If after years of servicing your credit card debt, there doesn’t seem to be any significant change, it may be time to consider a low-balance transfer credit card. This provides borrowers that have good credit ratings (over 690) with the opportunity to transfer credit card debt from one creditor to another at a low APR that is guaranteed over a specific time period. Although many card issuers are scaling back on their 0% APR balance transfer offers, there are still some good options on the market. Listed below are some of the top balance transfer credit card offers.
Here is how balance transfer cards work and can help with credit card debt: when you do a balance transfer, you are given an introductory period—a couple of months in which your APR is reduced considerably (down to 0% in some cases, although these are being scaled back). As a result, payments made in that period go primarily towards servicing the principal debt. With credit card balance transfer, you may also combine multiple credit card debts on one card, making payments easier to track and more convenient from a planning perspective.
If you are considering getting a balance transfer credit card, here are the top balance transfer credit card offers out there:
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
This card offers its users an 18-month introductory period with a 0% APR for balance transfers. Any kind of debt can be transferred to the Diamond Preferred card, but the transfers need to be made within the first 4 months of account opening. After the introductory period, the APR is variable, ranging from 14.74% to 24.74% based creditworthiness.
Also, in terms of balance transfer, users cannot transfer debt from other Citi accounts, and there is a 5% or $5 (whichever is higher) balance transfer charge. This is the ideal option for people looking for an opportunity to shed a sizable portion of their principal balance with no intention to make purchases (or earn rewards) with the card.
Discover it® Balance Transfer – Top Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers
This Discover card offers an introductory period of 14 months with 0% APR for balance transfers along with a robust cash back policy (5% for purchases made at restaurants, gas stations, Amazon.com, grocery stores or wholesale clubs). No annual fees are charged on this card and no fees are charged for foreign transactions. After the introductory period, the APR is variable, ranging from 11.99% to 22.99% based on creditworthiness.
There is a fee for balance transfers. It ranges from 3% to 5% but you can’t transfer balances from other Discover cards. The card also offers a one-year unlimited cash back period. Again, a very good choice that still allows the 0% APR introductory period.
Wells Fargo Platinum Visa® Card
Another particularly good option for people looking for long introductory periods but do not mind missing out on rewards earned on purchases, the Wells Fargo Visa card provides an 18-month 0% APR introductory period for both purchases and balance transfers. After the introductory period, the APR is variable, ranging from 16.49% to 24.49%. Users also pay no annual fees and get access to their FICO score at no charge.
Cons include the lack of rewards for purchases, a 3% or $5 (whichever is higher) charge on balance transfers (after the first 18 months, this becomes 5% or $5), and debt from Wells Fargo cards are not transferrable.
Chase Freedom® – Top Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers
Another good balance transfer choice. The Chase® Freedom card has a 0% APR introductory rate for the first 15 months. After that, the APR is variable from 14.99% to 24.49%. The the balance transfer fee is 5% or a $5 minimum. The major drawback is: Chase decides your credit limit (min. $500) and the option you are offered may not be sufficient to cover all your debt.
BankAmericard® Credit Card
One of the top choice for balance transfer, the card offers a 0% APR introductory period of 18 months. The catch – all balance transfers need to be made within the first 60 days. After the introductory period, the APR is variable, ranging from 12.99% to 22.99%. There is a 3% fee or $10 minimum on all balance transfers.
There are no rewards with this card or sign up bonuses and there is a 3% fee on foreign transactions but there isn’t an annual fee and again, it does have that 0% APR for 18 months.
The Takeaway
Balance transfer credit cards offer borrowers an opportunity to service their loans without the heavy cloud of interest hanging over their heads. The best options in the market are listed above. Select the one that works best for you and get rid of your credit card debt quickly and without fuss.
This article originally appeared on Wizefind.com.
