 TITLE: What Credit Score Do You Need for a 0% APR Credit Card? CONTENT: How Does a 0% APR Affect Your Credit Score?\n-------------------------------------------\nThe interest rate that a credit card charges has no direct effect on your credit score. However, having a new 0% APR credit card in your wallet could indirectly affect your credit score in several ways.\n*   **Reduced debt**: If you can transfer a high balance and stop paying interest on that balance, you may find it easier to pay down debts, which can help improve your credit score and your financial situation overall.\n*   **Credit** : If you only carry a student loan or car loan and no credit cards, adding a credit card will improve your credit mix, which is a factor in your credit score.\n*   **Hard inquiry**: The hard inquiry generated when the credit card issuer checks your credit report will temporarily lower your credit score slightly. If the 0% APR credit card is one of many credit cards you've applied for within a short time, credit issuers may take it as a sign that you're in financial trouble and turning to credit cards to pay your expenses.\n*   **Credit utilization ratio**: Getting a new credit card increases the amount of credit available to you, which can help to reduce your credit utilization ratio and improve your credit score. However, if that 0% APR tempts you to rack up a big balance on your new credit card, your utilization rate will rise and could have a negative impact on your credit score.\n*   **Missed payment**: A 0% APR card means no interest—not \"no payments.\" Some credit card users assume they don't have to make a monthly payment on a 0% interest card. That's only true if your balance is also zero. Just as with any credit card, you must pay at least the minimum monthly payment on time to keep your account current. Otherwise, you'll not only hurt your credit score, but could also lose your 0% APR long before it's due to expire. END