Compare balance transfer & purchase credit cards

If you are looking for a credit card to spend on as well as to move a debt over from another card onto, then a card that has an introductory offer on balance transfers and purchases is worth taking advantage of. Moneysupermarket.com, offers a wider choice of credit card deals than any other comparison site, helping you identify the best card for your needs.

results for balance transfer & purchase cards

Card	Balance Transfer			New Purchase		Typical APR (Variable)	Price for Risk Our 'Price for Risk' logo indicates that the credit card will assess your personal circumstances and credit history to determine the APR available to you. This may result in you being offered a different rate than that quoted
Card	Rate	Duration	Fee	Rate	Duration	Typical APR (Variable)
Virgin Credit Card	0%	16 months	2.98%	0%	3 months	16.6%	No	Virgin Credit Card 0% on Balance transfers for 16 months (BT fee 2.98%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 16.6% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age Shopping
Virgin Credit Card	0%	Our expert says: "This credit card has a 0% introductory rate on balance transfers for 16 months with a 16.6% Typical APR (variable)"
NatWest Platinum	0%	15 months	2.9%	0%	3 months	16.9%	No	NatWest Platinum 0% on Balance transfers for 15 months (BT fee 2.9%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 16.9% Typical APR (Variable) 28% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age £10000 p.a. Minimum income
NatWest Platinum	0%	Our expert says: "Available only for existing NatWest current account customers"
Royal Bank of Scotland Platinum	0%	15 months	2.9%	0%	3 months	16.9%	No	Royal Bank of Scotland Platinum 0% on Balance transfers for 15 months (BT fee 2.9%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 16.9% Typical APR (Variable) 28% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age £10000 p.a. Minimum income
Royal Bank of Scotland Platinum	0%	Our expert says: "Available only for existing RBS current account customers"
HSBC Bank Credit Card	0%	15 months	2.9%	0%	3 months	16.9%	Yes	HSBC Bank Credit Card 0% on Balance transfers for 15 months (BT fee 2.9%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 16.9% Typical APR (Variable) 23.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age £8500 p.a. Minimum income
HSBC Bank Credit Card	0%	Our expert says: "This product is currently only available to existing HSBC current account customers "
Halifax All In One	0%	9 months	3%	0%	9 months	15.9%	Yes	Halifax All In One 0% on Balance transfers for 9 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 9 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 28% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Halifax All In One	0%	Our expert says: "This credit card is a very strong offer with a competitive 0% introductory period on purchases and balance transfers (subject to a fee)"
Bank of Scotland All In One	0%	9 months	3%	0%	9 months	15.9%	Yes	Bank of Scotland All In One 0% on Balance transfers for 9 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 9 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 28% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Bank of Scotland All In One	0%	Our expert says: "This credit card is a very strong offer with a competitive 0% introductory period on purchases and balance transfers (subject to a fee)"
NSPCC Charity Card	0%	9 months	3%	0%	9 months	16.9%	Yes	NSPCC Charity Card 0% on Balance transfers for 9 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 9 months 16.9% Typical APR (Variable) 24% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
NSPCC Charity Card	0%	Our expert says: "Make a real difference to the children who desperately need your help every time you shop on this credit card. A £20 donation is made when you first use your card and then 25p is donated for every £100 you spend thereafter"
Cancer Research UK Charity Card	0%	9 months	3%	0%	9 months	16.9%	Yes	Cancer Research UK Charity Card 0% on Balance transfers for 9 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 9 months 16.9% Typical APR (Variable) 24% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Cancer Research UK Charity Card	0%	Our expert says: "Your everyday spending on this credit card could help save lives by funding work and research into the prevention and treatment of cancer. A £20 donation is made when you first use your card and they donate 0.25% of every purchase you make"
MBNA Platinum	0%	13 months	2.9%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	MBNA Platinum 0% on Balance transfers for 13 months (BT fee 2.9%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
MBNA Platinum	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
MBNA Platinum Rewards Card	0%	13 months	2.9%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	MBNA Platinum Rewards Card 0% on Balance transfers for 13 months (BT fee 2.9%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
MBNA Platinum Rewards Card	0%	Our expert says: "A good alternative to a cashback card because reward points can be used at a wide range of high street retailers including John Lewis, Boots and Debenhams. Earn 1 point for every £1.00 spent on the card. There is a 13-month 0% offer on balance transfers, but don’t use the card for this purpose if you’ll spend on it as well: purchases are only interest-free for 3 months – you’ll be charged 15.9% thereafter"
BT Credit Card	0%	13 months	3%	0%	3 months	16.9%	No	BT Credit Card 0% on Balance transfers for 13 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 16.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
BT Credit Card	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + Earn money off your BT bill with the BT Credit Card + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000"
Nationwide BS Gold	0%	13 months	3%	0%	3 months	16.9%	No	Nationwide BS Gold 0% on Balance transfers for 13 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 16.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age £25000 p.a. Minimum income
Nationwide BS Gold	0%	Our expert says: "Great credit card. The 0% balance transfer offer is one of the longest available (3% balance transfer fee). It is also one of the cheapest cards to use abroad. Nationwide is one of the only major providers to allocate monthly repayments to the most expensive debt first"
Barclaycard Platinum	0%	until December 2010	2.5%	0%	3 months	12.4%	No	Barclaycard Platinum 0% on Balance transfers until December 2010 (BT fee 2.5%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 12.4% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 21 years Minimum age £20000 p.a. Minimum income
Barclaycard Platinum	0%	Our expert says: "A credit card with a low 12.4% APR plus 0% interest free on balance transfers until December 2010 (2.5% handling fee applies) and 0% interest on purchases for 3 months, both from account opening"
WWF	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	WWF 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
WWF	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
Breakthrough Breast Cancer	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	Breakthrough Breast Cancer 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Breakthrough Breast Cancer	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
