This credit card is the ‘best weapon’ to fight debt while interest rates keep climbing

Rising borrowing costs are putting renewed focus on how consumers manage credit-card debt. Following September's rate increase and with another increase projected for December, the cost of carrying a balance is expected to keep climbing for Americans who don't pay their statements in full each month. Because most credit cards carry variable rates tied to benchmarks that move with Federal Reserve policy, each hike can translate into higher interest charges on existing balances.

In this environment, card features that directly reduce interest costs — such as a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers — can matter more than rewards. A balance-transfer card lets a borrower move existing debt to a new account and pay no interest during the promotional window, giving more of each payment toward principal rather than finance charges. That is the logic behind labeling such a card a "best weapon" against debt, though the phrase reflects one outlet's framing rather than a universal verdict.

What to watch: the size and timing of the December move, since it shapes how quickly variable-rate balances get more expensive, and the details that determine whether a balance transfer actually saves money — the promotional length, the one-time transfer fee (typically a percentage of the amount moved), and the rate that applies once the window closes.