What a 0% intro APR really is
A promotional window — often 12 to 21 months — where a transferred balance or new purchases accrue no interest. When it ends, your standard APR applies to whatever's left.
I built this part of Cardinate for one reason: I couldn't keep my own 0% deadlines straight. Ten-plus cards, every end date different, and nobody reminds you — then one day a balance you forgot about is quietly racking up 24% interest. Never again.
Promo APR deadline tracker
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On track243 days left·Needs $519/mo·Gap $169/mo
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Watch62 days left·Needs $871/mo·Gap $671/mo
Calculations are estimates for educational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Actual payoff timelines, interest charges, and credit outcomes may vary.
What & why
0% intro APR, without the nasty surprise.
What happens when it expires
The remaining balance starts accruing interest at the go-to APR, frequently 20–29%. Anything you didn't pay off in time can get expensive fast.
Why the deadlines slip
Issuers rarely remind you, every card's date is different, and once you've got a few promos running at once it's genuinely hard to keep them all straight.
How Cardinate helps
It tracks each promo's end date, flags the ones getting close, and shows the exact monthly payment to reach $0 before the rate jumps.
FAQ