Unlike the major banks that issue credit cards, Discover is primarily a credit card company with an online banking business.  As a stand alone credit card company, Discover couldn’t risk angering its customers and damaging its reputation.  So, while other banks could afford to alienate customers, Discover made a very smart decision to treat their customers with respect. 

Unfortunately, Discover hasn’t been recognized for their humane behavior.  News stories about credit card companies behaving badly fill this blog and mainstream media outlets.  But a story about a credit card company acting  justly isn’t attention grabbing–that is the reason you haven’t heard too much about Discover in the past year.  Hopefully, more consumers will come to recognize how truly commendable Discover’s behavior during the credit crisis was. 

J.D. Power’s annual survey often ranks Discover second in customer satisfaction.  But as someone whose job requires reading and responding to stories from people whose financial well-being was jeopardized by unscrupulous credit card companies, I can say without equivocation that Discover is not only the best credit card company around but, more importantly, the only one which respects and cares about the relationships it has with its customers. 

-Jeffrey Weber

To learn more about Discover credit card offers, please see the Discover Card section of Smart Balance Transfers where you can compare current offers and apply online for approval.

The issue lay in one of the main initiatives:  prohibiting banks from repricing pre-existing credit card balances.  Why this may sound like a good thing, Discover’s (DFS) CEO was asked if the availability of balance transfers would be effected by the new regulations.  His response was sobering, as he stated the new regulations, “would and could change how we execute balance transfer offers.”  When asked if this would be an industry wide issue, he quickly responded, “certainly.”

Repricing current balances allows banks to manage risk, particularly the risk associated with extended generous 0% APR deals.  However, should the proposed changes to the the Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation AA (Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices), the ability for consumer who lack the highest credit scores to get a 0% balance transfer may be hindered.

With many expecting this legislation to clear before year’s end, and that little credit crunch issue still lingering, this is not the time to be sitting on the sidelines piling up interest expense.  Take control of your finances with a 0% APR balance transfer soon, as you may not be able to do so later.

The problem with credit cards that offer just a 0% APR on balance transfers lay in the fact that if you use your no fee card for purchases, you are charged the standard, significantly higher interest rate. Or, you end up using your previous credit card and racking up a high interest balance. Either way, you don’t get to take advantage of a 1 year interest holiday.

Knowing this, I am of the opinion that the Discover More Card is currently the best balance transfer credit card on the market. My opinion is shaped by two important factors. The first, and most important, is that this card offers a 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases. This makes it possible to avoid paying interest for a full year. The second factor that influenced my opinion is a promotion Discover is running that gives new cardmembers a $40 cash back bonus if they spend $500. With the holidays approaching, it should be very easy for just about anyone to get this cash back bonus.

Now, even though this credit card charges a 3% balance transfer fee, the $40 cash back bonus offsets the cost of transferring $1300, essentially making that a no fee balance transfer. Plus, with the cap on balance transfer fees set at $75 regardless of the size of the balance transfer, the maximum balance transfer fee one would pay to transfer $5000 is $35, or .007%.

Clearly, this is not much of a fee. And if you consider the amount of money the 0% APR on purchases can save you over the course of the year, the Discover More balance transfer offer clearly stands out as the best balance transfer deal available this holiday season.