BB&T Bright card review

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The BB&T Bright Card’s 11.24 percent low-end variable APR is far below average. While it’s always better to pay off your balance in full every month, this card’s APR is much lower than the average credit card’s 17.73 percent rate. The benefits don’t end there. There is no annual fee and zero percent APR for both balance transfers and purchases for 15 months.

Introductory 0 percent APR

The BB&T Bright Card comes with an introductory 0 percent interest rate for both balance transfers and purchases for a respectable 15 months (11.24 to 20.24 percent variable APR thereafter). That gives you a chance to consolidate debts from your other high-interest cards and still buy a couple of high-ticket items that you’d like to pay for over time.

No penalty APR

The lack of a penalty APR is one major plus of this card for cost-conscious consumers. More often than not, consumers don’t notice or appreciate this benefit, as it’s buried in the listing of other fees. But it’s actually very important. While other cards might increase your interest rate by more than 30 percent if you forget to submit your payment by the due date, the BB&T Bright card will maintain your low interest rate even if you miss a payment.

Lack of other common fees

The BB&T Bright Card will spare you many common fees, including over-the-credit-limit and returned-payment fees. And if you have only a small amount due and miss your due date, your late fee won’t be higher than the minimum amount due. For example, if your total minimum payment due is $10, that’s what you pay as a late fee. And the first time you miss a payment, you receive a discounted late fee of $25 instead of the regular $38 fee.

Purchase protection

The BB&T Bright Card is not a Visa Signature card, but it does come with the Visa Signature purchase-protection benefit.  According to Visa, eligible purchases will be replaced, repaired or reimbursed within the first 90 days from the date of purchase.

No rewards

The BB&T Bright Card doesn’t offer a rewards or cash back program of any kind.

Why get the BB&T Bright card?

• You carry a balance and want to save money on interest.
• You want to transfer a balance from a high-interest card and/or purchase an expensive item with the ability to pay over time.
• Saving money on interest is more important to you than cash back and rewards.

How to use the BB&T Bright card:

• Transfer your balances from other high-interest cards, but pay off as much as you can, despite the BB&T Bright Card’s low APR.
• The BB&T Bright Card has a 3 percent foreign transaction fee, so avoid using it overseas.
• When you buy an expensive item, use this card rather than another card that doesn’t come with the purchase security benefit.

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