Best 0% APR and Balance Transfer Credit Cards
If you’re planning to make a large purchase and need some extra time to pay for it, then a 0% APR credit card or 0% balance transfer credit card may be the right solution for you.
These cards have very low or 0% introductory APRs that last for a certain period of time. Generally, you’ll need to pay a transfer fee; cards with no transfer fee are rare but do exist.
Discover it ® : Double Cash Back Your First Year
Chase Slate ® : Best All-Around Option
Citi ® Diamond Preferred ® Card: Longest 0% APR Period
0% Introductory APR for 18 months on then 14.49%-25.49% Variable APR
Chase Freedom ® : Best Perks with No Annual Fee
Blue Cash Preferred ® Card from American Express: Best Ongoing Rewards
Getting the Most Out of Your 0% APR or Balance Transfer Credit Card
Features.
One of the common ways people can save money is by transferring a balance from one credit card to another with a 0% APR offer (or sometimes called 0% APR balance transfer). This option can help people manage their money more effectively because they can consolidate the amount due on a number of high-interest credit cards and pay only one monthly payment. But it can also make things more complicated because people have to pay close attention to both balance transfer fees and the interest rates.
If you’re taking advantage of a 0% APR balance transfer offer…
Many credit cards come with a 0% APR balance transfer offer. But what is it, and how do you take advantage of it? A balance transfer will move your current credit card balance to the new credit card account. When you transfer a balance, you don’t have to make additional payments; the credit card company will pay the amount for you until the introductory APR ends. You only pay when the introductory period is complete, and balance transfers can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
To find a card with a balance transfer offer, look for cards can that will transfer balances. Some may ask you to call and speak to a balance transfer specialist, while others will be listed on ly.
If you’re taking advantage of a 0% APR offer in order to finance a large purchase….
Balance transfer credit cards often come with 0% – 0% offer which is designed to help you pay off the debt on the transferred credit cards and help you save money on interest payments.
The great thing about balance transfer cards is that they allow you to take advantage of the introductory period on your next purchase with better discounts. Thereby finally reducing your finance spending.
As for balance transfer fee, most credit card companies charge you fee depending on your finances and your transaction period.
But always remember that credit card balance transfer only comes with a limited period of 0% – 0% offer which may be 6 months or 1 year or even more, making it really challenging for you to pay off your balance without even paying much interest.
Here are some of the best balance transfer credit cards that are currently on the market:
NRL Credit Card: 0% – 0% for 12 months
NRL Credit Card comes with 0% – 0% balance transfer for 12 months which makes it one of the best ways for you to pay off your high interest debt in a year.
Moreover, NRL Credit Card also comes with 12 months no interest offer which makes it an ideal card to be used on your next large purchase.
7 Questions to Determine if You’re Ready for a Balance Transfer Card
Are you watching your credit like a hawk? If not, you might want to start – balance transfer cards are one of the best ways to bring your credit score back into shape.
Whether you’re in the market for a 0% APR card (or 0% APR for balance transfers) comes down to a simple question: Are you ready to start managing your credit card debt, and your credit score, better? If yes, a balance transfer card could be a great option.
Balance transfer credit cards can help you consolidate your credit card debt by rolling it all onto one card. These cards also typically come with a very tempting hook – no interest on your balance, for anywhere from 6 to 18 months. That’s almost two years of getting to pay off your debt without racking up more interest charges.
But these sweet deals don’t come without a bit of legwork – and responsibility — on your part. Here’s what you need to know about balance transfer cards, and whether it’s the right choice for you.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the questions you should be asking yourself before you apply for a balance transfer credit card.
Question #1: Do You Have High-Interest Debt?
If so, your first step is to get rid of it. If your interest rate is over 13%, you should not be carrying debt on it. Otherwise, there will be significant interest you have to pay every month. You want to avoid that at all costs.
You should also consider high-interest debt if you are paying just the minimum. If you just pay the minimum monthly payment, you are going to be paying on this debt for years. And your debt could end up costing you so much over the life of the debt.
The fact is, you should pay off your cut of the debt, plus the accrued interest that you’ve paid over the years, and use the remaining debt for a 0% balance transfer. That way you’re paying no extra interest.
Question #2: Why are You Considering a Balance Transfer?
Click here for the answer.
Question #3: What is the Introductory APR and How Long Does it Last?
