 TITLE: What Happens When Your Intro 0% APR Ends? CONTENT: Should I Keep My Card Open After Paying my Balance?\n---------------------------------------------------\nIf you applied for this card solely for the introductory offer, you may be considering closing it now that you've paid off your balance—but think twice before doing so. It's often wise to keep a credit card account open unless you can't afford the annual fee. Closing a card has the potential to hurt your credit score if it causes your credit utilization ratio to rise. If there's no fee associated with the card, you're usually better off leaving the card at home and just not using it.\nCheck to see if your card has additional perks or bonus features outside of the promotional APR. Some cards offer things like purchase protection, rewards, cash back, insurance on rental vehicles and more. If your card offers anything like this, keeping it around and using it on specific purchases can be a smart move. Be sure to consider all aspects of your card, in addition to the promotional period, when deciding whether to keep the card in your wallet. END