11 best balance transfer credit cards: 0% intro APR for 12–21 months

Citi Simplicity Card: Best for no late fee

Wells Fargo Reflect Card: Best for balance transfer beginners

• What we love about the Wells Fargo Reflect Card: We consider this card a prime pick for people in the market for a balance transfer credit card. Its potentially low regular APR rate and intro APR offer are top-notch and among the longest promotional APR offers currently available.
• Who this card is good for: Balance transfer newbies will appreciate this card’s user-friendly features, including its lengthy introductory APR period and its longer-than-usual 120-day window to initiate transfers. Balance transfers made within the first 120 days of membership qualify for the intro rate and 3 percent fee (minimum $5). Thereafter, the balance transfer fee goes up to 5 percent (or a minimum of $5). (0 percent intro APR for 18 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. Intro APR extension for 3 months with on-time minimum payments during the intro period. 17.74 percent to 29.74 percent variable APR thereafter.)
• Alternatives: The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card is ideal for anyone ready to forego a longer introductory APR period on balance transfers in exchange for the opportunity to receive cash back rewards.

Learn more: Is the Wells Fargo Reflect Card worth it?
Read our full Wells Fargo Reflect Card review or jump back to offer details.

Citi Diamond Preferred Card: Best for excellent credit

• What we love about the Citi Diamond Preferred Card: The Citi Flex Loans feature provides an opportunity to borrow money against your Citi card credit limit at a fixed rate (although it’s not available to all cardholders). This can be particularly useful if you want to pay off multiple loans or credit card balances, or if you have a big purchase coming up and want to pay for it using your credit card.
• Who this card is good for: Someone interested in a simple but effective method of temporarily avoiding interest on a balance transfer or purchase, as it offers a 0 percent intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and 12 months on purchases with no annual fee (17.74 percent to 28.49 percent variable APR thereafter).
• Alternatives: The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is ideal for anybody looking for additional benefits, rewards programs or premium perks, since the Diamond Preferred Card has little long-term value outside of its potentially low ongoing APR.

Learn more: Why expert Andy Shuman loves the Citi Diamond Preferred Card.
Read our full Citi Diamond Preferred Card review or jump back to offer details.

U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card: Best for financing purchases

• What we love about the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card: Even after your intro APR period ends, this card gives you a chance to pay off purchases over time at a low cost. Thanks to the U.S. Bank ExtendPay Plan, you can divide eligible large purchases into fixed monthly installments and chip away at charges at a fixed monthly fee, instead of paying at the card’s regular APR.
• Who this card is good for: People who need to pay off debt and may need to finance new large purchases even after their intro APR period ends.
• Alternatives: Since this card doesn’t earn any ongoing rewards, it may not offer much value after its intro APR period ends. If you don’t think you need a full 18 billing cycles to pay off your debt, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card instead. Its introductory interest offer allows you to tackle debt while also enjoying a best-in-class flat rewards rate of 2 percent cash rewards on purchases.

Learn more: Is the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card worth it?
Read our full U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card review or jump back to offer details.

Citi Double Cash Card: Best for good credit

• What we love about the Citi Double Cash Card: With the Citi Double Cash, you’ll get an 18-month 0 percent introductory APR offer on balance transfers as well as earn 1 percent cash back on every purchase and another 1 percent (2 percent total) when you pay off those purchases — allowing you get double the rewards. After the intro APR offer, the variable APR will be 18.74 percent to 28.74 percent.
• Who this card is good for: Anyone who wants a card with lengthy introductory offers on balance transfers plus a cash back program. It's also great for people who want to earn rewards for their spending and not have to worry about spending caps or other restrictions.
• Alternatives: The Double Cash currently doesn’t offer an introductory APR offer on new purchases, so shoppers looking for a temporary break from interest on purchases along with balance transfers may find the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card to be a better fit.

Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Citi Double Cash Card.
Read our full Citi Double Cash Card review or jump back to offer details.

Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card: Best for unlimited 1.5% cash back

• What we love about the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Card: The intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers, as well as its boosted rewards, rate makes this card a no-brainer. Bank of America Preferred Rewards members earn 25 percent to 75 percent more cash back (based on your enrollment tier), meaning members could reach a maximum of up to 2.62 percent cash back on every purchase.
• Who this card is good for: People who want a balance transfer card with unlimited, uncomplicated cash back that never expires.
• Alternatives: Cash back maximizers who don’t mind keeping track of a few bonus categories to earn a higher rewards rate while paying down a balance may find more value with the Discover it® Cash Back.

