Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee credit card to pay off larger purchases over multiple billing cycles without incurring higher interest, or you need to pay down credit card debt, the PenFed Gold Visa® Card is worth considering. Although you can’t earn cash-back rewards or points with the PenFed Gold Visa® Card, you can get one of the longest 0% introductory APR deals on the market. But if you’re not in need of an extremely long intro APR, there are plenty of other rewards cards with better offers.
Review: Is the PenFed Gold Visa credit card worth it?
The no-annual-fee PenFed Gold Visa® Card has a great 0% introductory APR deal on purchases and balance transfers. Folks wanting to pay down debt, or who have a large expenses they can’t pay off in one sitting, should consider adding the PenFed Gold Visa® Card to their wallet.
Unfortunately, the PenFed Gold Visa® Card doesn’t earn rewards or offer a welcome bonus, but that’s not what the PenFed Gold Visa® Card is supposed to be used for anyway. The most notable feature of the PenFed Gold Visa® Card is its terrific intro APR. It has a PenFed Gold Visa® Card (then a PenFed Gold Visa® Card APR). So if you need a breather from incurring interest, the PenFed Gold Visa® Card can be a great fit.
A 0% intro APR offer can save you a bunch of cash as long as you use the offer wisely. Debt can pile on quickly due to compound interest on your existing balance if you don’t pay it off by the time the intro APR period is over.
Taking advantage of a 0% introductory APR offer is great for saving money, but if you aren’t diligently paying down your balance, you can wind up with even higher debt than you started with.
The PenFed Gold Visa® Card doesn’t have foreign transaction fees, which makes it a decent option for traveling overseas.
Cardholders are still required to make the monthly minimum payment, or else you’ll be charged the late payment fee. Not paying your monthly minimum might also disqualify you from receiving the 0% intro APR offer and can negatively impact your credit score.
Keep in mind that since the PenFed Gold Visa® Card doesn’t have reward rates or bonuses, there won’t be any substantial benefits left after the intro APR deal expires. Still, the regular APR (PenFed Gold Visa® Card APR) is relatively low (though you should still avoid having to pay it if at all possible). The PenFed Gold Visa® Card also doesn’t charge an annual fee, so you can keep the card for no additional cost.
It’s important to note that there are other no-annual-fee credit cards with longer 0% intro APR offers. For example, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card has a Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card (then a Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card APR). Like the PenFed Gold Visa® Card, it doesn’t earn rewards.
Luckily, there are plenty of other 0% APR and low-interest credit cards that also earn rewards and bonuses. The Citi® Double Cash Card earns up to 2% cash back on all purchases, with no cap and no annual fee. It has a Citi® Double Cash Card (then a Citi® Double Cash Card APR). But since it only applies to balance transfers, it’s not ideal for folks looking for a deal on new purchases.
If you’re not in need of an extremely long 0% APR offer, you should consider other no-annual-fee rewards cards, like the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card. It has strong rewards, a great welcome bonus, and flexible redemption options.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
PenFed Gold Visa benefits and features
The PenFed Gold Visa® Card doesn’t offer many benefits and features, but you’ll get a few decent perks.
24/7 fraud monitoring
PenFed will monitor your account 24/7 for any fraudulent activity, and you will be contacted immediately if it were to take place.
Balance transfer offer
You can use balance transfers to pay down higher interest-rate cards, reduce your monthly payments, cover unexpected expenses, consolidate debt, and lower your interest rates.
$0 liability policy
You won’t be held responsible for any unauthorized transactions on lost or stolen cards, as long as your report them immediately.
Emergency card replacement and emergency cash disbursement
You can quickly receive a card replacement or cash disbursement at a convenient location anywhere and at any time.
Roadside dispatch
You’ll receive 24/7 pay-per-use roadside assistance when you need towing, tire change, jump start, lockout service, or similar services in the event of an emergency.
Travel accident insurance
You’ll get $100,000 coverage for common carrier accidental death or dismemberment on travel booked fully with your PenFed card.
Lost/stolen card reporting
You can report a lost or stolen card anywhere and at any time to freeze transactions and get a new card.
