Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards

There’s nothing complicated about the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card (Review).

It’s all about the balance transfers, with an exceptionally long intro period. New purchases will get a shorter introductory APR period.

• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 21 months, then 13.74% – 23.74% (Variable)
• Balance Transfer fee: 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum

This could be the right card if all you want is a long time to pay off some debt, although it does have a transfer fee. Compare this card to others without transfer fees, but with shorter promotional periods, to see which intro APR offer will end up saving you the most money over time.

• Citi Concierge: Call 1-800-508-8930 anytime to speak with a personal assistant, who can help with non-emergency tasks like finding tickets or making reservations.
• Citi Entertainment: Access tickets to a wide variety of events, like concerts and sporting events, occasionally including presales and exclusive experiences.
• Free FICO Score: Check your FICO Bankcard Score 8, based on your Equifax credit report, for free.
• Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 13.74% – 23.74% (Variable)
• Annual fee: $0

• 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of first transfer. After that, the variable APR will be 13.74% – 23.74%, based on your creditworthiness. All transfers must be completed in first 4 months.
• 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 13.74% – 23.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
• If you transfer a balance with this offer, after your 0% Intro purchase APR expires, both new purchases and unpaid purchase balances will automatically accrue interest until all balances, including your transferred balance, are paid in full.
• There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
• Get free access to your FICO^® score online.
• With Citi Entertainment^SM, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
• Shop with confidence knowing that you have dependable protection benefits, including $0 Liability on Unauthorized Purchases and Citi^® Identity Theft Solutions.
• The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.74% – 23.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card has one of the longest 0% balance transfer periods available.

It’s not quite as long as the offers from Citi above, but keep in mind that you can only transfer balances between issuers. So if you have a balance on a Citi credit card already, you may want a U.S. Bank card to transfer it over.

• Balance transfer APR: 0% for 20 billing cycles, for transfers made within 60 days, then 14.99%–24.99% Variable
• Balance transfer fee: 3%, $5 minimum

• Free credit score: Check your VantageScore 3.0 credit score from TransUnion whenever you’d like.
• Shopping and travel protections: Cell Phone Protection, Extended Warranty Protection, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and more
• Purchase APR: 0% for 20 billing cycles, then 14.99%–24.99% Variable
• Annual fee: $0

• 0% introductory APR for 20 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, then 14.99%–24.99% Variable
• Savings at various retailers through Visa Discounts
• Travel and shopping protections
• Cell Phone Protection
• Free VantageScore based on your TransUnion credit report
• No annual fee

Looking for some time to pay off a big balance? The Wells Fargo Platinum card can provide, with over a year to pay off your debt at a low interest rate.

Like most cards dedicated to balance transfers, you won’t earn any rewards or get any spectacular benefits. But if you’re dealing with a balance on a high-interest card from an issuer other than Wells Fargo, this card could work for you.

• Balance transfer APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months on qualifying balance transfers, for transfers requested within 120 days, then 15.49%-24.99% Variable
• Balance transfer fee: 3% for 120 days, then 5%

• Free credit score: Check your FICO Score 9 whenever you’d like, based on your Experian credit report.
• Shopping and travel protections: Including Cell Phone Protection, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Travel Accident Insurance, and more
• Purchase APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 months, then 15.49%-24.99% Variable
• Annual fee: $0

The BankAmericard® Credit Card isn’t too flashy, but it’s excellent for balance transfers.

• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 15.24%–25.24% Variable (for transfers made within 60 days of account opening)
• Balance Transfer fee: $0 for first 60 days, then 3%, $10 minimum

Take note that you’ll have to make your transfers within the first 60 days to get the 0% rate and the $0 transfer fee. After that, any transfers will be at the regular rate and will cost a fee.

Like most cards designed around balance transfers, there isn’t much else here. Its main purpose is to help you pay off a balance over time. And if you use it responsibly, making monthly payments by the due date, it can do just that.

• Free FICO credit score: Check your FICO Score 8 whenever you’d like, based on your TransUnion credit report.
• Purchase APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles, then 15.24%–25.24% Variable
• Annual fee: $0

• 0% APR for purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 15.24%–25.24% Variable,
• No balance transfer fee for the first 60 days; 3% fee (min $10) after that for all transfers
• No annual fee
• No penalty APR. Paying late won’t automatically raise your interest rate (APR). Other account pricing and terms apply
• Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app

The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card (Review) is a rare breed because it offers a top-notch balance transfer deal — a long intro period and no transfer fee — along with a solid rewards program (most great balance transfer cards don’t have very good rewards).

• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months, then 13.99%–24.99% Variable (for transfers requested within 60 days)
• Balance Transfer fee: None

There are many rewards cards with 0% intro APR periods. But they usually have transfer fees of 3% or so, and that makes them not as good for balance transfers. This might be the only credit card to offer bonus categories and a 0% fee for all transfers.

Take note of the 60-day limit for balance transfers at the 0% rate. But the 0% transfer fee has no time limit, unlike the balance transfer credit cards above — this is a rare find, but it’s not too useful because after 60 days any transfers will get the regular APR, making them poor choices for paying down debt.

• 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 spent per year (then 1X)
• 20% point bonus: Earn 20% more points if you make 20 or more purchases per month
• 10,000 Membership Rewards points for spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months
• Amex Offers: Discounts or extra points at specific merchants, like Sam’s Club, Pinterest, Boxed, and many more.
• Complimentary ShopRunner membership: Register with ShopRunner for free two-day shipping and returns at select online retailers.
• Entertainment Access: Exclusive discounts to events, concerts, sporting events, and shows.
• Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 13.99%–24.99% Variable
• Annual fee: $0

• Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
• Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable rate, currently 14.99%–25.99%.
• $0 balance transfer fee. Balance transfers must be requested within 60 days from account opening.
• 2x points at US supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x); 1x points on other purchases.
• Use your Card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% more points on those purchases less returns and credits.
• Over 1.5 million more places in the U.S. started accepting American Express® Cards in 2017.
• No annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Need to transfer a balance? And what about food: Do you eat it?

If you said “yes” to both, you might like the Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review). With 15 months of no interest on balance transfers you’ll have plenty of time to pay down any big balances that are accruing interest elsewhere (after the intro rate your APR will be 15.49% - 25.49% Variable).

The dining cash back rate (3%) is pretty competitive with other restaurant cards, especially for cards without annual fees. But the grocery store rate (2%) is a bit low, so you may want to look to other grocery credit cards for those purchases.

• Balance transfer APR: 0% for 15 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% Variable
• Balance transfer fee: 3%

• 3% cash back on:
  • Dining
  • Entertainment
• 2% cash back at Grocery Stores
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• $150 cash back for spending $500 in the first 3 months
• Concierge: Call any time for non-emergency assistance making reservations, finding gifts, and more (World Elite Mastercard only).
• CreditWise: Use Capital One’s CreditWise credit monitoring service to keep tabs on your VantageScore 3.0, based on your TransUnion credit report.
• Shopping and travel protections: Extended Warranty, MasterRental Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and more
• Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% Variable
• No foreign transaction fee
• Annual fee: $0

Two solid features make this a great card offer:

• Rotating reward categories? Check.
• Long 0% balance transfer period? Check.

Rather than offering the same bonus categories year round, the Chase Freedom® (Review) gives you new categories to earn 5% back in every three months. Check out the potential 5% categories to see if they’ll fit your expected spending.

Got any other cards from Chase? If you have certain Ultimate Rewards cards you could move your cash back to one of them, before redeeming it for travel or transferring to an airline or hotel partner. That could give you way more bang for your buck!

• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months, then 16.49% - 25.24% Variable
• Balance Transfer fee: 3% when you transfer during the first 60 days of account opening, with a minimum of $5. Then, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

• 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2022)
• 5% cash back in categories that change every three months (see calendar below), up to $1,500 spent per quarter, then 1% (activation required)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• $150 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
• DoorDash membership: A free membership (DashPass) for three months, and a 50% discount for the next nine months; a DashPass provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12.
• Shop through Chase/Chase Offers: Earn extra cash back or find discounts with the Shop through Chase and Chase Offers programs.
• Shopping and travel protections: Purchase Protection, Extended Warranty, Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance, and more
• Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 16.49% - 25.24% Variable
• Annual fee: $0

This card’s got a pair of excellent features: A long 0% balance transfer offer along with the best flat-rate rewards program in the game.

You’ll get 18 months on Balance Transfers at 0% interest, exceptionally long for a rewards card; after that the rate increases to 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable).

But take note that you’ll only get that low rate for transferred balances. Purchases will be subject to the regular APR, so be sure to pay them off each month.

• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable) (for transfers requested in the first four months)
• Balance transfer fee: Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum

• 2% cash back for all purchases (1% for purchases, 1% for payments)
• Citi Concierge: Call for non-emergency help whenever you need it, like assistance making travel reservations.
• ShopRunner membership: Use ShopRunner to get free two-day shipping and returns at participating retailers.
• Free credit score: Check your FICO Bankcard Score 8 for free, based on your Equifax credit report.
• Purchase APR: 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
• Annual fee: $0

• Earn cash back twice. Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
• To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
• Balance Transfer Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
• If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
• There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
• The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.

