Balance transfer credit cards
By updated on May 26, 2012

Should you apply for a balance transfer credit card?  If you're like many Americans, you may have struggled with credit card debt for years or perhaps you've found yourself on an endless treadmill of making a minimum payment each month and never reducing the balance on your credit card. If your goal is to reduce your credit card debt, a balance transfer credit card may be one way to increase the speed of your debt reduction plan.

The primary reason to choose a balance transfer offer is to give yourself time to pay off the debt while getting relief from ongoing interest charges that add to that debt. Balance transfer credit cards frequently offer side benefits such as cash back rewards, airline miles or low interest rates on new purchases.

What are balance transfer credit cards?

A balance transfer card is very much like any other credit card: You make monthly payments on the debt, but the credit card company charges you a reduced (often zero) rate of interest for a set period of time. Once that time is up, you'll start paying interest on any remaining debt until the debt is fully paid.

The main feature of balance transfer cards is that the initial low interest rate is applied only to debt that is transferred from another credit card. You can use the balance transfer cards for future purchases; some cards offer reduced or zero APR for a limited time for new purchases as well. While most cards charge a fee for a transfer, typically 3 to 5 percent of the balance, a few cards waive this fee.

What should I look for in balance transfer offers?

The most important part of choosing a balance transfer offer is figuring out how long it will take you to pay off your balance. A credit card payoff calculator can be a big help when you are comparing balance transfer offers.

Here's what you need to compare:

  • Introductory APR
  • How long the introductory period lasts
  • The fee to make the transfer, if any
  • Interest rate for new purchases and for the remaining balance after the introductory period ends

The longer you can keep a low or zero introductory APR, the better the card offer. First, you need to decide how much you can afford to pay toward your credit card each month. For example, if you know you can pay off your balance within 12 months, then you can want to make sure you are comparing balance transfer offers that have a promotional period of at least 12 months.

Do I need good credit to transfer my balance?

Check your free credit report before applying for a balance transfer credit card. Even though balance transfer offers seem like a great idea if you're struggling with debt, credit card issuers typically require you to have excellent to good credit when you apply.

If your credit history has a few spots on it, you may need to spend a few months improving your credit score by making on-time payments and reducing your credit card debt before you can qualify for a balance transfer card.

Tips on balance transfer offers

When you apply for a balance transfer, you should carefully calculate how much you will need to pay each month in order to eliminate the balance entirely before the promotional period ends.

For example, if you transfer $2,000 to a credit card with zero percent APR for 12 months and a balance transfer fee of 3 percent, you will need to pay $172 per month to pay off the balance (plus the $60 transfer fee) within 12 payments.

Be careful not to rack up more credit card debt on your old card after you transfer your balance. It can be tempting to spend more if you have a credit card with a few thousand dollars of available credit, but this will put you in a worse position because you will now have two credit cards to pay off instead of one.

To truly benefit from a low introductory rate balance transfer, you need to be disciplined enough to continue making regular payments that are large enough to pay off your credit card debt in full before the promotional period expires. You may be tempted to pay less when you see the minimum payment drop along with your balance, but don't let that temptation sway you from your goal of reducing or eliminating your credit card debt.

 

Slate® from Chase - No Balance Transfer Fee

Editor's Rating


  • No Balance Transfer Fee!*
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
  • Transfer your higher rate balances during the first 30 days your account is open and you will pay no balance transfer fee!
  • After the first 30 days, the fee for future balance transfers is 3% of the amount transferred with a minimum of $5
  • Avoid interest on everyday purchases
  • Pay down your balance faster
  • Zero liability on unauthorized purchases*
  • No Annual Fee*

Discover® More Card - 18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer

Editor's Rating


  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*
  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*
  • 5% Cashback Bonus® in categories that change like gas, restaurants, department stores and more. Limitations apply*
  • Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
  • 24/7 access to a U.S. based Account Manager within 60 seconds
  • $0 Fraud Liability plus automatic mobile and email fraud alerts
  • Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
  • *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Discover® More® Card

