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Offers for Bank of America cards mentioned in this post have been updated as of 06/01/2023
High credit card interest doesn't have to put a strain on your finances. Utilizing an introductory 0% APR balance transfer offer can help you pay down your credit cards faster. Instead of paying high interest, you can use those funds to pay down debts even faster. This can save you thousands of dollars in interest and reduce the cost of carrying high-interest debt.
Before you opt for a balance transfer offer, check out this strategy to get an introductory 0% APR to avoid the fees and restrictions of using a balance transfer. If that isn't a good fit, we've assembled the best balance transfer offers below.
Page Contents
- Our Pick: Best All-Around 0% Intro APR Balance Transfer Card
- Best 0% Intro APR Balance Transfer Credit Cards to Earn a Signup Bonus
- Best 0% Intro APR Balance Transfer Credit Card for Long Intro APR Period
- Top 0% Intro APR Credit Cards for Balance Transfers
- How to Chose an Intro 0% APR Credit Card
- Final Thoughts
Our Pick: Best All-Around 0% Intro APR Balance Transfer Card
If you're looking to pay down debt or finance a larger purchase, this card also comes with one of the best available introductory APR offers on balance transfers.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- 2% cash back on every purchase - 1% when you buy + 1% when you pay
- 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the (Variable) APR will be 18.99% - 28.99% based on your creditworthiness
- Intro fee 3% of each transfer ($5 min) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 min).
- No annual fee
The Citi Double Cash is our pick for the best cash-back balance transfer card. While it doesn't feature the longest intro APR period of the cards in this post, it has a huge advantage over many other cards in the list. The Citi Double Cash earns 2% cash back on every purchase, making it one of the best everyday cashback cards on the market.
If you also hold the Citi Premier® Card or Citi Prestige® Card, you can combine the rewards earned on your Citi Double Cash with those from your premium cards. That unlocks the ability to transfer points to Citi's airline and hotel transfer partners.
While there are plenty of great intro 0% cards to choose from, we think the Citi Double Cash provides outstanding all-around value for a balance transfer card.
Best 0% Intro APR Balance Transfer Credit Cards to Earn a Signup Bonus
- 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases
Featuring a 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 17.99% - 27.99% variable APR), the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is an excellent option for folks looking to make use of an intro balance transfer card that also offers huge long term value. While it doesn't deliver quite as good a return on expenses as the Citi Double Cash, this everyday travel rewards card features a stellar welcome offer of 25,000 online bonus points which you can redeem towards travel and dining purchases. You'll also earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases, pay no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees.
- Sign-up bonus of $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, issued as 20,000 ThankYou® Points
- 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category on up to $500 of purchses each billing cycle
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for--the top earning category adjusts automatically each month to the eligible category in which you spend the most.
- Excellent intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent
- 1% cash back thereafter, plus, you'll earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- Eligible spending categories are: Restaurants, Gas Stations, Grocery Stores, Select Travel, Select Transit, Select Streaming Services, Drugstores, Home Improvement Stores, Fitness Clubs and Live Entertainment.
In addition to offering a 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months (followed by a 18.99% - 28.99% Variable APR), the Citi Custom Cash gives new cardmembers a chance to earn a $200 cash back bonus when signing up for the card and features strong earning rates across a wide range of spending categories. Plus, Citi Custom Cash cardholders earn 5% cashback in the one eligible category they spend the most each month.
- 4X points on takeout, food delivery and dining
- 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, gas stations and on streaming services
- 1 point on all other eligible purchases
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is one of just a handful of rewards cards providing the perfect trifecta of a strong welcome bonus, an excellent return on spending, and a 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 12 billing cycles (then 19.74% - 28.74% variable APR). New card members can take home an intro offer of 20,000 points after meeting the minimum spend, one of the best offers available in this category.
Best 0% Intro APR Balance Transfer Credit Card for Long Intro APR Period
The BankAmericard credit card offers an outstanding 0% intro APR for 21 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. That gives you almost two years to pay down the balance on your account before the intro APR period ends (then a 15.99% - 25.99% variable APR).
