed in parenthesis)

1. Advanta Net 90 Platinum Business Card - 0% APR for all purchases (permanent rolling periods of 3 months)
2. Miles By Discover Card - (3% fee, $75 max)
3. Discover More Card - (3% fee, $75 max)
4. Discover More Card - Clear - (3% fee, $75 max)
5. Discover More Card - American Flag - (3% fee, $75 max)
6. Discover More Card - Wildlife Collection - (3% fee, $75 max)
7. Discover More Card - Sealife Collection - (3% fee, $75 max)
8. Discover More Monogram Card - (3% fee, $75 max)
9. Discover Open Road Card - (3% fee, $75 max)
10. Citi CashReturns Card - (3% fee)
    
11. Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card - (3% fee)
12. Citi Platinum Select Card - (3% fee)
13. Citi mtvU Card For Students - (3% fee) - 6 months for both 0% balance transfers and 0% no fee purchases

If you’re like most consumers, you will probably need to apply for jobs or take out loans to buy a car or a house sometime in your life. What do these things have in common? They all may require that you have a decent credit score to reasonably qualify.

Currently, the most uniformly and commonly used credit scoring system is the FICO score, developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation. The competing credit bureaus have come up with their own scoring systems with various names including VantageScore and Plus score. However, they are all imitators at best and not universally used or recognized by lenders and creditors. There’s a reason why many refer to these other scores as “FAKO” scores. The FICO score is still the most widely used method. If you want to compare apples with apples, then it’s best to keep your historical credit scores consistent and stick with the FICO. That’s the only credit score I really care about.

Many employers today use credit scores to initially gauge prospective job applicants. Even rental apartments frequently run credit checks to make sure future tenants have a history of making good on credit payments. Credit lenders use people’s FICO scores to determine whether the person gets approved for credit, how quickly they get approved for credit, the extent of the credit limit, and what kind of terms they get. Those with lower credit scores tend to get stuck with terms that demand higher interest payments and stricter down payment requirements. These days, your FICO score is almost becoming a reflection of your financial trustworthiness so it’s in your best interest to keep periodic tabs on your credit score changes and credit report activity.

Not everyone lives a financially perfect life and we’ve all made financial mistakes or have had unintentional credit difficulty in the past or even currently. Some people like myself even voluntarily subject our FICO credit scores to punishment so we can can take advantage of free interest money generated by no balance transfer fee cards. Either way, it takes time to recover from major credit hits and lapses.

However There Are Several Things You Can Do To Better Understand and Improve Your Credit Score Situation:

1) Check Your Credit Report and Credit Score Regularly - Knowledge is power. It’s important and wise to check your credit report and score regularly and know where you stand in the eyes of creditors. Having a stellar FICO credit score isn’t as immediately important if you’re still many months or years away from needing a major loan for a house or car, but it still affects your chances for things like jobs and credit cards.Be careful of some websites that purport to offer free or easy to request credit reports. Sometimes requesting from these companies will lead to hard credit pulls that may hurt and lower your credit score - essentially the credit bureaus think you are asking to borrow money and the creditor is checking your credit. I recommend sticking with more reputable sites that offer free credit scores, like MyFICO which I currently use to track my credit situation.

2) Don’t Cancel Credit Card Accounts - Many people mistakenly think that if they cancel their credit card accounts, that it will have a positive effect on their credit score. This is incorrect and in fact, canceling older accounts may actually hurt your score. The FICO score relies heavily on the average age of your credit accounts to calculate your credit worthiness score. The longer a particular credit account has been around, the more beneficial its presence will have on your credit score.The other key component of the FICO score is your total credit utilization ratio, which is the total amount you currently owe on all of your revolving credit cards divided by the total credit limit available to you. Closing an unused credit card reduces the amount of credit available to you, making it seem like you are closer to maxing out your credit cards. Once the cards have been issued and activated, the credit ding’s already been made so canceling thereafter won’t help your score. Try to store the cards away in a safe place if you don’t use them, and resist the temptation to cancel if you can.

3) If You Must Cancel, Don’t Close Old Accounts But Start With Newer Cards First - Sometimes canceling credit accounts is the only option. If you are having extreme difficulty managing credit and find the temptation utterly irresistible, perhaps canceling a few cards is your best path to a more secure financial future. Consumers frequently seek to cancel their higher interest rate cards first, but in terms of your credit score, you are better off canceling your newer cards first, even if they have the lower interest rates.

4) Pay Down Your Total Debt and Lower Your Overall Credit Usage Ratio - Paying off the minimum payment required on time is important but it’s important to keep your total utilization ratio as low as possible, preferably under 30 percent. Since a large FICO credit score component is your total credit utilization ratio, try to lower your usage by either paying off your outstanding debt or by calling your credit card company and requesting a credit limit increase.

5) Resist the In-Store Temptation To Open Credit Accounts - I’ve written about the dangers of applying for department store credit cards. Each time you apply for one, the resulting hard credit inquiry will hurt your FICO credit score. The one time retail discount you’ll get isn’t worth the credit hassle.

6) Be Aware Of Credit Inquiries That Will Affect Your Credit Score - Frequent hard credit checks by creditors will negatively affect your score, but soft checks made by you will not. Always make sure you are aware of what type of inquiry is being made when you request your credit report or score - whether it is a hard credit pull or a soft pull. Try to keep the frequency of hard credit inquiries as low as possible, but if you need credit, it’s more beneficial to request them all within a short span. A rapid succession of inquiries made by credit institutions like banks, credit card companies, or auto loan financing companies within a short period of time (under a 1-2 week window) will usually be considered as one credit ding.