Running out of money before payday is stressful enough. Getting hit with a fee on top of that just makes it worse.
The bright spot? A handful of cards are designed to help cardholders avoid these charges. Here are three options worth knowing about.
Balance transfers completed in the first 4 months get an intro fee of 3% per transfer, with a $5 minimum. After that, the fee is 5% per transfer, also with a $5 minimum.
The regular APR runs from 17.49% to 28.24% variable, and there is a 3% foreign transaction fee. It is aimed at people with good-to-excellent credit scores of 670-850. Missing payments will not trigger fees, but they can still damage your credit score, and the card offers no rewards or welcome bonus.
Tilt Essentials has no security deposit and accepts applicants without a detailed credit history, though any existing history still factors into the decision. It also waives annual, late, returned-payment, and foreign transaction fees.
With AutoPay turned on, the card earns 3% cash back on gas and groceries plus 1% cash back on other purchases. A low starting credit line may qualify for an increase after 4 months. The regular APR is 29.99% variable, and there is no welcome bonus or special financing.
Chime's approach is different: the Chime Card is a secured card, meaning its credit limit is based on the money already sitting in your Chime account. It has no annual fee, no regular interest, no credit check, no minimum security deposit, and no foreign transaction fee.
You need monthly qualifying direct deposits of at least $200 into a Chime Checking Account to qualify.
Newly eligible members start with a combined overdraft cushion of $20. That limit can later rise to $200 based on account history, direct-deposit frequency and amount, spending, and other risk factors. The debit and credit versions share one limit, which Chime or its banking partners can change at any time.
There are caveats. If the balance shown on a statement remains unpaid after 24 hours, Chime can turn off card access. SpotMe does not cover ACH transfers, Pay Anyone payments, or Chime Checkbook transactions, and ATM or other third-party cash-withdrawal fees can still apply.
Chime is a fintech company, not a bank. Its banking services come through The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., both FDIC-insured institutions.
Chime Prime requires $3,000 or more in qualifying direct deposits per 34-day cycle. That status unlocks up to 5% cash back in one selected monthly category and 3.75% APY on savings.
The survey numbers show that avoiding fees is important to many people. Late-payment penalties, interest charges, and overdraft fees were the most common.
Autopay for at least the minimum, moving due dates, and tracking cards can also prevent fees.
If you call and ask, some issuers will waive a first missed-payment fee as a courtesy for good customers. Late fees can run as high as $41.
Fees can be avoided when the card fits your actual spending and payment habits. A no-fee card with a high APR might not help if you carry a balance. A secured card with no interest might be perfect if you are just starting out. The right choice depends on your habits, not on which card has the flashiest rewards.