Learn more: Compare Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards vs. BankAmericard.
Read our full Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card review or jump back to offer details.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card: Best for 2% cash rewards

• What we love about the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card: It comes with a generous cash back rewards rate and a 15-month 0 percent introductory APR offer on qualifying balance transfers from account opening (19.74 percent, 24.74 percent, or 29.74 percent variable APR thereafter). Cards that earn unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases are rare, but a card that also has an introductory APR offer is rarer still.
• Who this card is good for: Anyone looking for a card with both an intro APR offer for qualifying balance transfers and purchases from account opening, as well as an exceptional cash rewards program.
• Alternatives: For people who want to make the length of the introductory offer the top priority, the Wells Fargo Reflect Card would provide a longer introductory period on balance transfers than the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card.

Learn more: Is the Wells Fargo Active Cash worth it?
Read our full Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review or jump back to offer details.

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for flexible rewards categories

• What we love about the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Card: Its 18-billing cycle 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers (17.49 percent to 27.49 percent variable APR thereafter) and cash back potential, as not many cards offer the opportunity to choose your preferred rewards category. The Customized Cash Rewards card lets you pick your highest earnings in one of six categories — travel, gas, dining, online shopping, drug stores or home improvement and furnishings — and your next tier of earnings are on grocery store and wholesale club purchases.
• Who this card is good for: Frequent shoppers who want to match their spending habits with cash back categories without affecting their responsible use of the introductory offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
• Alternatives: People who just want to take advantage of an introductory APR offer on balance transfers and have less interest in pursuing rewards may want to consider the Citi Diamond Preferred Card instead.

Learn more: Is the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card worth it?
Read our full Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card review or jump back to offer details.

Citi Custom Cash Card: Best for automatic bonus category

• What we love about the Citi Custom Cash Card: It has a decent intro APR period (0 percent intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers completed within the first four months of account opening; 18.74 percent to 28.74 percent variable APR thereafter) and the opportunity to maximize rewards. Some bonus-rate cards involve rotating categories that you’re required to activate every quarter, but with this card, your top spending category becomes your bonus category each billing cycle.
• Who this card is good for: Anyone who wants a balance transfer credit card that also earns bonus rate cash back — automatically, in any of 10 eligible categories — based on their spending each billing cycle (up to the maximum spend each billing cycle).
• Alternatives: People concerned about paying a balance transfer fee higher than the typical 3 percent may be interested in the BankAmericard credit card, as it notably has a low balance transfer fee and one of the longest intro APR periods.

Learn more: Why your Citi Custom Cash card could be great for travel
Read our full Citi Custom Cash Card review or jump back to offer details.

BankAmericard credit card: Best for no penalty APR

• What we love about the BankAmericard Credit Card: This card boasts one of the market’s longest promotional offers for purchases and balance transfers, which can save you money on interest and help you pay off your balance faster. Plus, it has no annual fee, so you won’t have to worry about spending money on that while you work to pay down debt and build credit.
• Who this card is good for: Someone who wants the assurance of a lengthy introductory offer on balance transfers without the prospect of an annual fee or penalty APR looming over them but doesn't want to take on any new debt.
• Alternatives: The Citi Simplicity Card is a similar balance transfer card option that may be the ideal solution for anybody looking to avoid an annual fee, penalty APR and late penalties altogether, unlike the BankAmericard, which has a late payment fee.

Learn more: Why expert Margaret Wack loves the BankAmericard.
Read our full BankAmericard credit card review or jump back to offer details.

A balance transfer credit card can help you pay off your debt by transferring existing card balances to a new credit card with a 0 percent intro APR period. During that time, you can pay off the principal without paying interest. When the intro APR period ends, interest will apply to any remaining balance at the end of each billing cycle like a regular credit card.

Want to learn more? Read our full guide on how balance transfer credit cards work.

What is a balance transfer fee?

A balance transfer fee compensates a lender for taking the risk of issuing a temporary interest-free loan. The typical fee is 3 or 5 percent of the transferred balance and is always at least $5 or $10. While there are some cards with no balance transfer fee, many cards place a fee on balance transfers.

How long does a balance transfer take?

The amount of time it takes for the balance to transfer from one credit card to another will vary by issuer. Some credit card companies may take up to six weeks to complete balance transfers, while others may take as little as two days. You will typically receive an estimated turnaround time from your card provider in advance.

Also, if your new card issuer approves your balance transfer request, it must coordinate the transfer with your current card issuer, which could cause potential delays.

A 0 percent intro offer could save you several hundred dollars or more if you're paying down a large balance. Experian’s 2021 State of Credit report shows that the average credit card balance reached $5,525. 

Here’s how much you could save by transferring a credit card balance of $5,525 to one of our best balance transfer credit cards, based on the following conditions: 

• You would pay the balance transfer fee upfront and pay off the $5,525 balance within the intro offer period.
• Potential savings with each card are calculated by comparing how much interest you would pay on your current card at 20 percent APR (using our Credit Card Payoff Calculator), minus the balance transfer fee.