Fees and costs
The PenFed Gold Visa® Card doesn’t charge an annual fee or a foreign transaction fee, making it a good option for travel overseas. It also doesn’t have a cash advance fee or over the credit limit fee. But the PenFed Gold Visa® Card does have a balance transfer fee (3% per transaction), a late payment fee (up to $28), and a returned payment fee (up to $25).
PenFed Gold Visa vs other PenFed credit cards
PenFed Gold Visa® CardPenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® CardPenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® CardAnnual feePenFed Gold Visa® CardPenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® CardPenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® CardRewards ratesN/A1.5% cash back on all purchases, no cap (PenFed Honors Advantage Members earn an extra 0.5% back)
5x points on gas paid at the pump and EV charging stations
3x points at the supermarket, restaurants, and TV, radio, cable, streaming services
1x points on all other purchases
Welcome bonusN/APenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® CardPenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® CardBenefits
24/7 fraud monitoring
Balance transfer offers
$0 liability policy
Digital wallet
Emergency card replacement and emergency cash disbursement
Roadside dispatch
Travel accident insurance
Lost/stolen card reporting
Emergency card replacement and cash disbursement
Entertainment access, upgrades, and savings
$0 liability policy
Fine wine and food access and savings
Lost/stolen card reporting
Purchase security
Roadside dispatch
Shopping discounts
Sports and golf benefits
Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
Travel accident insurance
Travel and emergency assistance services
Visa Signature Concierge service
Year End Summary Statement
Emergency card replacement and cash disbursement
Entertainment access, upgrades, and savings
$0 liability policy
Fine wine and food access and savings
Lost/stolen card reporting
Purchase security
Roadside dispatch
Shopping discounts
Sports and golf benefits
Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
Travel accident insurance
Travel and emergency assistance services
Visa Signature Concierge service
Year End Summary Statement
Introductory 0% APR PenFed Gold Visa® Card (then a PenFed Gold Visa® Card APR)PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card (then a PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card APR)PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card (then aPenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card APR)Review PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature reviewPenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature review
PenFed Gold Visa card vs other long 0% APR credit cards
PenFed Gold Visa® CardCiti® Diamond Preferred® CardCiti® Double Cash CardAnnual feePenFed Gold Visa® CardCiti® Diamond Preferred® CardCiti® Double Cash CardRewards ratesN/AN/A2% cash back on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay)Welcome bonusN/AN/ACiti® Double Cash CardBenefits
24/7 fraud monitoring
Secure Remote Commerce (SRC)
Mobile wallet
Competitive balance transfer offers
Member discounts
No foreign transaction fees
Purchase protection
Citi Entertainment
Free FICO score
Citi EntertainmentIntroductory 0% APR PenFed Gold Visa® Card (then a PenFed Gold Visa® Card APR)Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card (then a Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card APR)Citi® Double Cash Card (then a Citi® Double Cash Card APR)Review Citi Diamond Preferred Card reviewCiti Double Cash Card review
PenFed Gold Visa credit card frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is the PenFed Gold Visa worth it?
The PenFed Gold Visa® Card could be worth it for folks who need an extra long 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. If you need to pay off larger purchases over multiple billing cycles or pay down credit card debt without incurring more interest, you should consider the PenFed Gold Visa® Card. However, you won’t earn rewards on your spending, but that’s not the point of the card anyway.
That said, there are plenty of other no-annual-fee rewards cards that offer longer 0% intro APR deals, or similar offers while also earning rewards on purchases. If you don’t need a super long intro APR period, the PenFed Gold Visa® Card might not be a good card for you.
What credit score do you need to qualify for the PenFed Gold Visa Card?
You’ll need good to excellent credit to qualify for the PenFed Gold Visa® Card. That means a FICO score of at least 670 or a VantageScore of at least 601.
Does PenFed do a hard credit pull?
If you apply for a PenFed credit card or a higher credit limit on your card, your application will generate a hard inquiry which will temporarily lower your credit score. PenFed Credit Union suggests waiting three to six months between credit card applications. However, some banks offer a soft inquiry (or soft pull) which won’t impact your credit score.
Will PenFed automatically increase your credit limit?
You may be eligible for an automatic increase on your PenFed card (a soft pull). PenFed will perform regular reviews of your account to see if you’ve been paying your credit on time and have maintained low debt. Since the automatic credit line increase is a soft pull, your credit score won’t be affected.