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If you need to pay down some troublesome credit card debt, but your card’s APR is making it difficult, you have some options, including transferring your existing balance to another credit card. Some cards have a 0% annual percentage rate (APR) offer for balance transfers. With this great intro rate, you can avoid interest for a limited time as you work to pay off your balance on a new card.
Unfortunately, many of these cards charge a balance transfer fee, which often amounts to 3–5% of the transfer amount. When you’re trying to save money and pay down debt, this added fee won’t help. But some cards can help you pay down your balance without charging you a fee for the privilege. Here are three credit cards with no balance transfer fees.
Card Details +
Rewards: None
Sign-Up Bonus: None
Annual Fee: $0
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then .
Why We Picked It: Early balance transfers avoid interest and balance transfer fees.
For Balance Transfers: Balance transfers won’t accrue interest for the first 15 months. Plus, all balance transfers you make within the first 60 days won’t incur transfer fees.
Drawbacks: Any balance transfers completed after 60 days will cost you $5 or 5% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater.
Rewards: Two points for every dollar spent.
Sign-Up Bonus: 5,000 bonus points if you spend $500 in the first three months.
Annual Fee: $0
APR: As low as 0% APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, then variable 14.24% to 24.24% APR.
Why We Picked It: This card earns rewards, avoids interest, and won’t charge you a transfer fee.
For Balance Transfers: You can qualify to receive an intro APR offer as low as 0% on purchases and balance transfers for a full year. Plus, there are no balance transfer fees.
Drawbacks: The 0% intro APR isn’t guaranteed, so you may end up with a higher intro rate depending on your credit.
Rewards: None
Sign-Up Bonus: None
Annual Fee: $0
APR: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then variable 12.99% to 22.99% APR.
Why We Picked It: Bank of America’s lack of initial fees and intro APR make it a solid choice for paying down credit card debt.
For Balance Transfers: Any balance transfers you make within 60 days of opening your account won’t accrue interest for 15 months. They also won’t incur a transfer fee, and there’s no penalty APR for late payments.
Drawbacks: Balance transfers made after 60 days incur a fee of $10 or 3% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater.
If you pay off your balance within the intro period, you’ll save the most money. If you’re still carrying some of that balance when the intro period expires, though, you’ll start paying interest, so make sure your card’s intro period is long enough for you to pay your balance in full.
You should also look at the APR that kicks in after the 0% intro period is over. If that APR is higher than the APR on your current card, you may want to find a card with a more competitive rate.
When you open your card, transfer your balances immediately. That way, you’ll be able to take full advantage of the intro APR period—and if your credit card only waives balance transfer fees for a limited time, you won’t miss the boat.
The best credit cards, including balance transfer cards, require good to excellent credit, so make sure you check your credit score before you apply to increase your chances of approval. You can check your credit score for free at Credit.com.
At publishing time, the Chase Slate Card is offered through Credit.com product pages, and Credit.com is compensated if our users apply for and ultimately sign up for this card. However, this relationship does not result in any preferential editorial treatment. This content is not provided by the card issuer(s). Any opinions expressed are those of Credit.com alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the issuer(s).
Note: It’s important to remember that interest rates, fees, and terms for credit cards, loans, and other financial products frequently change. As a result, rates, fees, and terms for credit cards, loans, and other financial products cited in these articles may have changed since the date of publication. Please be sure to verify current rates, fees, and terms with credit card issuers, banks, or other financial institutions directly.
Image: Geber86
