by Linda Joyce

Created on: June 28, 2009   Last Updated: July 02, 2009

When I got this month's Capital One Visa bill, I was horrified to see they had raised my APR four points, making my monthly finance charge difficult to accept. After calling them and being told that even though I had been a great customer (no late or missed payments, with them 15 years), there was nothing they could do because it was an "across the board" increase, I looked into the Citibank credit card and what it could offer.

First, I was pleasantly surprised to find I could open an account within minutes online. There was no hassle; it was a short application, and I probably waited less than three minutes to get an approval. I was impressed.

I was looking for the best card for a balance transfer and chose the Citi Platinum Select card, which has no annual fee and 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases for one year. After that, the APR can be as low as 11.99%. There are also discounts offered on things such as gift cards, travel, merchandise, and more. This was definitely the card for me.

Two my surprise, in about two days I received my new card in the mail, along with the usual paraphernalia about my account.

When I called Customer Service a few days later to make arrangements for a balance transfer from my Visa account, I was helped by a knowledgeable customer service representative who spoke perfect English. I was not transferred four or five times or put on hold for several minutes, only to be eventually disconnected, as I'd experienced on several occasions with Visa.

My goal is to pay off my balance transfer within the twelve month period with 0% APR and just keep the card for travel guarantees and emergency purchases. I am going to make a sincere effort to pay as I go and not get caught up in the credit trap again.

The Citi Platinum Select card, which I chose, is only one of several different cards to choose from for everyone, including students and businesses. Most cards offer low APRs, no liability on unauthorized purchases on your card, theft protection, bonus points, and rewards, and more.

Of all the cards I checked out online, I was most impressed with the choice of cards at Citibank. It appears that they really do have something for everyone. I would recommend them to anyone looking to change credit cards or open up a new account. Compared to the treatment I received from Visa, Citibank is like a breath of fresh air.

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