Chase Slate^® Card Review [Year:]: More Breathing Room for Balance Transfers

Chase Slate card basics

	Chase Slate Card
Card type	0% APR credit card
Card issuer	JPMorgan Chase Bank
Credit card network	Visa
Annual fee	$0
Intro APRs	0% intro APR on new purchases for 21 Months (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable) 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 Months (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable)
Welcome offer	N/A
Reward rate	N/A
Recommended credit score	Excellent, Good
Foreign transaction fee	3%

Chase Slate card welcome offer

The Chase Slate Card doesn't have a welcome offer (like a cash or miles bonus) aside from introductory APRs on purchases and balance transfers.

Chase Slate card benefits and perks

0% intro APR

The main benefit of the Chase Slate card is its long intro APR periods for both new purchases and balance transfers. For 21 Months after you open the account, you can transfer balances from other credit cards interest-free. Keep in mind, however, that there's a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days. Unfortunately, there isn't an introductory discount, as you'd see with many of the best balance transfer cards.

The Chase Slate card gives you the power to finance a major purchase or pay down debt over an extended period. Its intro APR periods are among the longest available, but it's not my favorite card in this category. I much prefer the U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa^® Card for financing major purchases. It offers a 0% intro APR on new purchases for 21 billing cycles (then 16.99% - 27.99% Variable) and earns 4% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Travel Center.

For balance transfers, I'd personally go with a card that offers a discounted balance transfer fee. The Citi Simplicity^® Card, for example, has a balance transfer fee of 3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends. Plus, it offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months from date of account opening (then 17.49% - 28.24% (Variable)).

Complimentary 6-month DashPass membership

Through 2027, you can activate a six-month complimentary DashPass membership, which gets you $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders from DoorDash and Caviar. While enrolled as a member, you can also get up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant orders from DoorDash.

This is a nice perk if you tend to order takeout frequently, and it's unusual for a card that doesn't earn rewards to include a credit like this.

Purchase and extended warranty protection

The Chase Slate card covers new purchases up to $500 against theft or damage for 120 days and extends U.S. manufacturers' warranties for three years or less by an additional year. These are fairly standard credit card protections, but they are nice to have and nicer to know about all the same.

Auto rental coverage

When you charge a car rental to your Chase Slate card and decline the rental company's collision coverage, you'll get reimbursement for theft and collision damage secondary to your personal car insurance coverage.

Secondary auto rental coverage is common among no-annual-fee credit cards.

Chase Slate drawbacks

High balance transfer fee

With the Chase Slate card, balance transfers are subject to a fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days. This is a fairly standard fee among cards with similar intro APR offers, but you can find some cards with intro APRs and lower intro balance transfer fees.

The Citi Simplicity card, for example, offers a lower introductory balance transfer fee, which helps to make it one of the best balance transfer cards with long intro APRs. But some cards that provide this perk also earn rewards. To name one, the Chase Freedom Unlimited^® has a balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days, in addition to earning excellent cashback rewards.

Consider alternatives to the Chase Slate if you feel confident you could pay off your transferred balance in less than 21 Months, since cards with balance transfer fee discounts and/or the opportunity to earn rewards could provide extra value.

High APR after the intro period

Among credit cards with intro APRs for a long period of time, the Chase Slate Card has fairly high regular APRs after the intro period ends. Depending on your credit score and other factors, a variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 28.24% Variable will apply.

If there's even a small chance you'll carry a balance past the intro period, consider a card with a lower regular APR or take out a debt consolidation loan instead. The BankAmericard^® Credit Card, for instance, offers a 0% intro APR for 21 billing cycles for any qualifying balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then a regular APR of 14.99% to 25.99% Variable.

Fees on foreign transactions

The Chase Slate Card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee. If you plan to travel abroad, make sure you have another travel credit card you can use for purchases (ideally one that has no foreign transaction fee and also offers travel rewards and perks like insurance).

If you want to travel and avoid interest on foreign purchases, it's worth considering a 0% intro APR card with no foreign transaction fees. You aren't likely to find one with a 21-month intro APR period, but you could avoid interest for more than a year with cards for overseas travel. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a good option for intro APRs and no foreign transaction fees, and it also earns 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Earning and redeeming rewards

The Chase Slate Card doesn't earn rewards, which is a major drawback. You'll miss out on cash rewards, statement credits, and (almost) free flights from making credit card purchases. But if your goal is to get a handle on your debt or finance a purchase you couldn't otherwise afford, the tradeoff might be worth it.

Consider your spending plans and follow these steps to find out if a balance transfer makes sense for you.

