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Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
vs. U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Updated: March 19, 2024
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The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card and the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card are two of the best balance transfer cards available on the market. In this guide, MoneyGeek compares them to determine the better option for those looking to consolidate debts.
We considered several factors, including the length of the introductory APR period, balance transfer fees, annual fees and other benefits. For example, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card has 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and 12 months on purchases. Meanwhile, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card has 0% Intro APR for 18 months on both.
Comparison Overview: Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card vs. U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® CardU.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
- Recommended CreditExcellentGood–Excellent
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card At a Glance
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is a great option for people who want to finance new purchases or pay off debt over an extended period. It has a 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from the date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening. Cardholders can also enjoy the absence of an annual fee.
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Best balance transfer card for immediate transfers
- 0% intro APR (then variable APR)Balance Transfer Offer
- 21 MonthsBalance Transfer Duration
- 18.24%–28.99% VariableAPR
- $5 or 5%, whichever Is greaterBalance Transfer Fee
- Good to ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Lengthy 0% APR period for balance transfers
- No-interest period for purchases
- No annual fee
Cons
- No intro balance transfer fee
- No rewards program
Introductory Offers
- Enjoy a 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from the date of the first transfer.
- Benefit from a 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening.
- Balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening, with a fee of $5 or 5% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater.
APRs, Fees, and Penalties
- No annual fee.
- After the introductory period, the variable APR will be between 17.49% and 28.24%, depending on your creditworthiness.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy special access to purchase tickets for concerts, sporting events, and dining experiences through Citi Entertainment.
- Get free online access to your FICO Score.
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card At a Glance
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is best for those who want a long interest-free period to pay off debts or make big purchases. It has a special 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles on both purchases and balance transfers. It also comes with cell phone insurance, which other balance transfer cards rarely offer. Additionally, the card won’t incur an annual fee.
- U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
An excellent balance transfer card with no annual fees and an extended intro APR offer
- 0% Intro APR (then variable APR)Balance Transfer Offer
- 18 billing cyclesBalance Transfer Duration
- 18.74% - 29.74% VariableAPR
- $5 or 3%, whichever is greaterBalance Transfer Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Great introductory APR period for both purchases and balance transfers
- Includes cell phone insurance
- No annual fee
Cons
- Foreign transaction fees
- No other meaningful rewards
- 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles for both purchases and balance transfers made within the first 60 days, then 18.74% - 29.74% (variable)
- Balance transfer fees are 3% of each transfer amount or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
- Up to $600 protection on cell phone against covered theft or damage if you pay your monthly cell bill with this card ($25 deductible; up to two $600 claims per year)
- No annual fee
- Foreign transaction fee of 2% if the transaction is in U.S. dollars or 3% if in a foreign currency
Comparison Summary
MoneyGeek analyzed the differences between the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card and the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card to help you decide which is the best balance transfer card for your needs.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Intro APR | The annual percentage rate (or APR) dictates a borrower’s interest on carried balances. Both cards offer a 0% APR introductory period. The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card gives its cardholders 21 months on balance transfers, among the longest for any balance transfer card. However, it only offers 12 months on purchases. On the other hand, U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers 20 months for both purchases and balance transfers. Winner: U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card |
Regular APR | After the introductory period ends, there will be a variable APR based on your creditworthiness when you open your account. For the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, the variable APR will be 13.74% to 23.74%. Meanwhile, the regular APR for U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is 14.49% to 24.49%. Winner: U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card |
Balance Transfer Fee | To determine if transferring your balance is worth doing, it’s necessary to compare the balance transfer fee you’ll pay with what you’ll save on interest. For the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, there is a 5% balance transfer fee with a $5 minimum. The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card, on the other hand, has a 3% balance transfer fee with a $5 minimum. Winner: U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card |
Benefits | The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card offers zero liability for any unauthorized charges made on your account. This means you won’t be responsible for a payment you did not authorize, online or otherwise. Cardholders also get special access to purchase tickets for exclusive events, including concerts, sporting events and dining experiences. The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers cell phone protection coverage. If you pay your phone bill with this card, you will be covered up to $600 for damage or theft. However, there’s a $25 deductible and the insurance is secondary to any phone insurance you already have. Winner: Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card |
Which Card Should You Get?
Finding the right balance transfer card for you isn’t always simple. What will help is first considering your needs and situation before choosing the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card or the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card.
Who Should Consider the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card?
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card offers a 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers, making it ideal for those looking to consolidate debts.
Individuals who want to pay off their credit card debt using balance transfer strategies can take advantage of this card’s lengthy introductory APR period.
People who want special access to tickets for exclusive events, including concerts, sporting events and dining experiences, can enjoy these perks through the card’s Citi Entertainment benefits.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card?
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is a great card for people who want an extended interest-free period to pay off debts and big purchases.
Individuals who want to avoid costly interest fees while paying off their debt can take advantage of U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card’s 0% Intro APR for 20 months on bank transfers.
Those who want to make a major purchase can use their U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card to pay it off over 20 months without any interest.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
EXPERT OPINION
If you’re looking for a credit card to help you pay off your existing debt with a low balance transfer offer, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card or the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card may be the best option.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
MoneyGeek answered some frequently asked questions to help you understand the differences between the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card and the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card before making an informed choice.
Is Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card better than U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card?
Choosing the best card depends on your needs and situation. If you’re looking to pay off your debt over an extended period, then the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card will suit you. If you also want to pay off significant purchases over 18 months without interest, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is the best option.
Can you get Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card if you have U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card?
Yes, you can apply for the two cards if you think you can benefit from having both.
Can you transfer points from Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card to U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card?
Unfortunately, there’s no way to transfer points from the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card to the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card.
Can you switch from Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card to U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card?
Yes, you can switch if you think the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is more suitable for your needs.
What’s harder to get, Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card or U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card?
The application process for both cards is quick and straightforward, taking only a couple of minutes. However, you need a good to excellent credit score to get approved.
How much do you have to spend for Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card vs. U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card to get the welcome bonus?
Unfortunately, neither card offers a welcome bonus upon signing up.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card and the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card are excellent balance transfer cards for people who want to consolidate debt. However, if you want more rewards from using your card, consider getting a rewards credit card instead.
Learn more about credit cards in general
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- Citi Bank. "Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card." Accessed January 5, 2022.
- U.S. Bank. "U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card." Accessed January 5, 2022.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.