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How to Transfer Credit Card Balance
A credit card balance transfer could be the solution you need to consolidate debt and pay it off fast.
High interest rates on credit cards make it tough to pay off debt. At 15% APR, more than half of every minimum payment you make is used to pay off monthly interest charges. At 20% APR, that jumps to two-thirds of each payment you make. As a result, you can make payments month after month, but never seem to get anywhere. Learning how to transfer credit card balances to another account can help you pay off debt faster. It can also help you save money.
Q:What is a balance transfer credit card?
What is a balance transfer credit card?
A:
A balance transfer credit card is designed to help you consolidate debt. These cards offer low APR on balance transfers. Many offer zero percent APR during an introductory period if you have good credit. That way, you can move debt from your existing high interest rate cards so it’s easier to pay off.
How to transfer credit card balances step-by-step
Balance transfers can be an effective way to consolidate debt, if…
- You owe less than $5,000 total to credit card companies.
- You have a good or excellent credit score
If you can qualify for the right card with a long 0% APR teaser interest rate, then you can consolidate debt effectively using this solution. Here is what you’ll need and what you can expect with regard to how fast this solution will pay off your debt.
Required tool: Balance transfer credit card with a 0% APR introductory rate offer
Prep Time: 1-2 hours
Perform Time: 2 weeks
Total Time: 6-24 months
Fees: $3 – 3% of each balance transferred
Basically, it will take you a few hours comparing cards online to find the right card for your needs. You should receive your card within 7-10 business days, then you can work with customer service to begin transferring balances. Once your balances are transferred, you will have 6 to 24 months to pay off the balance in full before the end of the 0% APR introductory rate. That means you generally complete this debt solution within one to two years of consolidating your debt.
Step 1: Apply for the right balance transfer credit card
There are two things you want to look for when shopping for a balance transfer credit card:
- Low balance transfer fees
- The longest 0% APR teaser rate period possible
Most credit card companies offer teaser rate periods of 6-12 months. However, with excellent credit, you could find a card that offers an introductory rate period of 18 or even 24 months. These cards are rare, but worth the hunt. This maximizes how much time you get to pay off your debt interest-free.
If you’re using an online credit card comparison, it will show you different cards that fit your needs and credit profile. Only apply for the card that looks like the best fit for your needs. If you apply for multiple cards, you’ll create multiple credit inquiries, which can decrease your credit score.
Step 2: Get approved based on your credit score
Once you apply for the card you want, the credit card company will tell you exactly what they’re willing to offer, including:
- The period of time you qualify for 0% APR after you first open the account
- The credit limit on the card, which will determine how much debt you can transfer
- The balance transfer APR that you’d pay AFTER the teaser rate period ends
The higher your credit score, the more favorable all of these terms will be. If you have a FICO over 800, then balance transfer terms should be in your favor. If not, then you may need to choose which debts you transfer. Our expert Laura Adams explains how to do this below.
Step 3: Once you receive your card, transfer your existing balances
In about 7-10 business days, you should receive your card. Then, you can activate it and begin transferring your balances. The easiest way to do this is to call the customer service department for your new balance transfer card. You give them the account information and balance of each debt you wish to transfer. Then they do the rest of the work for you.
Balance transfers can be used for consolidating a variety of debts. In fact, you can move more than just credit card balances.
You can transfer balances from:
- General-purpose credit cards
- Charge cards
- Store cards
- Gas cards
- In-store credit lines, such as for furniture or electronics
- Personal loans
- Auto loans
Just make sure you understand the cost of getting out of debt. Loans, especially secured loans like auto loans, tend to have lower rates than credit cards. So, if you transfer an auto loan balance to a transfer card and don’t pay off the balance before the 0% APR period ends, you could end up paying a lot more before you pay off that debt.
Also, be aware that each debt transferred will incur a balance transfer fee. This can range from $3 per transfer to 3% of each balance you move. This will be applied and rolled into the balance on your new card.
Step 4: Pay off the debt as fast as possible
Once you finish consolidating your debt, now it’s time to focus on the fastest repayment possible. Review your budget to cut any unnecessary expenses. This will maximize the cash flow available in your budget for debt repayment. Make the biggest payments possible each month. Your goal is to pay off the total consolidated balance before the 0% APR teaser rate ends.