Compare the Slate Card to other cards

	Chase Slate	Chase Freedom Unlimited®	U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card	Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Intro APRs	0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 Months 0% intro APR on new purchases for 21 Months	0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months 0% intro APR on new purchases for 15 months	0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 billing cycles 0% intro APR on new purchases for 21 billing cycles	0% intro APR on new purchases for 12 months
Regular APRs	18.24% - 28.24% Variable for balance transfers 18.24% - 28.24% Variable for new purchases	18.24% - 27.74% Variable for balance transfers 18.24% - 27.74% Variable for new purchases	16.99% - 27.99% Variable for balance transfers 16.99% - 27.99% Variable for new purchases	16.74% - 24.74% Variable for balance transfers 16.74% - 24.74% Variable for new purchases
Balance transfer fee	$5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days	$5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days	Either 5% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.	$5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Welcome bonus	N/A	Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening (limited-time offer)	N/A	Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards rate	N/A	Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases	Earn 4% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Travel Center	Earn Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase

Chase Freedom Unlimited

If you can pay off transferred balances or new purchases within 15 months, the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card is a better option than the Slate, and it's from the same issuer to boot.

Transfer a balance as soon as possible after account opening to take advantage of a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days. This oft-buzzy card offers up to 5% cash back. Plus, you could $250 Bonus, which is a relatively easy earn. This card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, so you can pair it with a premium Chase travel card to maximize your earnings.

Check out our Chase Freedom Unlimited review

U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

This is one of my favorite intro APR credit cards right now. It offers a 0% intro APR on new purchases for 21 billing cycles (then 16.99% - 27.99% Variable) and a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 billing cycles (then 16.99% - 27.99% Variable). However, unlike the Chase Slate card, which offers the intro APR on balance transfers made at any time during the introductory period, you need to transfer your balances within 60 days to take advantage of the intro rate on balance transfers with the U.S. Bank Shield Visa card, which is one of its only major downsides.

Since this card also earns 1.5% cash back on all other purchases, you can use it to book a trip, avoid interest for well over a year, and earn cash back at the same time. You'll even get a $20 annual statement credit just for making 11 consecutive months of purchases.

Check out our U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card review

Chase Ink Business Unlimited

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited Card is a good choice for small business owners who want a solid, flat cashback rate and a year to avoid interest on business purchases. It's one of our top picks for the best small business credit cards and the best 0% intro APR business credit cards, but it's not a balance transfer card.

Its $750 welcome offer is also lucrative, but if your business wouldn't spend $6,000 in first 3 months, this might not be the card for you.

Check out our Chase Ink Business Unlimited review

FAQs

Bottom line

The revamped Chase Slate card could be appealing to many, thanks to its extra-long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. But the card lacks rewards and perks, and it can't quite stand up to competitor cards like the Citi Simplicity or U.S. Bank Shield Visa.

One key advantage the Slate card offers is that it doesn't require you to initiate balance transfers within a set period of time after opening. But if your plan is to use the card to pay off debt, it's best to transfer your balances immediately to take advantage of the full intro APR period and avoid racking up more debt later on. Before applying for the Slate card, be sure to check out the best 0% intro APR cards and make sure you understand the pros and cons of a credit card versus a personal loan for debt consolidation to make an informed decision.

0% intro APR on balance transfers

Chase Slate^®

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Chase Slate^®

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Rates and fees

Current Offer

Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 21 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 28.24% thereafter

Annual Fee

$0

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• 0% intro APR on new purchases for 21 Months (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable)
• 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 Months (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable)
• Complimentary six-month DashPass membership
• $0 annual fee

Drawbacks

• No welcome offer
• Doesn’t earn rewards
• $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days balance transfer fee

Card Details

• 0% Intro Offer- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 21 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 28.24% thereafter
• No Annual Fee- You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Slate Card
• Zero Liability Protection & Fraud Protection - You won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card. We help safeguard your credit card purchases using sophisticated fraud monitoring. We monitor for fraud 24/7 and can text, email or call you if there are unusual purchases on your credit card.
• Chase Pay Over Time- Access more options to pay over time for eligible purchases made with your participating Chase credit card. With Pay Over Time, you can break up eligible purchases you've already made
• Get more purchasing power: Chase Slate® cardmembers may be eligible for a credit limit increase in as few as six months.
• Stay protected with purchase & travel benefits - Enjoy peace of mind with purchase protection, which safeguards your eligible new items against damage or theft for 120 days from the date of purchase, up to $500 per item. Plus, extended warranty protection adds an extra year to U.S. manufacturer warranties of three years or less, giving you up to four full years of coverage from the date of purchase
• Credit Journey: Access your credit score, receive customized score improvement plans from Experian™, and benefit from identity monitoring—all for free with Chase Credit Journey®
• Member FDIC