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Are you currently burdened with high-interest credit card debt?
Applying for an introductory balance transfer offer can help pay down your credit card balance 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 without 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
The Best Balance Transfer Card Featuring 0% APR
Our Pick: Best All-Around 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.
- 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 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness
- No annual fee
The Citi Double Cash is our pick for the best balance transfer cards. While it doesn't feature the longest intro APR period of the cards in this post, it sits comfortably in the top tier of balance transfer cards. Plus, it has a huge advantage over other cards in the list—the Citi Double Cash earns 2% cash back on every purchase, making it one of the best everyday rewards cards on the market.
Citi Double Cash balance transfer offer:
- An intro APR of 0% for 18 months, (then, a variable APR of 13.99% – 23.99% applies)
- Applies to balance transfers completed in the first 4 months
- Plus, you'll pay a $0 annual fee
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 and transfer them to Citi's airline 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 Balance Transfer Card for Travel and Dining
- Earn 3X points on eating out and ordering in
- Earn 3X points on travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals
- Earn 3X points on gas stations, rideshares and transit
- Earn 3X points on popular streaming services
- Earn 1X points on other purchases
Even without factoring in the introductory balance transfer offer, the Wells Fargo Propel Amex is one of our favorite rewards cards for travel and dining expenses.
New cardholders earn a high-value welcome bonus of 20,000 points after meeting a modest minimum spending requirement. Plus, get generous 0% intro APR for 12 months on qualifying balance transfers. All of this without paying an annual fee.
And then there's the excellent return on spending. You'll earn 3X points on purchases in a wide range of categories. You can redeem these points directly through the Go Far Rewards portal for flights, hotels, cruises, and more, at a value of 1¢ per point. That effectively gives you a minimum 3% fixed return on your spending.
Best Balance Transfer Cards for Long Intro APR Period
The U.S. Bank Platinum Visa offers an outstanding 20 billing cycles on balance transfers, giving you almost two years to pay down the balance on your account before the intro APR period ends (then a 13.99% - 23.99% variable APR).
Similar to the U.S. Bank Platinum Visa, the Wells Fargo Platinum offers an extended intro APR period, plus you get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible), and free access to your FICO credit score.
Top 0% Intro APR Credit Cards for Balance Transfers
| Card | Best For | 0% Period on Balance Transfers | Regular APR | Transfer Fee | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card | Top Pick: Long intro period on purchases and balance transfers | 20 billing cycles on balance transfers (for transactions made within 60 days of opening account) | 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR | 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater | $0 |
| Citi® Double Cash Card | Top Pick: Long intro period + cash back rewards | 18 months (transfers must be completed in first 4 months) | 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable) APR | 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum. | $0 |
| Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card | Long intro period | 18 months on Balance Transfers (transfers must be completed in first 4 months) | 14.74% - 24.74% Variable APR | 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum | $0 |
| Wells Fargo Platinum card | Long intro period + $600 Cell Phone Protection | 18 months on qualifying balance transfers (for transactions made within 120 days of opening account) | 16.49%-24.49% Variable APR | 3% intro for 120 days, then 5% | $0 |
| Citi Rewards+® Card | Excellent welcome offer + long intro period + solid return on spending | 15 months (transfers must be completed in first 4 months) | 13.49% - 23.49% (Variable) APR | 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum. | $0 |
| Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card | Great introductory offer + long intro period + $600 Cell Phone Protection | 15 months on qualifying balance transfers (for transactions made within 120 days of opening account) | 14.49%-24.99% Variable APR | 3% intro for 120 days, then 5% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card | Top Pick: Great introductory offer + best return on spending + $600 Cell Phone Protection | 12 months on qualifying balance transfers (for transactions made within 120 days of opening account) | 14.49%-24.99% Variable APR | 3% intro for 120 days, then 5% | $0 |
| U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card | No annual fee + intro & balance transfer APRs + high return on dining | 12 Billing cycles | 14.99% - 23.99% 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 below 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, so there is no way you can get an intro 0% APR offer on balance transfers. You’ll need to look at Amex, Citi, or any provider 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 the balance down. Give yourself some breathing room on this one; 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. One card charges no transfer fee, one charges 3%, and one charges 5%. The card charging no transfer fee gets a $300 to $500 head start on the other cards, money that could go to paying down a substantial portion of the initial card balance.
- 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.
- Annual fee — If you’re focused on paying down your credit card balance, it doesn’t make sense to be paying 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. Selecting the right card could save you thousands of dollars in fees and interest over the introductory term, providing a low-cost method of servicing existing credit card debt.
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