If you don’t pay off the balance in-full before the 0% APR period ends, then the credit card company will apply your standard balance transfer APR to any balance remaining.
What to do when you need to prioritize balances for transfer
In some cases, you may not get approved for a credit limit that’s large enough to transfer all your balances. Or, you may get approved for a high limit, but a shorter 0% APR introductory period. This means you’d only have a small window to pay off the transferred debt. These are common challenges with balance transfers, even if you have good credit. If you run into either of these situations, then you will need to prioritize your balances and decide which ones you want to transfer.
This is a situation that Susan, a credit user in Tennessee faced when she applied for a balance transfer credit card.
I was approved for a 20-month balance transfer, but not for the entire amount that’s on my high interest cards. I have three cards open, and I want to transfer all of the highest APR debt and most of the second. The last card has 0% for 5 more months. So, how do I ensure that debt that I want to move gets transferred?
Credit expert Laura Adams responds…
Laura Adams from the popular Money Girl Podcast explains how to prioritize what you transfer by APR. She also explains why you might end up moving part of a balance if there’s a different APR applied. Here is her response:
Congratulations on getting such a credit balance transfer credit card offer! When used properly, you should be able to save a boatload of interest. But you have to make sure you do the transfers in order of highest to lowest APR. And realize that it’s common to have different interest rates applied to difference portions of a balance on the same card.
For example, on one card you might have the following types of annual percentage rates, or APRs, for different types of transactions:
- A new purchase balance for regular charges made on the card at 14% APR.
- A cash advance balance for money withdrawn from a bank or ATM at 26% APR.
- A balance transfer balance for debt shifted to the card from another card or credit account during a promotional period at 0% APR.
The Credit CARD Act has your back when it comes to transfers by APR
Adams explains that thanks to the Credit CARD Act of 2009, your monthly statements list each of the balances she describes above. In addition, aside from the minimum payment, which can be applied to any part of your balance as the credit card company sees fit, extra payments must be applied in order of APR. They must knock out your debt starting with the highest APR portion of your balance first.
This means you need to check your statements before you contact the customer service department of your balance transfer credit card. You’ll want them to transfer balances starting with the highest APR balance to the lowest.
That may mean that they end up transferring part of a balance, instead of the full amount. For example, let’s say you have two credit cards to transfer. One has an APR of 14% on a $5,000 purchase balance, but a $500 balance at 26% for a cash advance. Then you have another card at 20% APR with a $3,000.
If you get a balance transfer card with a $5,000 limit, you should transfer the $500 cash advance balance. Then you move over the full $3,000. Finally, you transfer $1,500 of the $5,000 balance that had the 14% APR applied rate.
Adams explains…
Your new account that’s offering the balance transfer promotion will send the funds to the old account, which shifts or transfers your debt. So, when you transfer a balance, it’s like making a payment and should be applied in order of highest to lowest interest rate
If you believe that your credit card company isn’t applying your payments in the right order, be sure to contact them for more information. If the issue isn’t resolved, you can file a creditor complain with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov.
More questions about balance transfer credit cards
Q:What is the best balance transfer credit card?
What is the best balance transfer credit card?
A:
The best balance transfer credit card is the one that offers:
- The lowest transfer fees
- The longest 0% APR promotion period
These two factors make the card more effective because they reduce the cost of getting out of debt. Lower fees mean less to pay off. A long 0% interest rate period gives you more time to pay off debt interest-free.
Q:When you transfer balance on credit cards what happens?
When you transfer balance on credit cards what happens?
A:
When you transfer balances, the balance transfer card pays the balance off on the existing card. You need the account number and amount you wish to transfer. Then you call customer service on the balance transfer card and give them the list of accounts you wish to move.
A balance transfer immediately drops the balance on the existing card to zero. The account is still open and in good standing. This means you can continue to use the card. Just be careful not to run up a new balance! Otherwise, you can end up with more debt to pay off instead of reducing your debt.
