Some banks have no interest on balance transfer offers until 2026 with special introductory rates

When you transfer your high-interest balance to a credit card offering an introductory 0% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) you could reduce your monthly credit card bills by a significant amount.

A fixed interest rate of zero financing for a year or more allows you to make affordable payments on only the balance you owe. Note that minimum monthly payments are still due until the intro period ends. Once the special 0% rate expires regular rates will apply to the remaining balances.

CHECKLIST

Balance Transfer Fee Is Charged Upfront
Most major banks charge upfront balance transfer fees that are added to the balance. Usually, the fees are less than the interest you’re currently paying but check with a professional financial advisor before proceeding with a balance transfer. Fees such as balance transfer, annual, late payment, etc. could swallow up any savings on interest.

Full Transfer Amount May Not Be Granted
See if the credit line with the new card covers the amounts you want to transfer. For instance, if you have a $10,000 balance to transfer and only get a $2,500 credit line with the new card, that may not be enough to save a meaningful amount. You’ll also be complicating life by having more credit card payments to keep track of.

Usually Don’t Mix Purchases With Transfers
Purchase balances may be mixed in with balances on transfer. When that happens the entire balance may be due before the expiration of the introductory period. If not paid in full you might even pay regular interest rates on the amounts transferred.

Normally you cannot transfer balances between cards from the same bank or issuer.
Inquire whether funds from the new card can be sent to the original card. Otherwise, an excess of “hard” inquiries could damage your credit score.

LAG TIME DURING BALANCE TRANSFERS

Transfer Processing Time
When you request a balance transfer from one credit card to another, the transfer won’t happen immediately since many banks don’t process requests until the account is at least 10 days old.

Impact on Credit Utilization
During this lag time, you effectively have the balance on both cards. For example, if you want to transfer $2000, this amount will be added to your new card immediately, but it will take time to be deducted from your previous card. This temporary increase in debt affects your credit utilization ratio, which is a big part of your credit score.

Risk of Late Payments
Since the original balance on the first bank’s card doesn’t clear immediately, you’re responsible for any minimum payments due on that card until the transfer is complete. If you aren’t careful, you could miss a payment, believing the old balance has already been transferred. Late payments can incur fees and negatively impact your credit score.

Decrease in Available Credit
Until the transfer is complete, you might also have a reduced overall available credit. For example, if you had $2000 available on the new card and you transferred $2000 to it, you temporarily won’t have available credit on this card. Simultaneously, since the original card still shows the $2000 balance, your available credit remains depressed.

Managing Payments During the Transfer Period
To avoid late fees and potential negative impacts on your credit score, it’s essential to continue making at least the minimum payments on your original card until you can confirm that the balance transfer has been fully processed and the balance on the original card has been adjusted accordingly.

Communication with Credit Card Companies
Keeping in touch with both credit card companies can make this process a pleasant one. Confirm the balance transfer’s status to ensure that all obligations are fulfilled. Then the transfer will be a win-win for everyone.

THE CARDS

The credit cards below feature longer 0% APR periods so you can pay bills in a planned manner under the guidance of a trusted financial mentor.

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21 MONTH INTRODUCTORY 0% APR

Fifth Third 1% Cash/Back Mastercard®

• 21-month introductory no-interest APR on balance transfers
• Balance transfer fee: 4%
• Same 0% APR offer on purchases
• Regular APR of 16.24% to 27.24% after the intro offer expires

Wells Fargo Reflect® Visa Card

• No interest APR for first 21 months on balance transfers(conditions apply)
• Balance transfer fee: 5%
• Also 0% APR on purchases for 21 months
• Regular APR is 18.24% to 29.99% after the introductory offer expires

Citi Diamond Preferred Mastercard®

• 21-month no-interest APR on balance transfers(conditions apply)
• Balance transfer fee: 5%
• Also 0% APR on purchases for 12 months
• Regular APR is 18.24% to 28.99% once the intro period expires

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

• 21-month 0% APR on new account balance transfers
• Balance transfer fee: 3%
• Also 21 month 0% APR on purchases
• Regular APR is 18.74% to 29.74% after the intro offer expires

Citi Simplicity® Credit Card

• No interest APR for 21 first months on balance transfers(conditions apply)
• Balance transfer fee: 3% if completed within 4 months of opening a new account
• Also 0% APR on purchases for 12 months
• Regular APR is 19.24% to 29.99% after the intro period expires

18 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

BankAmericard®

• 18-month zero-interest intro APR on balance transfers(conditions apply)
• Balance transfer fee: 3%
• Also 0% APR on purchases up to 18 months after account opening
• Regular APR is 16.24% to 26.24% after the intro period expires

Citi Double Cash Mastercard®

• 18-month zero-interest APR on transfers made within the first 4 months
• Balance transfer fee: 3% (on transfers made within first 4 months)
• Regular APR is 19.24% to 29.24%
• Earn rewards on purchases

Chase Slate Edge® Visa Card

• No interest APR for 18 months on balance transfers
• Balance transfer fee: 3% good for the first three months only (5% after that period)
• Also 0% APR on purchases for 18 months
• Regular APR is 20.49% to 29.24% after the intro offer expires