Like many reward cards, the Discover it® Cash Back (Review) offers a solid balance transfer offer that can help you pay down your debt more quickly and for less overall.

You’ll get 14 months of no interest for balance transfers (and purchases) before the regular rate of 13.49% - 24.49% Variable begins.

• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 14 months, then 13.49% - 24.49% Variable (for transfers requested in the first 90 days)
• Balance Transfer fee: 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

• 5% cash back in rotating categories, up to $1,500 in spending per quarter, then 1% (activation required)
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Cashback Match: Get double cash back for the first year, provided at the end of the first year
• Free credit score: Track your FICO Score 8 over time, based on your TransUnion credit report.
• Social Security number alerts: Get notified if your SSN is found on any thousands of risky websites.
• Inquiry and new account alerts: Alerts if any new credit inquiries or accounts show up on your Experian credit report
• Purchase APR: 0% for 14 months, then 13.49% - 24.49% Variable
• No foreign transaction fee
• Annual fee: $0

The 5% cash back calendar for 2020 is:

• INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There’s no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, select rideshares and online shopping, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
• Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
• Redeem cash back any amount, any time. Rewards never expire.
• Use your rewards at Amazon.com checkout.
• Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
• No annual fee.
• Click “APPLY NOW” to see rates, rewards, FICO® Credit Score terms, Cashback Match™ details & other information.

The U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card is a card that doesn’t get much hype, but it can be surprisingly valuable.

You can pick your own 5% cash back categories (two of them), with quite a nice selection of choices, giving you more flexibility than almost any other card. You can even choose another 2% “everyday” category.

All that comes with a balance transfer offer that’s a bit shorter than some other reward cards, at 12 billing cycles on Balance Transfers*. But that still gives you a fair bit of time before you’ll be hit with the regular APR, at 13.99% - 23.99%* Variable.

• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles on Balance Transfers*, then 13.99% - 23.99%* Variable (for transfers requested in the first 60 days)
• Balance transfer fee: 3%

• 5% cash back in two categories of your choice, up to $2,000 spent per quarter, then 1% (activation required)
• 2% cash back in your choice of one “everyday” category
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• $150 cash bonus for spending $500 in the first 90 days after account opening
• Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: Perks for eligible bookings, like a $25 food and beverage credit, room upgrades when available, and more
• Shopping and travel protections: Extended Warranty, Purchase Security, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Roadside Dispatch, and more.
• Purchase APR: None for None, then 13.99% - 23.99%* Variable
• Annual fee: $0*

You can pick from any two of these:

And one of these:

• Earn up to $550 cash back in the first year.
• $150 bonus after spending $500 in eligible net purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
• 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible net purchases ($100 per quarter) on two categories you choose. That adds up to $400 cash back!
• 2% cash back on your choice of one everyday category, like gas stations or grocery stores.
• 1% cash back on all other eligible net purchases.
• No limit on total cash back earned.
• 0% Intro APR* on balance transfers for 12 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 13.99% – 23.99%
• No annual fee*
• Great Offer from U.S. Bank, a 2020 World’s Most Ethical Company® – Ethisphere Institute, February 2020

A lot of flat-rate cash back cards offer nice intro offers for balance transfers, and the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card (Review) is no different.

Along with plenty of time to pay off a balance transfer at 0% APR (15 months on qualifying balance transfers), you’ll get a solid flat rate on every purchase, with a bit of a boost for mobile wallet purchases in the first year. After the intro period is over your regular rate will be 13.99%-25.99% Variable.

• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months on qualifying balance transfers, then 13.99%-25.99% Variable (for transfers requested in the first 120 days)
• Balance transfer fee: 3% for 120 days, then 5%

• 1.8% cash back on purchases made in the first 12 months with eligible mobile wallets:
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • Samsung Pay
• 1.5% cash back on every other purchase
• $150 cash back for spending $500 in the first 3 months
• Free credit score: Check your FICO Score 9 whenever you’d like, based on your Experian credit report
• Earn More Mall: Find offers to earn more cash back at select retailers in the Wells Fargo Earn More Mall.
• Shopping and travel protections: Cell Phone Protection, Extended Warranty, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and more
• Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 13.99%-25.99% Variable
• Annual fee: $0

ABOC makes a surprise appearance here with an excellent card offer: The Amalgamated Bank of Chicago Union Strong Card gives you 18 months at no interest for balance transfers, almost as long as any other card.

The balance transfer fee is pretty standard, and the 0% intro purchase APR is a bit shorter; but you will get quarterly rotating 5X point categories, including categories that other rotating cards usually don’t include like travel and monthly bills.