The introductory APR is a great feature. It allows you to pay less interest in the short term, but what are the terms and conditions?
Find out the introductory APR, see if you can transfer balances from other cards, and learn about the penalties if you don’t pay at least the minimum each month.
Question #4: Is There a Balance Transfer Fee?
A balance transfer fee is a charge that you have to pay when you actually move your credit card balance over to a new credit card. These fees will vary from card to card, but we’ll go over those in more detail in just a little bit.
The thing you should be concerned about is usually what you’re going to get out of the card.
A few good 0% cards that offer balance transfer fees are Capital One Quicksilver, Barclaycard Ring Mastercard, and Chase Slate. When you combine a balance transfer with some of these cards, it’s very easy to save hundreds of dollars on interest fees. These cards offer 0% interest for the first year of owning the card, which is a simple way to save money.
Now, while these cards do have a balance transfer fee, they also provide new cardholders with a 0% interest rate for the time that they have the card, and as long as you pay the card off in full by the time that the interest kicks in, you won’t have to pay a dime in interest.
A balance transfer fee is a fee that some cards charge in order to move your balance, and it’s usually either 3% or 5%. You can see the balance transfer fee that Capital One charges on the Quicksilver card up top.
Question #5: Have You Committed to Paying Off the Card Before the APR Adjusts?
I can’t stress enough the importance of setting a schedule and making regular payments on your credit card bill.
While it can be tempting to cut back on your payments if your budget is tight, rolling over your credit card balance to the zero introductory balance period is practically the same as not paying off the balance and incurring interest charges.
To make sure that a balance transfer remains in your control, you should pay off the entire balance before the introductory period is over. Paying off the entire balance before the introductory period ends, makes it easier to avoid high interest charges when the introductory period ends.
In this case, you’ll have to pay off the entire balance while the 0 interest rate offers you protection from high interest rates. Don’t forget that you’ll have to pay for the fee – it’s part of the deal.
Question #6: Do You Have Other Debt on the Card or With the Issuer?
Loans are generally secured – that is, your creditor has a lien on an asset that serves as collateral (i.e., your house). When that asset is insecure, you may find that the payoff period is longer than you’re used to.
Be sure to do your homework to determine what the payoff will be. We’ve reviewed some of the top balance transfer credit cards.
Question #7: What is Your Credit Score?
A credit score is a three-digit number that is calculated based on a complex system, and lenders use it to determine whether you can borrow money and at what interest rate. The higher your credit score, the less risk that lender assumes. The better your interest rate, the better your credit score, the higher your credit score the better your loan is going to look to the lender, the more they are going to lend you and the less you are going to pay out of pocket.
I have some bad news for you: Your credit score is an average of your behavior over the last twenty-five to thirty-five months.
Because lenders know that anyone can have a bad month or bad quarter or bad six months.
They want to see your great history over many years, and they also want to see that you have grown and matured as a person.
The more of a track record you have the better your chances of being approved and the lower your interest rate will be.
How Much Can You Save With a Balance Transfer Card?
Balance transfer cards can be a great money-saving tool for those with high-interest credit cards. The overall transfer can save you hundreds on interest and allow you to pay down your debt more quickly. The question is, how much do you save? And which balance transfer cards can you use?
To save money with balance transfers, you need to get two offers: one for the balance transfer and another for the card that you’ll be using to pay off the transferred balance. You will also need to meet your issuer’s eligibility requirements, which can include credit score, income, and other factors. It’s an in-depth process that takes some careful planning, but it can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars.
When choosing a balance transfer card, consider one of the best 0% APR card offers that are currently available on the market. These cards have the lowest rates of the balance transfer cards, sometimes as low as zero. Keep in mind that the 0% period is often accompanied by a balance transfer fee that can range from 3% to 5% of the amount transferred.
Consider also one of the best 0 balance transfer credit card offers that are currently available on the market. These cards often offer balance transfer rates that are the best in the industry and usually come with 12 to 18 months of 0% interest.
Example #1 – Making Minimum Payments
Many people fall into the trap of making minimum payments on their debt. The problem with making minimum payments is that it adds to the balance owed and interest is charged on it.
Let’s take a look at an example to make this clear.
Example #2 – Making More than Minimum Payments
Transporting large quantities can have so many benefits and it’s important to do it safely. So what can you do to make sure that you’re not putting your staff and customers in danger?
To start off, make sure your vehicle is properly inspected. You should also have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and reflectors on board.