According to The Federal Reserve, about half of all credit card users carry a month-to-month balance. If you find yourself among this group and your current card has a high interest rate, a balance transfer credit card with an introductory 0 percent APR offer can help you address some key financial issues and save a bit on interest. However, if you have other objectives apart from merely transferring a balance, such as earning rewards, having a longer 0 percent APR period, or preferring a low-interest card, these are all important factors to consider when choosing a balance transfer card.

There are sometimes other important factors to consider apart from merely transferring a balance, such as earning rewards, having a longer 0 percent APR period, or preferring a low-interest card.

Depending on your specific situation, we propose the following cards for:

Still unsure if a balance transfer credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

You don’t have to be an expert in personal finance to understand the balance transfer process. It’s essentially a matter of moving debt from one credit account to another. The main things to know are:

1. Apply for and open a balance transfer card: As is the case with any credit card option, you’ll first need to apply for a balance transfer card and be approved. Balance transfer cards are most attainable with a good to excellent credit score.
2. Know how much time you have: Once you’ve applied for and received a balance transfer card, you have a certain period of time in which you can make transfers that qualify for the zero-interest offer.
3. Initiate the transfer: Most issuers will have a process online or in the mobile app that allows you to make balance transfer requests. You’ll need your account and credit card numbers handy to start the process.
4. Look for confirmation: The issuer of your balance transfer card will notify you when the transfer is completed, but always check your other account(s) and keep making payments on your previous card(s) until it’s done. Timelines for processing balance transfers vary from issuer to issuer. In some cases, it could take 7 to 10 days to complete. In some cases, it could take a couple of weeks — or even as long as a month.
5. Continue to keep the old card’s account open: In general, it's ideal to leave older credit card accounts active. That’s because canceling them may lower your credit score and reduce your available credit, giving the impression that your utilization rate, or debt-to-credit ratio, has suddenly increased. It will also support you in increasing the average age of your credit history, which is a key factor in establishing creditworthiness.

Balance transfer guides by credit card issuer

If you want to do a balance transfer with a specific bank or card issuer, Bankrate has detailed guides from the following financial companies:

• How to do a balance transfer with American Express
• How to do a balance transfer with Bank of America
• How to do a balance transfer with Chase
• How to do a balance transfer with Citi
• How to do a balance transfer with Wells Fargo

If you have questions at any point in the process, contact a customer service representative for help. It's your money, after all, so you'll want to get everything right.

• Try to only use your balance transfer credit card to handle debts. Unless your balance transfer card also has an intro APR offer on purchases, it’s best to use one card to primarily aid in paying down your debts. A different card can handle small purchases that you can pay off immediately (and potentially earn rewards on).
• Initiate your transfer quickly. Some cards on the market have a window of time within which you must initiate transferring a credit card balance to receive the full benefits of the intro offer.
• Always pay on time and more than the minimum amount due whenever possible. To expedite paying down debt and take even further advantage of a balance transfer card’s intro APR offer, it’s always a great practice to pay more than the minimum amount due when you can, in addition to paying on time, every time.
• Make a strategic plan to tackle your debt. Understand how much debt you owe, how long you want to take to pay it off and how your balance transfer card can help you manage your debt. As a general rule of thumb, try to make your pay-off timeline match up with the balance transfer card’s intro APR period.

Currently, the longest intro APR offers on the market are up to 21 months, offered by the Wells Fargo Reflect, Citi Diamond Preferred and Citi Simplicity cards. Although any temporary break from credit card APR is beneficial, a longer intro offer will give you the best opportunity to avoid interest as you pay off your transferred balance. 

Transferring a credit card balance to a balance transfer card is one of the best ways to pay off debt and save money, but there are other ways to manage your debt that don't involve a balance transfer card. Here are a few options to consider:

1. Find out if you can qualify for a reduced interest rate: Your credit score may have improved since you opened the account, so requesting a reduced interest rate from your issuer may be beneficial. You might be able to get some points deducted from your rate or have your account transferred to a lower-interest card.
2. Pay more than the minimum due using a debt repayment calculator: The minimum monthly payment is the absolute least you can pay without penalty — but you won’t get far paying off your debt that way. Using a debt payment calculator, you can figure out how much interest you could save if you paid off your credit card balance without transferring. You need to pay interest on less money to see actual savings, so you can reduce the principal balance by paying more than the minimum.
3. Take advantage of a personal loan or debt consolidation loan: A personal loan can help you pay off your high-interest debt, but it's critical to remember that a personal loan only makes sense if the interest rate is lower than the interest on your credit card debt. You can get a loan from a bank, credit union or online lender, and you may even be able to pay your creditors directly with some loans designed for debt consolidation.

Want to know more about transferring balances to a credit card? Here’s a list of our top resources from Bankrate’s personal finance experts:

• The impact of credit card debt on the average cardholder in the U.S. 
• Best business balance transfer credit cards.
• Best balance transfer credit cards with no balance transfer fee. 
• Everything you need to know about balance transfer checks.
• What debts can you transfer to a credit card?
• Can you pay a credit card with another credit card?

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.