Citizens Bank Clear Value® Mastercard®

• No interest APR for first 18 months on balance transfers
• Balance transfer fee: 5%
• Also 0% APR on purchases for 18 months
• Regular APR is 19.24% to 27.24% after the intro offer expires

ELAN FINANCIAL SERVICES

Elan Financial Services offers interest-free financing on credit cards with balance transfers for 18 months having the following terms:

• No interest payments for the first 18 months after account opening
• Balance transfer fee: 5%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR of 18.24% to 29.24% once the intro period expires

A small sampling of banks using Elan Financial Services are:

Associated Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Busey Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Country Club Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Envision Bank Visa® Platinum Card
First Financial Northwest Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Fulton Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Highland Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Hillcrest Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Independent Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Pinnacle Credit Union
Superior Choice Credit Union
Webster Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Westfield Bank Visa® Platinum Card

15 MONTH INTRO 0% APR

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Introductory 0% APR applies to transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening
• Balance transfer fee: 3%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 18.24% to 28.24%

PNC Core Visa® Credit Card

• 15-month no interest APR on balance transfers
• Balance transfer fee: 3%
• Also 0% APR on purchases for 15 months
• Regular APR is 15.24% to 27.24% after the intro offer ends

Discover It Credit Card

• 15-month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
• Balance transfer fee: 3% (for the first 60 days after opening the account)
• Also 0% APR on purchases for 15 months
• Regular APR is 16.24% to 27.24% after the intro offer ends

Truist Future Credit Card

• No interest on balance transfers made within the first 90 days of account opening
• A low balance transfer fee of 3%
• Also 0% APR on purchases for 15 months
• Low APR of 15.49 to 24.49% after the introductory period ends

Capital One Quicksilver Rewards Credit Card

• Pay NO interest on balance transfers for the first 15 months
• Balance transfer fee: 3%
• Also 0% APR on purchases for 15 months
• Regular APR is 19.24% to 29.24% after the end of the intro offer

Citi Rewards+ Mastercard®

• 15-month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
• They must be completed within the first 120 days
• Balance transfer fee: 3% for first 4 months of opening
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 17.24% to 27.24% after the intro offer expires

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

• 15 month zero-interest intro APR(only valid for first 4 months)
• Balance transfer fee: 3%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 16.74% to 26.74% after the intro period expires

Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards® Card

• No interest APR for the first 15 months on balance transfers made within the first 60 days
• Balance transfer fee: 3%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 18.74% to 28.74% after the intro offer expires

Citi Custom Cash^SM Credit Card

• No interest on balance transfers completed within first 120 days
• Balance transfer fee: 5%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 18.24% to 28.24% after the intro offer expires

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

• 15-month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
• The balance transfer request must be made within the first 120 days
• Balance transfer fee: 3%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 19.24% to 29.24% after the intro offer expires

AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays Bank

• 15-month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
• The balance transfer request must be made within the first 45 days
• Balance transfer fee: 5%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 20.99% to 29.99% after the intro offer expires

BMO Harris Bank Platinum Mastercard®

• Within first 90 days of account opening for 0% APR
• Balance transfer fee: 3%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 16.49% to 24.49%
• Available only in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin

Citizens Cash+ World Mastercard®

• 15 month introductory no interest APR
• Balance transfer fee: 4%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 19.74% to 27.74% after intro offer expires

TD Double Up^SM Credit Card

• No interest APR for 18 months on balance transfers
• Balance transfer fee: 3%
• Regular APR is 19.49% to 29.49%

Regions [Bank] Life Visa® Card

• 15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers
• Balance transfers must be completed within first 60 days of account opening
• Balance transfer fee: 4%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 16.24% to 26.24% after intro offer expires

KeyBank Latitude® Credit Card (limited availability)

• 15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases
• Balance transfers must be completed within first 60 days of account opening
• Balance transfer fee: 4%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 19.24% to 26.24% after end of introductory period

Union Plus Rate Advantage Mastercard® (Capital One)

• 15 month introductory 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases
• Balance transfer fee: 3%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 15.15% to 25.15% after intro offer expires
• Members only

NO BALANCE TRANSFER FEE & INTRO 0% APR

Union Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card

• 15 month introductory no interest APR
• No balance transfer fee on transfers made within 60 days; 3% thereafter
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 12.74% to 24.24%

Navy Federal Credit Union®Credit Card (members only)

• 12 month introductory 0% APR
• No balance transfer fee
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 9.74% to 18.00% after intro offer expires

Purdue Federal Visa Signature (members only)

• 12 month introductory 0% APR on purchases, balance transfers and cash advances
• Balance transfer fee: 0%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 13.50% to 17.50% after intro offer expires
• General membership via one-time $50 fee to join Purdue University Alumni Association as a Friend of the University

First Tech FCU Platinum Mastercard (members only)

• 12 month introductory 0% APR
• Balance transfer fee: 0%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 11.24% to 18.00% after intro offer expires
• General membership via one-time fee to join Computer History Museum or the Financial Fitness Association

Wings Visa® Platinum Credit Card (credit union members only)

• 12 month introductory 0% APR
• Balance transfer fee: 0%
• No annual fee
• Regular APR is 11.90% to 18.00% after intro offer expires
• General membership via a one-time fee to join Wings Financial Foundation