Top 0% Intro APR Credit Cards for Balance Transfers
| Card | Best For | 0% Period on Balance Transfers | Regular APR | Transfer Fee | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BankAmericard® credit card | Top Pick: Long intro period on purchases and balance transfers | for 21 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days | 15.99% - 25.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers | 3% of the amount of each transaction | $0 |
| Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card | Top Pick: Long intro period on purchases and balance transfers + great welcome offer + excellent everyday rewards card | for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days | 17.99% - 27.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers | 3% of the amount of each transaction | $0 |
| U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card | Long intro period | 18 billing cycles on balance transfers (for transactions made within 60 days of opening account) | 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR | Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater. | $0 |
| Citi Simplicity® Card | Longest intro period + no late fees | 21 months (transfers must be completed in first 4 months) | 18.99% - 29.74% Variable APR | Intro fee 3% of each transfer ($5 min) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 min) | $0 |
| Citi® Double Cash Card | Top Pick: Long intro period + cash back rewards | 18 months (transfers must be completed in first 4 months) | 18.99% - 28.99% (Variable) APR | Intro fee 3% of each transfer ($5 min) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 min). | $0 |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | Top Pick: Long intro period + top cash bonus offer + cash back rewards | for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days | 17.99% - 27.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers | 3% of the amount of each transaction | $0 |
| Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card | Long intro period | 21 months (transfers must be completed in first 4 months) | 17.99% - 28.74% variable APR | 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum | $0 |
| Citi Custom Cash℠ Card | Top earning rates across a wide range of bonus categories | 15 months | 18.99% - 28.99% Variable APR | Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum. | $0 |
| Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card | Valuable signup offer + great everyday cashback rate | for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days | 17.99% - 27.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers | 3% of the amount of each transaction | $0 |
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Good earning rate on everyday purchases | 15 months | 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) APR | 3% | $0 |
| Citi Rewards+® Card | Excellent welcome offer + long intro period + solid return on spending | 15 months (transfers must be completed in first 4 months) | 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable) APR | Intro fee 3% of each transfer ($5 min) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 min). | $0 |
| U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card | No annual fee + intro & balance transfer APRs + high return on dining | 12 billing cycles | 19.74% - 28.74% Variable APR | Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater | $0 |
How to Chose an Intro 0% APR Credit Card
The best Intro 0% APR card is always going to be subjective, dependent on your financial situation and how fast you can pay down the debt. Cards featuring the longest 0% intro period are not inherently better than cards offering a shorter timeframe before the introductory APR ends. Each card on the list above provides a different combination of features, and you’ll want to factor all the elements into the equation before you apply for a card.
Some of the deciding factors to consider include:
Your current card issuer
The most significant determining factor has nothing to do with APR rates, and boils down to the simple fact you can’t transfer a balance between two cards from the same card issuer. For example, Chase won’t allow you to transfer the balance from your Chase Sapphire Reserve® to a newly opened Chase card that offers an intro balance transfer offer. You’ll need to look at Amex, Citi, or any card issuer other than Chase for a balance transfer card.
Length of intro 0% APR period
You need to work out exactly how much you can afford to pay each month and work backward to determine how much time is required to pay your balance down. Give yourself some breathing room on this one. After all, if you miss a payment and your account is no longer in good standing, you can kiss your intro APR rate goodbye.
Balance transfer fee
One of the factors we give plenty of weight to when evaluating Intro APR cards is the balance transfer fee. Let’s say you're choosing between three intro APR cards and you’re transferring a balance of $10,000. Say you're considering one card that charges a 3% transfer fee and one that charges a 5% transfer fee. The card charging a 3% transfer fee will give you a $200 head start on the cards charging a 5% transfer fee. That money could go to paying down a substantial portion of the initial card balance.
Does it earn rewards?
If you want to hang onto the card long-term, a card that provides a decent return on spending is going to rank much higher than one that doesn't.
Welcome bonus
A welcome bonus can go a long way towards making up for the balance transfer fee, sometimes leaving you with extra cash in your pocket when all is said and done. If a card features a welcome offer, it should weigh heavily in the card's favor when making your decision.
Regular APR rate
If you don’t think you can pay the entire balance down before the introductory APR rate ends, the regular APR rate on the card will have a significant impact on the card you pick. You might be able to roll the transfer to a new card charging 0% intro APR on balance transfers. However, you shouldn't count on this being an option — especially with rising interest rates.
Annual fee
If you’re focused on paying down your credit card balance, it doesn’t make sense to pay a yearly fee on the balance transfer card. Every card we have listed features no annual fee.
Final Thoughts
When choosing a balance transfer card, look for one that provides a long intro APR period, charges no annual fee, and preferably doesn’t charge a balance transfer fee (or provides a welcome offer to balance out the fee). Selecting the right card could save you thousands of dollars in fees and interest over the introductory term. That can provide a low-cost method of servicing existing credit card debt.
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