At SmartBalanceTransfers.com, you can compare a wide selection of 0% balance transfer credit cards from leading banks and utilize our balance transfer calculator and articles to help you save the most money possible when transferring debt online. Since 2007, our website has helped thousands of consumers find new balance transfer credit cards. We designed this web site to provide visitors like you with the targeted information necessary to maximize the savings that can be reaped with 0% balance transfer offers.
Recommended 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Chase Slate®
Editor’s Pick*: Offers a 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers with no transfer fees and a regular APR of 12.99%, 17.99%, 22.99% (V)*.
Citi Simplicity® Card
Editor’s Note: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers and Purchases for 21 months. After that, the variable APR will be 12.99% – 22.99% based on your creditworthiness.
BankAmericard® Visa® Card
Editor’s Note*: 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then, 10.99% – 20.99% variable APR*
0% Balance Transfer Insights
From the Editor: For most consumers, the top 0% balance transfer offer presently available is Slate® from Chase, as this card offers an above average 15 month 0% introductory period while charging no balance transfer fees. It is the only major 0% APR balance transfer credit card that charges no fees on balance transfers.
In addition to Slate, the Citi Simplicity® Card and Discover it® cards are also extraordinarily good options as they offer the longest 0% rates on balance transfers lasting 18 months. However, Citi Simplicity also provides a 0% APR for 18 months on purchases, making it the best overall value among balance transfer offers for consumers who also intend to make new purchases.
How Much Can You Save with a 0% APR Balance Transfer: The amount that can be saved varies from person to person. The key reason savings vary is interest rates. People with higher interest rates clearly stand to benefit the most from 0% rates. However, monthly payments also influence how much can be saved. Paying more every month decreases your overall savings, but it is clearly the best thing to do.
To provide a sense of how much money can be saved with a 0% balance transfer, here are three examples. A person with $5,000 of debt and a 12% interest rate who makes a $150 monthly payment can save $488 on interest with a 0% APR for 18 months. With the same payment, a person with a 15% interest rate can save $695. Lastly, someone with a 20% rate can save $1,064. These savings take balance transfer fees into consideration and illustrate why balance transfer credit cards are an effective way to save money and get out of debt faster. (If you’re interested, you can see the math here).
Balance Transfer Credit Card Articles
Balance Transfers 101: Covers the basics of 0 balance transfers. This article is designed to help first timers understand how these money saving transactions work as well as how to maximize your interest savings.
0% Balance Transfer Dos and Don’ts: Even though 0% APR balance transfer offers have been getting longer, many companies still want to avoid taking in new customers for balance transfers. Here are some tips to help you avoid mistakes and get the best deal.
How Many Balance Transfer Credit Cards Do I Need?: If you are looking to transfer more than $3,000 to a 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 offers is the best way to make sure you not only get a high enough credit limit, but the best overall deal.
The 10 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards in 2014: Every month, SmartBalanceTransfers.com evaluates and ranks the top 10 balance transfer deals available. Our rankings aim to help consumers get a better understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of leading balance transfer offers.
Study Shows Majority Of Americans Aren’t Aware of 0% APR Balance Transfer Credit Cards: Smartbalancetransfers.com recently conducted a poll using Google online surveys to measure overall awareness of balance transfer credit card offers. We found that over 60% of Americans have never heard of 0% APR promotions. This somewhat disturbing finding highlights just how lacking Americans are when it comes to credit card financial literacy.
Citi Simplicity® Card Review: Citi Simplicity® provides the longest balance transfer offer available – a 0% APR for 18 months* – as well as the longest 0% rate on purchases, also 18 months*. In this review, I take a look at who can benefit most from the Citi Simplicity® Card which, along with the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, presently offers consumers the greatest potential savings on interest.
Three Reasons Rewards Credit Cards Are a Bad Idea If You Have Debt : As tempting as rewards offers may be, consumers with debt should avoid these offers, as many require immediate spending in order to claim sign up promotional bonuses. This can not only prevent debt levels from dropping, but also encourage the debt based spending that has led to present debt issues.
Balance Transfer Fees 101: Since late 2008 – nearly five years ago – the number of companies offering no fee balance transfers had dwindled. Most major banks no longer offer no fee balance transfers, let alone no transaction fee offers with 0% interest rates for 1 year. So, is paying a balance transfer fee worthwhile? (Hint: IT IS!).
0% Credit Card Offers by Company
How to Avoid a 0% Balance Transfer Mistake
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 financial mistake.
- Continue to make payments on your old credit cards until your new credit card has completed the transaction: It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for a transfer to clear with your old credit card company. Until it has, don’t neglect bills from your old credit card.
- Pay your new card’s 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 of many offers state that a late payment can void the 0% APR. In other words, if you miss a payment, you can lose your 0% interest rate.
- Don’t run up a bill on your old credit card and waste money paying interest on new purchases: Getting 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.
If you need quick cash, you might also want to consider payday loans instead of getting a credit card cash advance.
Here's what you need to know about payday loans in Michigan:
If you're in California, consider applying in person at a local payday loan storefront:
*Important Disclaimer: See credit card applications for complete terms and conditions. While SmartBalanceTransfers.com 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 web site.