{"id":42414,"date":"2026-06-20T21:10:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T21:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=42414"},"modified":"2026-06-20T21:10:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T21:10:02","slug":"0-apr-without-a-balance-transfer-fee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/0-apr-without-a-balance-transfer-fee\/","title":{"rendered":"Skip the Balance Transfer Fee: A Different Way to Get 0% APR"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re paying down the balance on a credit card over time, the interest costs can be astronomical. While it\u2019s always best to pay your balance in full each month, at some point, you may end up in a situation where you need some extra time, especially if you've incurred some unexpected expenses recently.<\/p>\n

As of June 2026, the average APR on a new credit card account is roughly 24%. That means if you pay $500 per month toward a $6,000 credit card balance at 24% APR, it'll take you 14 months to pay it off, and you'll pay a whopping $941 in interest.<\/p>\n

If you're unable to pay off a high-interest balance, the common-sense solution is to move it to a card with a 0% balance transfer offer.<\/p>\n

However, there's another strategy you can use to get the same 0% intro APR without the huge fees and other restrictions that come with balance transfers. Here's what you need to know.<\/p>\n

Why Balance Transfers Aren't Always a Great Option<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are four key reasons why balance transfers aren't always the best way to save on interest:<\/p>\n

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  1. High balance transfer fees.<\/strong>\u00a0Most credit cards charge a fee between 3% to 5% to transfer a balance. If you need to pay off a $6,000 balance over time, the initial fee will cost you $180 to $300 out of pocket.<\/li>\n
  2. You won't earn rewards on the transfer<\/strong>. Even if you transfer a balance to a rewards card that earns points or cashback on purchases, the amount transferred won't earn any rewards.<\/li>\n
  3. You might not earn a sign-up bonus.<\/strong> Some cards with balance transfer offers don't come with a sign-up bonus. Sometimes, as far as the bank is concerned, the 0% introductory APR is<\/em> the new cardmember offer.<\/em> Even if there is a welcome offer, it's usually not a good idea to make purchases with a card that has a transferred balance at an introductory APR.<\/li>\n
  4. Transfers to the same bank aren't allowed.<\/strong>\u00a0You can't transfer a balance between cards from the same issuer. If you're carrying a balance on a Chase credit card, Chase balance transfer options are off the table.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    That's not to say that balance transfers are always a bad choice. There are several excellent balance transfer credit cards<\/a> that can give you close to two years to pay off your transferred balance. The Wells Fargo Reflect\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a> offers 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. Although you'll pay a balance transfer fee (5%, min: $5), it could be worth looking into if you need a lot of time to pay off your balance.<\/p>\n

    Or, a card like the Citi Double Cash\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a> (Rates & Fees<\/a>) can blend the best of both worlds: 0% intro APR on balance transfers while also earning unlimited 2% back on all new purchases (unlimited 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay for those purchases).<\/p>\n

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    Citi Double Cash\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/div>\n
    \"Citi<\/div>\n
    Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n
    Rates & Fees<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
    Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou\u00ae<\/sup> Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
    \n Citi Double Cash\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/strong>\n
    Welcome Offer<\/strong>\r\nEarn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou\u00ae<\/sup> Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. <\/div>\n
    Annual Fee:<\/strong>$0<\/b><\/div>\n
    Show more<\/a>Why We Like It<\/a>Highlights<\/a>Earning Rates<\/a>
    The Citi Double Cash is a dynamic, no-annual-fee cash-back rewards card that allows you to earn 2% traditional cash back, or convert your rewards to ThankYou Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio (2x ThankYou points per $1). When paired with a premium ThankYou Rewards earning card, the Citi Double Cash is now the best card available for everyday, non-bonus purchases.\r\n
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    \r\nIf 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.<\/div>