Chase launches new Slate Edge card, replaces legacy Slate

This summer has brought multiple new credit cards to the market, as well as upgrades to existing products.

On July 18, 2021, Chase joined other major credit card issuers with an update to the Chase Slate card. The issuer is retiring the card and replacing it with the new Chase Slate Edge℠*.

The new card comes with an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, automatic credit limit increases and – its most exciting feature – annual APR reductions if a cardholder meets certain conditions.

What the new Chase Slate Edge offers

The Chase Slate Edge marks the issuer’s reentry into the non-rewards credit card market. The card is designed to help cardholders reduce their credit card debt and encourages responsible credit card usage.

See related: Credit cards that will teach you financial responsibility

Like the retiring Slate card, the new Slate Edge offers an intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers – 0% for 12 months (14.99%-23.74% variable APR thereafter). This period is shorter than the 15 months that the original Slate offered.

Additionally, the new card doesn’t provide an option to avoid the balance transfer fee by transferring the balance in the first 60 days. The 3% balance transfer fee kicks in right away.

The most exciting features of the revamped card have to do with incentivizing good credit behavior. For instance, Slate Edge cardholders who spend at least $500 in the first six months and make all their payments on time become automatically eligible for a credit line increase.

See related: How to request a credit line increase with Chase

Further, card users who spend at least $1,000 each year and always pay on time will have 2% APR reduction annually.

The reduction, of course, will have its limits and will stop once the APR has reached the prime rate plus 9.74%. This means currently, the lowest APR you can get is 12.99%.

Additional card benefits include access to Chase’s digital credit tools like Credit Journey and My Chase Plan.

Retiring Chase Slate is closed for applications

The Chase Slate has been closed for online applications for quite some time now, but according to Chase, it was still available in-branch.

Now, the card has been officially retired. Current cardholders, however, can still use it as usual. If you have a Slate card, you won’t be automatically converted to the Slate Edge. We expect current cardholders to be able to product change to the new Slate Edge – as was the case with the Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Flex℠.

Chase Slate vs. Chase Slate Edge

Who should apply for the Chase Slate Edge?

The legacy Chase Slate was an attractive product for those looking to finance a large purchase or transfer a balance. The 15-month intro period was competitive, and the opportunity to avoid balance transfer fees made the card especially appealing.

This is not the case with the Chase Slate Edge. There are many other credit cards with longer 0% APR and balance transfer intro periods.

On the other hand, the Slate Edge may be worth looking into if you tend to carry a balance. In this scenario, you could transfer a balance from a credit card with a high APR and save on interest even if you don’t pay it off by the end of the promo period.

If you continue to carry a balance in the long run, the Slate Edge may also save you some money and encourage you to continue paying down your credit card debt.

If you decide to apply for the Chase Slate Edge, the card currently comes with a limited-time offer: You can get a $100 bonus credit when you spend $500 in the first three months.

*All information about the  Chase Slate Edge has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.