Editor's Rating


  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*
  • 5% Cashback Bonus® in categories that change like gas, restaurants, department stores and more. Limitations apply*
  • Up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular retailers when you shop online through Discover.com
  • Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
  • 24/7 access to a U.S.-based Account Manager within 60 seconds
  • $0 Fraud Liability plus mobile and email fraud alert options
  • Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
  • *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Discover® Open Road Card

Editor's Rating


  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 19.99%*
  • 2% automatically at gas stations and restaurants all year long*
  • Plus, up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular online retailers when you shop through Discover.com
  • Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
  • 24/7 access to a U.S.-based Account Manager within 60 seconds
  • Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
  • *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Discover® MotivaSM Card

Editor's Rating


  • Earn Cashback Bonus for your good credit management
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*
  • Up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular online retailers when you shop through Discover.com
  • Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
  • 24/7 access to a U.S. based Account Manager within 60 seconds
  • $0 Fraud Liability plus mobile and email fraud alert options
  • Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
  • *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Simmons First Visa Platinum

Editor's Rating


  • Created for those with Excellent Credit and approval is based on your credit rating and application review.
  • Low 7.25% variable standard purchase APR and platinum benefits
  • No balance transfer fee for balances transferred in response to this online offer
  • No Annual Fee

Miles by Discover® Card

Editor's Rating


  • Earn 10,000 Bonus Miles with every $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months - up to 20,000 Bonus Miles
  • 1 Mile on every $1 you spend - Plus flexible redemption options like travel credits, merchandise, gift cards or cash
  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 12 months, then the variable purchase APR of 10.99% - 15.99%*
  • No restrictions on travel--fly on any airline, book any hotel or car, with no blackout dates
  • Travel benefits include secondary collision damage insurance when you rent a car with your Miles by Discover card
  • Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
  • Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
  • *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

Chase Freedom® Visa

Editor's Rating


  • Earn $100 Bonus Cash Back after you make $500 in purchases in your first 3 months
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
  • 5% Cash Back on up to $1,500 spent at grocery stores and movie theaters from 4/1/12 - 6/30/12
  • You'll enjoy new 5% categories every 3 months like gas stations, restaurants and even airlines. It's free and easy to activate your bonus each quarter!
  • Unlimited 1% Cash Back on all other purchases
  • Up to an additional 10% Cash Back when you shop online at select merchants through Chase
  • No annual fee and rewards never expire

Escape by Discover® Card

Editor's Rating


  • Earn up to $250 in travel rewards--1,000 Bonus miles every month you make a purchase for the first 25 months
  • Double Miles on every $1 you spend
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months then the variable purchase APR of 10.99% - 16.99%*
  • No restrictions on travel--fly on any airline, book any hotel or car, with no blackout dates
  • Flexible redemption options like travel credits, merchandise, gift cards or cash
  • Travel Insurance benefits, including primary car rental, lost or damaged luggage, travel delay, and trip cancellation when you book with your Escape by Discover card
  • Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
  • *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information

PenFed Promise Visa Card

Editor's Rating


  • Absolutely no fees
  • 7.49% APR introductory purchase APR for first 36 months. After that, the APR will vary with the Prime Rate, and is currently 9.99% APR.
  • No-fee cash advances carry a 17.99% APR
  • 4.99% APR promotional balance transfer rate for life of balance on transfers made between April 1, 2012 and June 30, 2012. After June 30, 2012, the APR for new balance transfers will be 17.99% APR. This transaction is subject to credit approval.

Simmons First Visa Platinum Rewards

Editor's Rating


  • Created for those with Excellent Credit and approval is based on your credit rating and application review.
  • Travel Rewards - cardholders who enroll in the program receive one point per net dollar spent
  • Choose any U.S. based airline or ticket class. No blackout dates or seating restrictions.
  • No balance transfer fee for balances transferred in response to this online offer

These quotes are from credit card issuers which have paid for a link to their website. Offers are subject to change without notice and may not be the same for all consumers.
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