Balance Transfer Credit Cards

There are no credit cards with 0% APRs on balance transfers for 24 months. But the Citi Simplicity Card gives the next best thing, 0% interest for 21 months on balance transfers. There are a handful of credit cards with 0% APRs on balance transfers for 15-18 months, including U.S. Bank Visa Platinum, Wells Fargo Platinum, and the Discover it Balance Transfer card.

Though there aren’t any 0% balance transfers for 24 months right now, there have been in the past. In 2017, the Santander Bank Sphere Card offered a 0% balance transfer APR for 24 months to customers who applied at one of their branches in the Northeastern U.S.

Longest 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards:

• U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card:0% for 20 months. 3% (min $5) transfer fee.0% for 20 months on purchases.$0 annual fee.

• Citi Simplicity Card:0% for 21 months*. 5% (min $5) transfer fee.0% for 12 months* on purchases.$0* annual fee.

• Discover it Balance Transfer Card:0% for 18 months. 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* transfer fee.0% for 6 months on purchases.$0 annual fee.

• Wells Fargo Visa Platinum Card:0% for 18 months on qualifying balance transfers. Transferfeeof3% for 120 days, then 5%.0% for 18 months on purchases.$0 annual fee.

• Santander Bank Sphere Credit Card:0% for 18 months. 4% (min $10) transfer fee.0% for 18 months on purchases.None annual fee.

• BankAmericard Credit Card:0% for 18 billing cycles for balance transfers made in the first 60 days. 3% (min $10) transfer fee.0% for 18 billing cycles on purchases.$0 annual fee.

• Chase Slate:0% for 15 months. $0 balance transfer fee for the first 60 days. 0% for 15 months on purchases.$0 annual fee.

You’ll need good or excellent credit if you want a 0% balance transfer card. And if you get a card with a long 0% period, you shouldn’t expect it to have rewards. Cards like these are focused on financing. So it’s best to have a 0% card for your transfers and a rewards card for any new purchases.

Bank of America balance transfer offers allow you to shift several types of debt. Options include auto loans, student loans, mortgages, small business loans and payday loans. You just can’t transfer debt between BofA products.

Balance transfers take at least 14 days to complete. Initiate your transfer as soon as possible because the intro APR period starts as soon as you open your account. When the intro period ends, any remaining balance will accrue interest at the card’s regular APR.

Today’s Bank of America balance transfer offers:

• BankAmericard® credit card: 0% for 18 billing cycles for balance transfers made in the first 60 days on balance transfers.$0 transfer fee for 60 days (not always available).
• BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students: 0% for 15 months on balance transfers. $0 transfer fee for 60 days (not always available).
• Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students: 0% for 12 months on balance transfers. APR when completed in first 60 days. 3% (min $10) transfer fee.
• AAA Credit Card: 0% for 12 months on balance transfers. 3% (min $10) transfer fee.
• World Wildlife Fund Credit Card: 0% for 12 months on balance transfers. 3% (min $10) transfer fee.
  

So, there are two very good Bank of America balance transfer deals: the BankAmericard Credit Card and the BankAmericard Credit Card for Students. Keep in mind, however, that you will need excellent credit to qualify for the BankAmericard Credit Card, andyou need to be a student to get the limited-credit version.

Balance transfers usually take 15 to 25 days from when you submit a balance transfer credit card application. But depending on the issuer, it could take as few as 3 days or as many as 42. To make a balance transfer take as little time as possible, apply online so the issuer can review your application sooner.

How Long a Balance Transfer Takes by Credit Card Company:

                                                                                                                         
While you wait for your balance transfer approval, it is important to keep making payments toward the balance being transferred. You should send these to your original creditor. If you don’t, your balance could be reported as past-due. This might damage your credit standing and put the transfer at risk.

Once the credit card transfer is finalized, you will see a credit listed on your original account. It will look like a payment was made. And your old balance will be listed on your new balance transfer credit card account. Remember, unless you have a 0% transfer card, interest will start to accrue as soon as your balance gets transferred.

For more information, check out WalletHub’s guide on how balance transfers work.

You can request to do a Navy Federal balance transfer when you apply for any NFCU credit card. If you already have a Navy Federal card, you can make a transfer request through your online account. The Navy Federal balance transfer fee is $0 (for all cards). The NFCU balance transfer APR could be as low as 0% (intro) or as high as 18% (V), depending on the card.

The best Navy Federal balance transfer credit card is the NFCU Platinum Card because it offers 0% for 12 months on balance transfers and has a $0 annual fee in addition to its $0 transfer fee. There are no other 0% balance transfer credit cards from Navy Federal. But all NFCU cards have fairly low regular APRs.

Navy Federal Balance Transfers:

• Best balance transfer card: The Navy Federal Platinum Card offers 0% for 12 months on balance transfers. No other NFCU cards have 0% rates, but regular APRs range from 7.74% - 18% (V).
• Fees: No balance transfer fees on any Navy Federal credit card.
• Timeline: It should take about two weeks for your Navy Federal balance transfer to be completed.
• Ways to request: You can ask for a balance transfer on the application for a new NFCU card. You can request one for an existing card online or through the mobile app.
• Information required: You need the account number for the balance you’re transferring, plus the name and address of that account’s issuer, along with the amount you want to transfer.
• How to request online: Sign in to your account. Click the “Transfers” tab. Click “Make a Credit Card Balance Transfer” at the bottom right. Fill in the required information. Submit your request.
• How to request in-app: In the Navy Federal Credit Union mobile app, go to “Account Management,” then “Balance Transfer.” Input the required information and submit your request.

If you do a Navy Federal balance transfer, be sure to continue making monthly payments to your old issuer if the due date comes up before your balance transfer is completed. Otherwise, you risk being marked as late. Any additional payments you make to your old issuer will be credited to your NFCU card once the transfer processes.

The Discover balance transfer fee is 3% of the balance transferred. And that goes for all Discover cards that allow balance transfers. Fortunately, Discover’s balance transfer fee is on the low end of the 3% - 5% range that credit card companies usually charge. And unlike many issuers, Discover doesn’t have a set minimum for the fee (e.g. at least $5). 

There are benefits and potential pitfalls that come with moving debt to a new credit card, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with Discover’s policies as well as those of its competitors.

Here’s how the Discover balance transfer fee compares:

• Discover balance transfer fee: 3%
• American Express balance transfer fee: 0%-3%
• Capital One balance transfer fee: 0%-3%
• Chase balance transfer fee: 0%-5%
• Bank of America balance transfer fee: 3%

Other Discover balance transfer policies:

• Discover’s balance transfer fee is added to the amount you transfer, becoming part of the balance you owe Discover.
• Discover often requires cardholders to transfer a balance by a certain date to be eligible for a 0% APR. Check your Discover card’s terms and conditions for details.
• Transferring a balance to a Discover credit card can take up to two weeks. 
• Discover balance transfers do not earn rewards.
• Discover accepts balance transfers from other issuers’ credit cards and loans. Discover does not allow balance transfers from other Discover accounts. 
• If you are transferring balances from multiple accounts to a Discover card, they will be treated as separate transfers, triggering separate 3% fees.
• The best Discover credit card for balance transfers is the Discover it – 18 Month 0% Transfer offer. Discover it Cashback Match and Discover it Chrome are good options, too, offering 0% APR for 14 months.

If there are any payments due on the account(s) you’re transferring a balance from, make sure to pay your current creditor(s)  on time to avoid any late fees. You’ll be credited that amount after the transfer. In addition, you can only transfer up to your credit limit. So make sure you account for fees. Balance transfers exceeding your available credit will be processed up to your allowed credit limit in the order requested.