Chase Slate® Credit Card: Great For Paying Down Credit Card Debt

The Chase Slate® Credit Card offers a no-fee balance transfer which is its primary benefit. As such, the card is ideal for those trying to pay down debt. This article dives deep into why this card is great for paying down credit card debt.

For credit card users looking for a solution to eliminating debt without paying balance transfer fees, the Chase Slate® credit card is an attractive option.

Known for its generous intro 0% APR period for balance transfers and further buoyed by no annual fee, this credit card is a standout among balance transfer cards.

If you want to get out of a cycle of debt, it might seem contradictory to apply for yet another credit card.

But this isn’t just any credit card, and if you qualify, the Chase Slate® can help you climb out of debt faster than any other card in its category.

In this article:

Pros and Cons of Chase Slate® Credit Card

Pros

0% introductory APR for the first 15 months, including on balance transfers
No-fee balance transfer when you transfer within your first 60 days with the card
Free FICO® score
No annual fee
No penalty APR

Cons

No points or cash back
3% foreign transaction fee
Can’t transfer balances from another Chase account

Smart Features

0% introductory APR – The Chase Slate credit card comes with a 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months after you get approved for the card. The 0% APR applies to new purchases and to old balances you transfer to the card.

Smart Tip: Be sure you make the 60-day deadline if you want to take advantage of the fee-free balance transfer. After the first 60 days, your account is open, the fee for balance transfers bumps to 5% of the balance transferred or $5, whichever is greater.

Free monthly FICO® score – If you’re on the road to rebuilding your credit, you’ll appreciate the fact that the Chase Slate card comes with a free monthly FICO® score. The feature makes it easy to keep an eye on your credit score and watch it rise as you pay down your debt.

No annual fee – You won’t have to worry about an annual fee with the Chase Slate card. The card’s perks are available to consumers free of charge.

No penalty APR – If you have balances to transfer to a card like the Chase Slate card, it’s because you missed making full payment in the past.

If you think you’re at risk of missing a future payment, you’ll appreciate that the Chase Slate card doesn’t charge a penalty APR if you fall behind on a statement.

How it Works

The 60-day window for a fee-free balance transfer starts as soon as your account is approved and opened, not as soon as you receive the card.

That means you shouldn’t put off the balance transfer process for too long because you don’t want to miss that deadline.

Your APR on purchases and transferred balances will be 0% for your first 15 months with the card. After that, your APR will be between 16.49% – 25.24% Variable, depending on your credit score. It’s a variable rate that can change with the Prime Rate.

As a balance transfer card, the Chase Slate credit card doesn’t really have a catch. It offers generous terms on transferred balances and on regular purchases for 15 months. The regular APR range, 16.49% – 25.24% Variable, is not astronomical. Plus, there’s no penalty APR.

Where the card falls short is in perks like rewards and cashback. The Chase Slate credit card offers neither.

If you want a credit card that will help you earn money back on your purchases or rack up points you can use on travel and meals out, the Chase Slate card is not right for you.

Another potential downside to consider is that the Chase Slate card requires a good or excellent credit score for approval.

What You Should Consider Before Applying For Chase Slate®

There are a few factors to keep in mind while deciding if Chase Slate® is right for you:

APR Rises After 15 Months

After the 0% intro APR period ends, you’ll be charged a variable APR of 16.74%-25.49% on your remaining transferred balance as well as on any new or future purchases or balances transferred to this card.

Balance Transfer Fee After 60 Days

If you transfer a balance within 60 days after you obtain Chase Slate®, you won’t have to pay a fee. Miss the cutoff, however, and the balance transfer fee rises to 5% or $5 minimum.

Balance Transfer Offer Capped

The promotional balance transfer offer is an important benefit of Chase Slate®. But the benefit isn’t unlimited. You can’t transfer more to the card than your available credit limit or $15,000, whichever is lower. And you can’t transfer balances from other Chase® accounts to this card.

No Rewards Program

Since balance transfers are the main focus of Chase Slate®, it doesn’t come with perks like a sign-up bonus, rewards program, or cashback that other types of cards might offer.

Late Fees

Chase Slate® won’t hit you with a rate spike if you pay late, but you could be charged a late fee.

Interest Rates

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for Purchases

After your 15 months at the introductory APR of 0%, your APR will be 16.49% – 25.24% Variable, depending on your credit score. This APR is variable, which means it can fluctuate with the Prime Rate.

APR for Balance Transfers

After 15 months at a 0% APR, your APR on any transferred balances will be the same as your regular APR – 16.49% – 25.24% Variable, depending on your credit score. This APR is variable, meaning it can change with the Prime Rate.

APR for Cash Advances

The APR for cash advances is 26.49% Variable. This APR varies with the Prime Rate.

Penalty APR and When It Applies

None

How to Avoid Paying Interest on Purchases

Your due date is at will be a minimum of 21 days after the close of each billing cycle. You will not be charged any interest on purchases if you pay your entire balance by the due date each month.

Fees

Annual Fee:

Transaction Fees

Balance Transfer: $0 intro fee if you transfer within 60 days of opening the account. After 60 days, there is a balance transfer fee of 5% or $5, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.

Foreign Purchase Transaction: 3% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Penalty Fees

Late Payment: Up to $39

Returned Payment: Up to $39

Alternative Balance Transfer Cards

Credit Card Name	0% Intro APR Period	Special Offers
AMEX Everyday	15 Months	15,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 on purchases in your first 3 months.
Capital One Quicksilver	15 Months	One-time $150 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening & 1.5% cash back on every purchase.

Who This Card is Good For

If you fall into any of these categories, you may view it as a favorable card:

You want to cut through the credit card balances that have been accruing interest. (See below on how to be smart about making a balance transfer.)
You do not want to pay an annual fee.
While you may like the idea of getting rewards for using a credit card, you tend to carry a balance and never get around to redeeming rewards.

FAQs

1. Why doesn’t the credit card offer rewards?

When credit cards offer market-leading intro APRs — such as the Chase Slate® credit card‘s 0% intro APR for 15 months — they tend not to offer many bells and whistles. If you want rewards, you’ll typically have to live with a shorter intro APR.

2. What is a penalty APR?

A penalty APR is an interest rate assessed to your account for specific infractions, like late or missing payments. Some banks assess penalty APRs of up to 29.99% if you make just one late payment. Penalty rates often last for six months or longer.

3. Does Chase offer a mobile app?

Yes. Use Chase’s free mobile app to access your account, track your spending, see your current balance and pay your bills.

4. How do I cancel a Chase Slate credit card?

If you need to cancel your credit card, make sure you have completely paid your card balance and have no pending charges. Then, call Chase’s customer service department at (800) 432-3117 and ask for your card account to be closed. You can submit a written cancellation request to Chase, which will provide you with proof of your cancellation request date in case there is any dispute.

5. What’s the difference between Chase Slate and Chase Freedom?

The Chase Slate is strictly a balance transfer card. The Chase Freedom also offers a low introductory APR on balance transfers, but it also earns cashback rewards and has a $150 cash back bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months.

For the disciplined credit card user who wants a straightforward method to pay off credit card debt, the Chase Slate® credit card may be the best Chase credit card for you.

You won’t have to worry about adding to your credit card debt and can manage it effectively with this card, thanks to its low-fee structure.

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Chase Slate® Credit Card: Great For Paying Down Credit Card Debt