The ABOC Platinum Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card has the same offer.

• Balance transfer APR: 0% for 18 months, then 10.75% Variable
• Balance transfer fee: 3%, $5 minimum

• 5X points per dollar in rotating categories, up to $1,500 spent per quarter
• 1X point per dollar on all other purchases
• $150 statement credit after you spend $1,200 on purchases within the first 90 days
• Purchase APR: 0% for 12 months, then 10.75% Variable
• Annual fee: $0

The 5X point calendar for 2020 is:

• 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months and Balance Transfers for 18 months; after that the variable APR will be 10.75% (V), based on your creditworthiness.
• Earn $150 statement credit after you spend $1,200 on purchases within the first 90 days from account opening
• Earn 5x rewards on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter in popular categories such as dining, groceries, travel,
  and automotive
• No upper limit on the points you can accumulate, and since points never expire, you can save up for a big award!
• Earn Points on Every Purchase! It’s simple: $1 = 1 Point
• No Annual Fee
• Select Your Rewards Your Way

Student credit cards are made for people with limited or no credit, designed to help you bridge the gap between having no credit at all to getting that first credit card account on your credit reports. As such, most student cards aren’t great for paying down debt.

But there are a handful of exceptions, led by Bank of America, most notably the BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students. Not only do you get a great intro period (which is long even compared to non-student cards), you’ll also have no transfer fee for some time after being approved.

• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99%–24.99% Variable (for transfers made within 60 days)
• Balance Transfer fee: $0 for first 60 days, then 3%, $10 minimum

This card offer is basically the exact same as the regular BankAmericard® Credit Card.

• Free FICO credit score: Check your FICO Score 8 whenever you’d like, based on your TransUnion credit report.
• Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99%–24.99% Variable
• Annual fee: $0

• 15-month 0% intro APR for purchases and balance transfers
• Free FICO Credit Score, based on your TransUnion credit report
• $0 Liability and Fraud Protection
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• No annual fee

The Chase Slate® (Review) is about as straightforward as balance transfer cards get, offering a strong introductory APR period and no balance transfer fee for transfers made during your first 60 days as a cardholder. There’s no annual fee, either.

• Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months, then 16.49%–25.24% Variable (for transfers requested within 60 days)
• Balance Transfer fee: $0 for the first 60 days, then 5%, $5 minimum

The Slate was designed with balance transfers in mind, so that’s really its only talking point. Fortunately, its transfer offer is strong enough that it’s tough to beat if you’re working with fair credit.

• DoorDash membership: A free membership (DashPass) for three months, and a 50% discount for the next nine months; a DashPass provides free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12
• Chase Credit Journey: Check and monitor your VantageScore 3.0, based on your TransUnion credit report.
• Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months (then 16.49%–25.24% Variable)
• Balance transfer limit: $15,000
• Annual fee: $0

• Free DoorDash membership (DashPass; gets you free delivery and reduced service fees on orders over $12 and up) for three months, and then a 50% discount for the following nine months
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. After that, 16.99%—25.74% variable APR.
• No balance transfer fee for the first 60 days your account is open. After that, the fee for future transactions is 5% of the amount transferred with a minimum of $5.
• Monitor your VantageScore 3.0 credit score, based on your TransUnion credit report.
• No annual fee.

A bit of an outlier when compared to the cards above, the Discover it® Secured (Review) provides a reduced balance transfer APR offer with a relatively short introductory period. That’s likely the best you’re going to find with a secured card.

If you’re desperate to transfer a high-interest balance, but your less-than-stellar creditworthiness keeps you from getting one of the above cards, the Discover it Secured might be worth your time.

• Balance Transfer APR: 10.99% for 6 months, then 24.49% Variable
• Balance Transfer fee: 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

• 2% cash back on up to $1,000 spent per quarter (then 1%) at:
  • Gas stations
  • Restaurants
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Cashback Match: New cardmembers get double cash back rewards in the first year (awarded after the first year)
• Free FICO credit score: Check and monitor your FICO Score 8, based on your TransUnion credit report.
• Purchase APR: 24.49% Variable
• No foreign transaction fee
• Annual fee: $0

• No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit with responsible use.
• It’s a real credit card. You can build a credit history with the three major credit bureaus. Generally, debit and prepaid cards can’t help you build a credit history.
• Establish your credit line with your tax return by providing a refundable security deposit of at least $200 after being approved. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
• Automatic reviews starting at 8 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
• Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
• Get 100% U.S. based customer service & get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO® Credit Score
• INTRO OFFER: We automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
• Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites.* Activate for free.
• Click “APPLY NOW” to see rates, rewards, FICO® Credit Score terms, Cashback Match™ details & other information.