The 8 Credit Cards Charging the Fewest Fees

By Paul Ausick Updated Apr 28, 6:53AM EDT · Published Jul 31, 10:45AM EDT

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A surprising development in the credit card business: card issuers are eliminating some fees. The change is almost certainly due to competition for new customers, but whatever the reason you have a good chance right now of getting a card with fewer fees than you might have thought possible.

Researchers at CreditCards.com recently counted the total number of fees charged by 100 widely held credit cards and found that they had dropped from 613 to 593 between 2015 and 2016. The biggest change came in foreign currency transaction fees: the number of cards charging a transaction fee dropped from 77 to 61 year over year.

Late payment fees and cash advance fees remain nearly universal. Of the 100 cards surveyed, 99 charge a late payment fee and 98 charge a cash advance fee. Both numbers are unchanged from last year. The number of cards charging a returned payment fee rose from 77 to 81 and the average cost of this fee rose from $35 to $37.

Nessa Feddis, an executive with the American Banker’s Association, noted the competition for new customers and the range of choices they have available. In fact, she said, “It’s consumers who will drive the trends. If an issuer offers a service with a fee, but it’s something consumers value, then you may see that fee stick around.”

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The survey found one card that charges no fees at all: the Pentagon Federal (PenFed) Credit Union Promise Visa card. The card is available to credit union members and offers an annual percentage rate (APR) in a range of 10.24% to 17.99%, depending on a customer’s creditworthiness. There is no penalty APR. And did we mention no fees at all? Zero.

Here are seven other cards that charge just two fees, according to CreditCards.com (details from Credit Karma):

SonyCard Visa from Capital One: No annual fee, up to $35 late payment fee and 3% ($10 minimum) cash advance fee. APR and balance transfer range is 14.24% to 24.99%.

Capital One Platinum Credit Card: No annual fee and up to $35 late payment fee. See terms for cash advance fees. APR and balance transfer rate is 24.99%.

Capital One Secured MasterCard: No annual fee, up to $35 late payment fee and 3% ($10 minimum) cash advance fee. APR and balance transfer rate is 24.99%.

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One: No annual fee, up to $35 late payment fee and 3% ($10 minimum) cash advance fee. APR and balance transfer rate is 20.24%.

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business: No annual fee, up to $39 late payment fee and 3% ($10 minimum) cash advance fee. APR and balance transfer range is 13.24% to 21.24%.

Capital One Spark Classic for Business: No annual fee, up to $39 late payment fee and 3% ($10 minimum) cash advance fee. APR and balance transfer rate is 23.24%.

Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business: No annual fee, up to $39 late payment fee and 3% ($10 minimum) cash advance fee. APR and balance transfer range is 13.24% to 21.24%.

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About the Author Paul Ausick →

Paul Ausick has been writing for a673b.bigscoots-temp.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.