bmi American Express Credit Card from MBNA	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	bmi American Express Credit Card from MBNA 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
bmi American Express Credit Card from MBNA	0%	Our expert says: "Competitive reward card that’s worth considering if you are a frequent flyer. Earn 1.5 destination miles for every £1.00 spent and 4.5 for every £1.00 spent on flybmi.com. Spend £250 in the first 90 days and receive 20,000 bonus miles. There is a 12-month 0% offer on balance transfers, but don’t use the card for this purpose if you’ll spend on it as well: purchases are only interest-free for 3 months – you’ll be charged 15.9% thereafter"
Tottenham Hotspur Credit Card	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	Tottenham Hotspur Credit Card 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Tottenham Hotspur Credit Card	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000"
RSPCA	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	RSPCA 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
RSPCA	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
Dogs Trust	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	Dogs Trust 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Dogs Trust	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
England Credit Card	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	England Credit Card 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
England Credit Card	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
Chelsea Rewards Platinum Credit Card	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	Chelsea Rewards Platinum Credit Card 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Chelsea Rewards Platinum Credit Card	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
British Heart Foundation Platinum	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	British Heart Foundation Platinum 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
British Heart Foundation Platinum	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
Aston Villa Rewards Platinum Credit Card	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	Aston Villa Rewards Platinum Credit Card 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Aston Villa Rewards Platinum Credit Card	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000"
Arsenal Rewards Platinum Credit Card	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	Arsenal Rewards Platinum Credit Card 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Arsenal Rewards Platinum Credit Card	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
Liverpool FC Rewards Platinum Credit Card	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	Liverpool FC Rewards Platinum Credit Card 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Liverpool FC Rewards Platinum Credit Card	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
Manchester United Credit Card	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	Manchester United Credit Card 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Manchester United Credit Card	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
UNICEF Platinum	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	UNICEF Platinum 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
UNICEF Platinum	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "
SonyCard	0%	12 months	3%	0%	3 months	15.9%	No	SonyCard 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
SonyCard	0%	Our expert says: "Ideal if you want to collect reward points that can be used to buy music, film and electronic items. Receive 3,000 points when you make a purchase within the first 90 days.There is a 12-month 0% offer on balance transfers, but don’t use the card for this purpose if you’ll spend on it as well: purchases are only interest-free for 3 months – you’ll be charged 15.9% thereafter"
Post Office Platinum	0%	12 months	2.98%	0%	3 months	16.9%	No	Post Office Platinum 0% on Balance transfers for 12 months (BT fee 2.98%) 0% on Purchases for 3 months 16.9% Typical APR (Variable) 24.1% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age £20000 p.a. Minimum income
Marriott Rewards Card	0%	9 months	3%	0%	6 months	15.9%	Yes	Marriott Rewards Card 0% on Balance transfers for 9 months (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases for 6 months 15.9% Typical APR (Variable) 23% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Marriott Rewards Card	0%	Our expert says: "Earn Marriott Rewards points every time you spend on your card. Receive 10,000 bonus Marriott Rewards points on your first purchase & 10 nights credit towards Elite member status each year"
Egg Card	0%	until 01/12/2010	3%	0%	until 01/02/2010	16.9%	Yes	Egg Card 0% on Balance transfers until 01/12/2010 (BT fee 3%) 0% on Purchases until 01/02/2010 16.9% Typical APR (Variable) 22.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
Egg Card	0%	Our expert says: "Earn up to 10% discounts on travel insurance, holiday auto rental cards and up to 5% on various products from lastminute.com"
MBNA Platinum	0%	until December 2010	2.9%	0%	until February 2010	18.9%	No	MBNA Platinum 0% on Balance transfers until December 2010 (BT fee 2.9%) 0% on Purchases until February 2010 18.9% Typical APR (Variable) 27.9% on Cash advances No annual fee 18 years Minimum age
MBNA Platinum	0%	Our expert says: "0% period on balance transfer applies when made in the first 90 days + You must be over the age of 23 + You must be a UK resident with an income over £20,000 "

Everything you need to know about balance transfer & purchase credit cards

What is a balance transfer & purchase credit card?

You do not always have to choose between a low balance transfer interest rate and a low purchases rate. Some cards offer both - for an introductory period. These are known as balance transfer and purchase credit cards.

Benefits

One benefit of a credit card that has a low rate - sometimes 0% - for both balance transfers and purchases is that you will not fall victim to payment hierarchy during the offer period: Credit card firms will generally use money paid into an account to clear the cheapest debt first, leaving any more expensive debt accumulating interest at a higher level.

Borrowers with a 0% balance transfer deal who continue to spend can therefore be stung by the interest on any purchases they make - even though they are making inroads into their debts.

Negatives

It is important to be aware when you introductory offer comes to an end as cards offering low rate balance transfers and purchases often have high go-to interest rates. Therefore it is important to look for a card where the interest free period on balance transfers and purchases last for the same length of time - otherwise you could be caught by the negative payment hierarchy trap outlined above.

You should also look out for balance transfer fees, which generally range from about 2.5% to 3%.

Alternatives

Another option is to take out two credit cards, use one for spending and the other for any balance you need to transfer.

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