For any vehicle that you’ll be using as a truck or a van, make sure that it can actually fit all your supplies and equipment on board. Don’t forget to include containers, hoses, tools, and any boxes of material to make sure that everything fits. Don’t think that you’re constrained to a certain vehicle or type of container. With proper planning, you can use anything that will fit your business needs.
After your vehicle has been selected, make sure that you’ll be able to get the equipment in. Some businesses run things by necessity, so make sure that you can fit the machinery or supplies in your vehicle before you make the purchase.
Now that you’ve picked your vehicle, you can start to plan out exactly what to transport. When you look at the list of equipment, you may find that some equipment may be necessary to prevent safety issues.
How to Select the Right Balance Credit Card for Your Needs
If you are looking to eliminate some lingering credit card debt, the best way to do that may be to transfer your balances onto a 0% APR card. The best 0% APR balance transfer credit cards can help you pay off your debt more quickly with an interest-free period and a big low-interest rate APR. This is just what you need to send that credit card balance into momentum-shifting negative numbers. The question becomes which is the right balance transfer credit card for your needs and which one will save you the most money?
After you have decided which card is best for your needs, make sure to pay off your debt completely before the 0% balance transfer period ends. If you keep a balance on an interest-free card, you will be charged interest once the introductory rate is over.
When evaluating the best 0% APR cards available, focus on the 0% interest period, balance transfer fee, and the low-interest period APR after the introductory period. You will want these three to be as long as possible if you are trying to avoid paying interest while saving money on your balance transfers.
Balance transfer fees can help you eliminate certain balances more quickly. The lower the fee, the more of your balance you can transfer. However, you will want to pay attention to the balance transfer maximum to make sure you can take advantage of the introductory period.
#1: Figure out how much debt you have.
If your credit card debt is higher than your debt-to-income ratio, don’t even consider getting a new card.
Find out if any of your credit cards is sitting at zero percent interest. If so, transfer your balance to that card.
If you don’t have any credit card with zero percent financing, you will need to create a plan to pay down your credit card debt.
#2: Determine how much time you need to pay it off.
While most 0% balance transfer credit cards offer attractive introductory periods, the cards still incur interest at a fixed rate. Because you’re transferring your existing balances and haven’t made any additional purchases, you’re charged interest only on your balances at a fixed rate. Still, you need to pay those balances off before the end of the fixed rate period.
To figure out how long you need to pay it off, add up your new balance and the fixed rate at which you’ll be charged interest. Divide that total by the fixed rate. The result is the number of months you’ll need to pay off your debt. Once you know the number of months you have, you can determine whether you can afford to pay the minimum balance each month and still pay off the card in the introductory period.
#3: Compare balance transfer offers, including introductory offers, fees, and rewards.
3: Compare credit cards.
Balance transfers, as discussed, are a way to lower your interest payments or shift debt from a high-interest debt card to one with a lower interest rate. If you just want to lower your interest payments, you can find a 0% introductory APR balance transfer.
If you want to go a step further and get a debt consolidation loan, then a balance transfer card may be better for you anyway.
When thinking about your next card, you’ll have to look at the introductory offers and rewards available.
#4: Decide if balance transfer fees are worth it.
There are a ton of cards with zero percent interest for 18, 24, or 30 months. The difference between most of those cards is the balance transfer fees.
Some cards will ding you with a fee of either 3% or 4% of the balance transfer, while others will waive the fee entirely. The 3% and 4% cards may be better for people who don’t plan to pay off their balance transfer in full, since you won’t incur the APR on the transferred balance for the zero percent period.
#5: Choose the right card for your needs.
A 0% APR card is a great option if you need to transfer a balance to a card that has lower interest rates. If you have a good credit score, look for a 0% APR card with a low balance transfer fee.
Some cards offer lower interest rates for both purchases and balance transfers, but there is usually a balance transfer fee. While you might get more of a break on your interest rate, the fee will quickly cancel that out.
Go with the option that works best for your situation. Just make sure that you can pay off the balance before the 0% rate expires.
5 Steps to Take After Completing a Balance Transfer
Once you have completed a balance transfer using your credit card, you must take five steps to be sure that it was effective.
Once you have completed the balance transfer, check your credit card balances online or by calling the credit card company. There may be a delay in the balance transferring after you initiate the request. This means that you may still see your old balance, even after a few days. Double-check to be sure the balance transferred over.
