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The Citi Diamond Preferred Card and the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum are two of the best balance transfer cards available on the market. In this guide, MoneyGeek compares them to determine the better option for those looking to consolidate debts.

We considered several factors, including the length of the introductory APR period, balance transfer fees, annual fees and other benefits. For example, the Citi Diamond Preferred Card has 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and 12 months on purchases. Meanwhile, the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum has 0% Intro APR for 20 months on both.

OUR COMPARISON AT A GLANCE

Comparison Overview: Citi Diamond Preferred Card vs. U.S. Bank Visa Platinum

  • Citi Diamond Preferred Card
    U.S. Bank Visa Platinum
  • Has Annual Fee
  • Has Balance Transfer Offer
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  • Has APR Offer
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  • Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
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  • Credit Needed
    Excellent
    Good-Excellent

Citi Diamond Preferred Card At a Glance

The Citi Diamond Preferred Card is a great option for people who want to finance new purchases or pay off debt over an extended period. It has a 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from the date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening. Cardholders can also enjoy the absence of an annual fee.


  • Citi Diamond Preferred Card

    Best balance transfer card for immediate transfers

    • ExcellentCredit Needed
    • 0% APR on new purchasesAPR Offer
    • 12 monthsAPR Offer Duration
    • 0% Intro APR on balance transfersBalance Transfer Offer
    • 14.74%–24.74%APR

    Terms, rates and fees apply

    Compare this credit card with other top-rated balance transfer cards at CardRatings.com.

U.S. Bank Visa Platinum At a Glance

The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum is best for those who want a long interest-free period to pay off debts or make big purchases. It has a special 0% Intro APR for 20 billing cycles on both purchases and balance transfers. It also comes with cell phone insurance, which other balance transfer cards rarely offer. Additionally, the card won’t incur an annual fee.


  • U.S. Bank Visa Platinum

    Best balance transfer credit card for short-term debt repayment

    • Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
    • 0% APR on new purchasesAPR Offer
    • 20 monthsAPR Offer Duration
    • 0% Intro APR on balance transfersBalance Transfer Offer
    • 14.49%–24.49%APR

    Terms, rates and fees apply

    Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Comparison Summary

MoneyGeek analyzed the differences between the Citi Diamond Preferred Card and the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum to help you decide which is the best balance transfer card for your needs.

  • Card Detail
    Comparison Summary

  • Intro APR

    The annual percentage rate (or APR) dictates a borrower’s interest on carried balances. Both cards offer a 0% APR introductory period.

    The Citi Diamond Preferred Card gives its cardholders 21 months on balance transfers, among the longest for any balance transfer card. However, it only offers 12 months on purchases.

    On the other hand, U.S. Bank Visa Platinum offers 20 months for both purchases and balance transfers.

    Winner: U.S. Bank Visa Platinum

  • Regular APR

    After the introductory period ends, there will be a variable APR based on your creditworthiness when you open your account.

    For the Citi Diamond Preferred Card, the variable APR will be 13.74% to 23.74%. Meanwhile, the regular APR for U.S. Bank Visa Platinum is 14.49% to 24.49%.

    Winner: U.S. Bank Visa Platinum

  • Balance Transfer Fee

    To determine if transferring your balance is worth doing, it’s necessary to compare the balance transfer fee you’ll pay with what you’ll save on interest.

    For the Citi Diamond Preferred Card, there is a 5% balance transfer fee with a $5 minimum. The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum, on the other hand, has a 3% balance transfer fee with a $5 minimum.

    Winner: U.S. Bank Visa Platinum

  • Benefits

    The Citi Diamond Preferred Card offers zero liability for any unauthorized charges made on your account. This means you won’t be responsible for a payment you did not authorize, online or otherwise. Cardholders also get special access to purchase tickets for exclusive events, including concerts, sporting events and dining experiences.

    The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum card offers cell phone protection coverage. If you pay your phone bill with this card, you will be covered up to $600 for damage or theft. However, there’s a $25 deductible and the insurance is secondary to any phone insurance you already have.

    Winner: Citi Diamond Preferred Card

Which Card Should You Get?

Finding the right balance transfer card for you isn’t always simple. What will help is first considering your needs and situation before choosing the Citi Diamond Preferred Card or the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum.

Who Should Consider the Citi Diamond Preferred Card?

The Citi Diamond Preferred Card offers a 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers, making it ideal for those looking to consolidate debts.

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    Individuals who want to pay off their credit card debt using balance transfer strategies can take advantage of this card’s lengthy introductory APR period.

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    People who want special access to tickets for exclusive events, including concerts, sporting events and dining experiences, can enjoy these perks through the card’s Citi Entertainment benefits.

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    ≫ More: Read Our Full Review

Who Should Consider the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum?

The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum is a great card for people who want an extended interest-free period to pay off debts and big purchases.

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    Individuals who want to avoid costly interest fees while paying off their debt can take advantage of U.S. Bank Visa Platinum’s 0% Intro APR for 20 months on bank transfers.

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    Those who want to make a major purchase can use their U.S. Bank Visa Platinum card to pay it off over 20 months without any interest.

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    ≫ More: Read Our Full Review
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EXPERT OPINION

If you’re looking for a credit card to help you pay off your existing debt with a low balance transfer offer, the Citi Diamond Preferred Card or the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum may be the best option.

Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs

MoneyGeek answered some frequently asked questions to help you understand the differences between the Citi Diamond Preferred Card and the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum before making an informed choice.

Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options

The Citi Diamond Preferred Card and the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum are excellent balance transfer cards for people who want to consolidate debt. However, if you want more rewards from using your card, consider getting a rewards credit card instead.

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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.