10.49%–18.00% variable APR, no annual fee, no BT fee — open membership via 1,700+ partner companies.
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Good credit — First Tech membership required; open to employees of 1,700+ partner companies and participating communities
ClearValue Rating: 4.2 / 5 — our editorial assessment (how we rate)
Editorial confidence (30%), cost (25%), value (25%), accessibility (20%) — scored consistently across every product, independent of compensation.
Balance carriers who work for a tech or innovation company and want a low-rate card with no annual fee, no balance transfer fee, and federally capped APR.
The First Tech Federal Platinum Mastercard has no annual fee and no balance transfer fee. The variable purchase and balance transfer APR is 10.49%–18.00%, based on creditworthiness and the U.S. Prime Rate. No rewards program. First Tech Federal Credit Union membership required — open to employees of 1,700+ partner companies, participating communities, and participating organizations.
| Year 1 value | Ongoing value |
|---|---|
| 10.49%–18.00% variable APR; no annual fee; no BT fee; no rewards; First Tech membership required | 10.49%–18.00% variable APR; no annual fee; no BT fee; no rewards; federally capped at 18.00% |
| Verify current APR range and terms at firsttechfed.com/rates/credit-cards before applying | |
First Tech Federal Platinum Mastercard — 10.49%–18.00% variable APR, no annual fee, no BT fee — open membership via 1,700+ partner companies. Best for: Balance carriers who work for a tech or innovation company and want a low-rate card with no annual fee, no balance transfer fee, and federally capped APR.. Compare it against alternatives before applying; the right fit depends on your situation, credit, and goals.
As disclosed by First Technology Federal Credit Union at firsttechfed.com/rates/credit-cards (verified June 11, 2026), the First Tech Platinum Mastercard's purchase APR is 10.49%–18.00% variable, based on creditworthiness and the U.S. Prime Rate. The balance transfer APR is the same as the purchase APR. First Tech is a federally chartered credit union, subject to the 18% statutory ceiling under the Federal Credit Union Act — which is why the APR tops out at 18.00% regardless of credit profile. Confirm the current range at firsttechfed.com before applying.
As disclosed on firsttechfed.com/discover/become-a-member (verified June 11, 2026), First Tech membership is open to employees and immediate family members of more than 1,700 partner companies — including Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HP Inc., and Cisco, among others. Membership is also open to residents of participating communities, members of participating organizations, and residents of participating condominium associations. This makes First Tech significantly more accessible than military-gated credit unions. Verify your eligibility at firsttechfed.com.
No — as disclosed by First Tech Federal Credit Union (verified June 11, 2026), the Platinum Mastercard charges no balance transfer fee and no application fee. The balance transfer APR is the same as the purchase APR (10.49%–18.00% variable). There is no intro 0% BT period — the regular rate applies immediately. For comparison, the BankAmericard charges a 5% BT fee. Verify current terms at firsttechfed.com/rates/credit-cards.
No. ClearValue Lending is not a bank, card issuer, lender, or financial advisor. The First Tech Federal Platinum Mastercard is issued and operated by First Technology Federal Credit Union. APRs, fees, and terms are determined solely by First Tech and may change — verify current terms at firsttechfed.com before applying.
How we rate
Every pick gets a 1–5 ClearValue Rating computed from four weighted factors: Editorial confidence (30%), Cost (25%), Value (25%), and Accessibility (20%).
Scored consistently across every product and independent of any compensation. Full methodology →
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