If you have met your credit card minimum payment requirement, you can notify the card issuer that you are asking for a balance transfer.
You can do this by calling them, or using their online customer support. This will ensure that they have enough time to cancel the old card. If you want to confirm whether a balance transfer request was successful, you can look at the new credit card’s website.
If you have not met your minimum payment requirements for the month, then you will have to contact the card issuer. There may be a slight delay in processing an outright transfer. However, if you have already met your minimum payment requirements, you should be able to initiate the request in a few days.
Be sure to check your credit card account to confirm whether the balance transfer has been canceled. You can request it verbally, or use their online form. Be sure to follow up a few weeks later.
Step 1: Decide How Much You’re Going to Pay and Stick to It
Many of us do this when it comes to bill payments, so why not our credit card debt?
Decide how much you’re going to pay and stick to it. You can keep track of your payments using your bank’s online website or through online tracking services. Most banks have a feature that will allow you to set up a payment to be deducted automatically each month.
Step #2: Press Pause on Your Other Debt
Did you know it’s possible to finance both your closing costs and your new mortgage? Tying your mortgage to both your closing costs and your current debt can save you a lot of money.
You receive a discount off of your closing costs, which means you’ll get a lower interest rate when they’re included. And more importantly: you start paying them off first … before your credit card balance.
One important note: When you’re planning to pay back your credit cards, you won’t want to do so by incurring further debt…like a personal loan or new credit card. When you take on new debt, you’re essentially paying more in interest than you need to.
Instead, begin by making payments on your current debt obligations via an automatic debit and pay them off in full every month.
The 0% introductory APR offer is standard for new cardholders. And, if your new home is eligible for cash back rewards, cash back cards can allow you to earn rewards quickly on your home loan. So combining the two can be a financially savvy move.
Step #3: Get on a Budget and Track Your Spending
How do you budget?
Budgeting is surprisingly simple. Everyone gets an allotted amount of money at the beginning of each month. If you go over your allotted budget, you are expected to work harder next month to make up for it. This is institutionalized enforced scarcity and is fundamentally flawed.
When you use a digital budgeting system like Mint, you are forced to value your month to month cash flows. The act of inputting your income and expenses is what brings clarity to your financial decisions. It is a simple decision-making tool that is used by people who have the highest investing IQs.
For a long time, investing was reserved for the rich. Warren Buffett only made his first million 15 years after he started his investing career. However, with the advent of Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) and the efficient market hypothesis, the playing field was leveled. MPT allows anyone to become a fund manager simply by allocating money to different asset classes. If you do the math correctly, MPT guarantees returns that match the market.
If you are reading this book, I assume you read the last book and have a basic grasp of the MPT. If not, go back and read that book first.
Step #4: “Just Say No” to More Debt
One of the main reasons why many people get in more debt is because they simply can’t stop spending money.
When someone has gone into debt, it’s important to spend the money you do have in ways that will benefit you over the long term. Although it may sound impossible to stay out of debt, there are some things you can do to ease the financial burden.
The first and most important step is to slow down with your spending. Instead of going out with your friends at the end of the month, consider watching a DVD or renting a video. Or if possible, host a potluck dinner at your house. This way you’ll cut back on a lot of unnecessary spending.
The next step is to find at least one interest-free way to get your finances in order. Don’t convince yourself that you can’t take that trip to Hawaii because you have too much debt. Instead, find a way to slowly pay off the debt. This way you’ll be able to focus on eliminating the debt, rather than your credit cards. This will be much easier if you can cut back on some of your spending and have at least one card with 0% APR and good balance transfer deal.
Step #5: Consider Keeping Your Old Account Open
The main advantage to keeping both cards open is that you can maintain a solid history of on-time balance transfers. This will help your ability to get approved for future credit cards at a reasonable rate. For example, Capital One gives you a limited time to wean yourself off a balance transfer card, but then will approve you at standard rates for other cards.
Another solid reason to keep an old credit card open is that you may earn a rewards bonus, or at least maintain your credit rating with it so you don’t have to wait too long to get approved for a new card.
If it’s a no annual fee card, there’s no reason not to keep it open. On the other hand, if you have a card that charges a hefty annual fee, you will probably be happier without it, watching your balances fall as the low introductory rate turns into humble standard rates.
