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Save Money with Smart 0% Balance Transfers |
At Smart Balance Transfers, you can compare a wide selection of 0% APR balance transfer credit cards from leading banks and use our balance transfer calculator and articles to help you save the most money possible when you transfer a balance online. Since 2004, our company, Credit Card Depot Inc, has helped tens of thousands of consumers find new credit cards online. We designed this website to provide visitors like you with the targeted information necessary to maximize the savings that can be reaped with a balance transfer credit card.
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Top Balance Transfer Credit Cards |
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0% Balance Transfer Insights |
From the Editor: Although both Discover and Citi advertise 0% balance transfer offers lasting for at least 12 months, I personally recommend the Discover® More (SM) Card. While this offer does charge slightly higher balance transfer fees, it provides a 0% APR for a full 12 months, not 7 months if you fail to meet the highest application requirements. Additionally, Discover has proven to be a much more consumer friendly company than its competitors, most of which generated hundreds of complaints last year.
As to savings, a person with a 10% interest rate can save 50% on interest by using this card for 0% balance transfers. A person with a 15% APR can reduce their interest expense by more than 60% and someone with a 20% APR can save 75% over the course of one year. However, the main reason I recommend Discover is the fact that they will treat you fairly during and after the 0% APR period, something that will help you save money in the long term.
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Balance Transfer Credit Card Articles |
Balance Transfers 101: Covers the basics of 0 balance transfers. This article is designed to help first time users of balance transfer credit cards understand how these money saving transactions work as well as how to maximize your interest savings. Read Balance Transfers 101
How Many 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards Do I Need?: If you are looking to transfer more than $3,000 to a 0% balance transfer credit card, you may need more than one card to get a high enough credit limit. However, because most credit card companies do not provide you with your exact long term interest rate when you apply (and others may grant you 0% rates for less than they advertise), applying for two balance transfer credit cards is the best way to make sure you not only get a high enough credit limit, but the best overall deal.
The Best 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card: After everything that happened in 2009, choosing the best balance transfer credit card is more important than ever. Find out which card (and credit card company) is my top pick.
0% Balance Transfers for 15 Months (or Not): After almost a year's absence, a balance transfer credit card offering a 0% APR for 15 months has returned. However, it is possible to get approved for this balance transfer offer and get a 0% interest rate for as little as 7 months.
0% Balance Transfer Dos and Don'ts: With 0% balance transfer options dwindling and credit card companies growing evermore stingy, these tips can help you take advantage of the best deals on the market and avoid balance transfer mistakes that could sap your savings opportunities.
Balance Transfer Credit Card Application Tips: Getting a balance transfer credit card is not as easy as it was a few months ago. And, despite new credit card laws, credit card applications are as tricky as they've ever been. To help you avoid balance transfer credit card application traps, we've compiled a list of tips to help you get the most out of a money saving balance transfer.
Balance Transfer Fees 101: While a handful of credit cards offer no fee balance transfers, major credit card companies no longer offer no fee balance transfers and 0% interest rates for 1 year. Is paying a balance transfer fee is worthwhile? (Hint: IT IS!) Learn more about balance transfer fees.
More Balance Transfer Articles
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Balance Transfer Credit Card Applications |
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How to Avoid a 0% APR Balance Transfer Mistake |
A 0% APR balance transfer provides a great opportunity to save money on interest. However, there are three pitfalls one must avoid to insure a 0% balance transfer doesn't become a balance transfer mistake.
- Continue to make payments on your old credit cards until your new credit card has completed the balance transfer: It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for a balance transfer to clear with your old credit card company. Until it has, don't neglect bills from your old credit card.
- Pay your new balance transfer bill on time: Obviously it is important to pay one's credit card bills on time. However, with a 0% introductory rate it is even more so. Why? Because the fine print states that a late payment can void the 0% APR balance transfer offer. In other words, if you miss a payment, you lose your special balance transfer rate.
- Don't run up a bill on your old credit card and waste money paying interest on new purchases: Getting a credit card that offers a 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases is a good way to avoid this pitfall.
If you avoid these three pitfalls, you are prepared to maximize the savings a 0% balance transfer credit card provides.
*Important Disclaimer: See credit card applications for complete terms and conditions. While Smart Balance Transfers makes reasonable efforts to maintain accurate information, all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click an "Apply" button, you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the issuing company's website.