A balance transfer immediately drops the balance on the existing card to zero. The account is still open and in good standing. This means you can continue to use the card. Just be careful not to run up a new balance! Otherwise, you can end up with more debt to pay off instead of reducing your debt.
Q:Is it good to transfer credit card balances?
Is it good to transfer credit card balances?
A:
This depends on your budget, credit and how much debt you need to pay off. Credit card balance transfers usually work best for someone who has less than $5,000 or less to pay off. With a good credit score, you should be able to qualify for a one-year introductory offer. That gives you twelve months to pay off the balance without interest charges.
Just keep in mind that the payments to reach zero in one year will be around $420 if you owe $5,000. So, if you have limited cash in your budget, this may not be the best solution. But with good credit and good cash flow, balance transfers can be the right choice.
Just keep in mind that the payments to reach zero in one year will be around $420 if you owe $5,000. So, if you have limited cash in your budget, this may not be the best solution. But with good credit and good cash flow, balance transfers can be the right choice.
Debt.com can connect you with the right solution to help you get out of debt fast to minimize credit damage and interest charges.
Q:Can I transfer credit card balance back and forth?
Can I transfer credit card balance back and forth?
A:
Most credit card issuers have rules for balance transfers. For example, many issuers won’t let you transfer balances from one of their cards; they only accept transfers from cards issued by other companies. So, back and forth balance transfers may be prohibited in some cases.
There is also a concern about cost. If you constantly incur balance transfer fees, you’re constantly adding to what you owe. You may end up paying the fees off and then transferring again. So, you might not get anywhere with this method.
Finally, be careful about your credit score. Each time you apply for a credit card, you must authorize a credit check. These stay on your credit report for two years. Too many inquiries within 6 months to a year is bad for your score.
There is also a concern about cost. If you constantly incur balance transfer fees, you’re constantly adding to what you owe. You may end up paying the fees off and then transferring again. So, you might not get anywhere with this method.
Finally, be careful about your credit score. Each time you apply for a credit card, you must authorize a credit check. These stay on your credit report for two years. Too many inquiries within 6 months to a year is bad for your score.
Q:Can your transfer store credit card balances?
Can your transfer store credit card balances?
A:
Yes. Most balance transfer credit cards let you transfer any existing balance, minus the exclusion mentioned above. Store credit cards tend to have much higher APR, so transferring these balances often makes sense. You save money and keep your store cards in good standing so you can continue using them.
Q:Can you transfer part of a credit card balance?
Can you transfer part of a credit card balance?
A:
Absolutely. When you set up the balance transfer, you tell them how much debt you wish to move. There’s no requirement to pay off a balance in-full. However, there’s a good reason to transfer the whole thing. That way, you can take advantage of 0% APR on the full balance owed.
Q:Can your transfer a loan to a credit card?
Can your transfer a loan to a credit card?
A:
Yes. There is no restriction on just transferring credit card balances. If you want to move a loan, such as a personal loan or auto loan to your balance transfer credit card, you can. Just be sure you can pay off the debt during the 0% APR period.
Remember, loans almost always offer lower interest rates than credit cards. So, unless you pay the balance off interest-free, transferring a loan could increase the cost of repayment. You basically make it more expensive to pay off that debt.
It’s also worth noting that you can transfer in-store credit lines for things like furniture or electronics. Just have the name of the original lender plus account number handy and call customer service to make the transfer.
Remember, loans almost always offer lower interest rates than credit cards. So, unless you pay the balance off interest-free, transferring a loan could increase the cost of repayment. You basically make it more expensive to pay off that debt.
It’s also worth noting that you can transfer in-store credit lines for things like furniture or electronics. Just have the name of the original lender plus account number handy and call customer service to make the transfer.
Q:Can you transfer a balance from someone else’s credit card?
Can you transfer a balance from someone else’s credit card?
A:
Yes. Unlike other forms of debt consolidation, this one lets you pay off someone else’s debt. You can transfer any balance from any existing credit card, even if it’s not yours. Just be aware that this means you incur fees and are responsible for paying off the other person’s debt.
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Article last modified on April 24, 2019. Published by Debt.com, LLC . Mobile users may also access the AMP Version: How to Transfer Credit Card Balance - AMP.
