Credit Cards Credit Card Basics How to Choose a Balance Transfer Credit Card By LaToya Irby LaToya Irby LaToya Irby is a credit expert who has been covering credit and debt management for The Balance for more than a dozen years. She's been quoted in USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, and the Associated Press, and her work has been cited in several books. learn about our editorial policies Updated on January 31, 2022 Reviewed by Khadija Khartit Reviewed by Khadija Khartit Khadija Khartit is a strategy, investment, and funding expert, and an educator of fintech and strategic finance in top universities. She has been an investor, entrepreneur, and advisor for more than 25 years. She is a FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 license holder. learn about our financial review board Fact checked by Vikki Velasquez In This Article View All In This Article Balance Transfer Introductory Rate and Period The Regular Balance Transfer APR Transfer Credit Card's Purchases APR The Balance Transfer Fee Whether You Qualify Timing of the Transfer The Credit Card Issuer Other Questions to Ask Photo: Robert Llewellyn / Creative RF / Getty A balance transfer credit card can help you pay off high-interest rate credit card debt, but only if you choose the right credit card. Balance transfers can end up being costly if they're not done right or done using expensive credit cards. Before you transfer a balance or even apply for a balance transfer credit card, make sure you compare credit cards to choose the best one. Balance Transfer Introductory Rate and Period Many balance transfer credit cards a low or 0% introductory interest rate for balance transfers. The introductory interest rate will reduce or eliminate monthly finance charges on your balance transfer for a certain period of time. The absence of a finance charge makes it easier for you to pay off the credit card balance. A 0% interest rate is ideal, but a low-interest rate - like 2.99% - is good too. Note Federal law requires promotional interest rates to last at least six months, but many credit cards offer introductory rates up to 18, or even 21 months. The longer the introductory period the better because it gives you more time to pay off your balance with no interest. The Regular Balance Transfer APR Once the introductory period expires, you'll be paying interest at the regular balance transfer rate (which is sometimes the same as the purchase rate). You don't want to end up paying a high-interest rate after the promotional period ends, especially if the promotional period isn't long enough for you to pay off the full balance transfer. Transfer Credit Card's Purchases APR Many credit cards offer the same introductory rate for your purchases and balance transfers, which makes the offer even more attractive. However, an introductory purchase rate might work against you. If you're racking up charges on the card because there's a promotional rate, you're working against any efforts toward paying off the balance transfer. The Balance Transfer Fee Balance transfer fees are commonly 3% to 5% of the balance you transfer or a minimum of $5. The larger the balance transferred, the higher your fee will be. What's important is that the balance transfer fee doesn't negate the interest savings you're receiving by moving your balance. If you find a credit card that doesn't charge a balance transfer fee, consider it strongly. Whether You Qualify Don't assume that because you receive an offer for a 0% rate that you'll be approved. Credit card issuers send out mass pre-approval offers to consumers who meet certain basic criteria. When you apply, the card issuer will take a deeper look at your credit history, income, and other factors to decide whether you qualify. There's a chance that you may not ultimately qualify for the low-interest rate balance transfer. Note Generally, the better your credit history and your credit score, the more likely it is that you'll qualify for a balance transfer offer. Timing of the Transfer Some balance transfer credit cards require you to transfer your balance within a certain timeframe, e.g. 60 days of account opening, to receive the promotional rate. If for some reason you're not ready to transfer your balance right away, you should wait to apply for the card or choose a credit card that doesn't require you to make the transfer upfront. The Credit Card Issuer You typically cannot transfer balances between credit cards issued by the same bank. So, as you look at balance transfer credit cards, rule out cards issued by the same creditor as the balance you want to transfer. Other Questions to Ask Now that you know how to choose the right balance transfer card, make sure you ask the right questions about how you plan to use it. How Long Will It Take to Pay Off the Balance? Do you have a plan to pay off your balance transfer? Or are you just moving the balance because you want to get a low-interest rate for a few months? Transferring a credit card balance is better when you can pay the balance off within the promotional period. If you can’t pay it off soon, try to pay it off shortly after the promotional period ends. The longer it takes to pay off your balance transfer, the more you’ll pay in interest charges. Will the Balance Transfer Save You Money? Don’t assume that a low introductory interest rate means you’ll save money overall. You still have to pay the balance transfer fee and any annual fee charged by your new credit card. A balance transfer calculator can help you determine whether you’ll actually save money by transferring your credit card balance. How High Will Your Credit Utilization Be After the Transfer? Your credit utilization, which measures how much of your total available credit you are using, impacts 30% of your credit score. If the balance transfer will result in a credit card balance that’s a significant chunk of the card's credit limit, your credit score can take a hit. Fortunately, a high credit utilization will decrease as you pay off your credit card balance. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Federal Trade Commission. "Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009," SEC. 172. Additional Limits on Interest Rate Increases. myFICO. "What's in My FICO Score?"