Never Get Into Debt Again with These 5 Tips
A 0% APR balance transfer credit card is ideal for paying off debt, and it can help you avoid paying any interest through the introductory 0% period. This is a huge advantage when compared against other types of credit cards. Not only does the balance transfer save you money in the long run, it also gives you more time to pay off your debt … it can be a godsend if you're dealing with a particularly high-interest debt!
Additionally, a 0% APR credit card balance transfer can help you get out of debt faster, which is important if you're determined to stay out of debt in the future.
Tip #1: Create a monthly budget.
Tip #2: Only charge purchases you can afford to pay off right away.
The reason that so many credit card companies are offering 0% introductory rates and balance transfer promotions is because they’re desperate for business. With the relatively high credit limits on their credit cards, most people can afford to spread out their purchases over a long period of time. But the ever increasing number of credit card companies need to make more and more revenue. That’s why they’re willing to give such great deals to attract new customers.
Most card holders, however, aren’t sure how to take advantage of the great balance transfer offers. In fact, they sometimes hurt their progress to be debt free rather than helping. While the intention of this tip is to help you choose a balance transfer credit card, most of these points apply regardless of what card you choose.
The goal of any good credit card is to make your life easier. That’s why balance transfer cards are so great! But make sure you’re using your credit card to make your life easier and not more complicated. As I’ve said above, the highest rates on your credit card balance will occur when you’re unable to pay in full each month.
Tip #3: Build an emergency fund.
Staying in debt can seem to be a nice idea when you’re looking for easy credit and a quick fix, but it sure isn’t a smart move. When you apply for a credit card with a low interest rate but a high fee, the balance transfer offer can often seem like a great idea. However, this just delays your payments and keeps you in debt. Budgets are made to be broken, and a low interest rate shouldn’t be used as an excuse to break your budget.
It’s not uncommon to see a 0% interest rate lasting anywhere from 12 to 21 months. This can seem like a good idea, but you must be careful. The intent of a balance transfer card is to get yourself out of debt, not to keep yourself in debt. This is a crucial point – you must be able to pay off the balance before the teaser rate expires.
You should have a strategy in place with an end date in mind. Having a credit card on the side with a balance being charged at 30.0% APR is a very bad idea. You should certainly be working towards getting out of debt as quickly as possible.
Tip #4: Skip credit if you can’t handle it.
Balance transfers are great as long as you manage your credit and repay your debt. If you’re struggling to keep up, you’re better off avoiding credit altogether and instead use your 0% interest credit card to lock your debts over the medium term.
Credit cards are a burden for the love. For years, you can charge things, not pay them off, and profit from interest charges. There is nothing great about debt and the credit industry makes billions from them because they know that they will mostly get paid back. Credit cards and credit lines make it too easy to be the victim of debt. For too many people, it’s just a dream to control their debts quickly.
But there is a time to avoid debt altogether and use the credit card to lock in debts at fixed rates for over five years. In many cases, this is more valuable than a traditional 0% balance transfer.
Tip #5: Cut your expenses.
As I was writing this, I kept trying to think of a better title for it. It eventually got me thinking about what it really means to cut expenses – rather than what it means to save money. There’s really a big difference between the two, and I think many people are stuck in the old ways of thinking that money is better saved than spent.
But really, there’s no difference. The only difference between the two is in the labeling. In your mind, one represents good behavior, and the other represents bad. Whether you’re cutting your expenses or saving money, you’re doing what you’re supposed to do if you want to achieve your number one goal … get rich.
Getting rich isn’t about saving money. It’s not about being cheap. It’s about being smart. It’s about being savvy enough to recognize when you’re overpaying for something – and spending your money in a way that generates the highest return on investment (ROI). It’s about maximizing your value and not being the one who’s being taken advantage of.
Final Thoughts
Did you know that there’s a way to pay 0% APR on a balance transfer?
There are quite a few credit cards out there that waive their loan interest rate charges for a predetermined number of months. These interest free offers are great for shielding you from the interest burden of loans that you’ll be required to pay off before the introductory offer ends.
These credit cards also allow you to potentially save money by transferring balances from credit cards that charge higher interest rates. This process is referred to as a balance transfer.
Balance transfer credit cards have no annual fees and no credit checks, making it a great way to try and consolidate your debt into one low interest rate loan.
In this post we’ve explained what you need to know about balance transfers … as well as providing you with a list of the best 0% APR and Balance Transfer credit cards on the market today.