Cards listed by duration of 0% balance transfer offer
| Product Name | Balance Transfer | Rate after 0% Balance Transfer | Rewards | Representative APR (Variable) |
Product Reviews |
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Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card with Extended Balance Transfer |
0%
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17.9%
APR |
Music |
17.9%
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Read review |
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NatWest Platinum |
0%
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17.95%
APR |
Shopping |
17.9%
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Read review |
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Royal Bank of Scotland Platinum |
0%
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17.95%
APR |
Shopping |
17.9%
|
Read review |
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Halifax Balance Transfer Credit Card |
0%
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17.95%
APR |
Rewards |
17.9%
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Read review |
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Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card with Balance Transfer |
0%
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17.9%
APR |
Music |
17.9%
|
Read review |
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Virgin Credit Card |
0%
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18.9%
APR |
Travel |
16.8%
|
Read review |
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MBNA Credit Card |
0%
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18.9%
APR |
No rewards |
16.9%
|
Read review |
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Halifax 20 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card |
0%
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16.94%
APR |
No rewards |
16.9%
|
Read review |
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Nationwide Building Society Credit Card |
0%
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15.9%
APR |
Shopping |
15.9%
|
Read review |
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Bank of Scotland Plus |
0%
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16.94%
APR |
Rewards |
16.9%
|
Read review |
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Barclaycard Platinum Balance Transfer Card with Low Fee |
0%
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18.9%
APR |
Music |
18.9%
|
Read review |
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Halifax 17 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card |
0%
|
16.94%
APR |
Rewards |
16.9%
|
Read review |
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Most of us have taken our credit card on a shopping spree. But did you know that you can do more than spend on a card? Yes, a credit card can also help you to manage your debts.
Let’s say you have run up a debt of £1,000 on a card and let’s assume that card charges a typical rate of interest of about 18%. If you switch your £1,000 balance to card with a low rate of interest – or zero interest for a limited period – then you could save money.
Balance transfer credit cards allow you to switch debts from more than one card or from store cards, which often charge interest rates as high as 30%. So they can be a great way to cut the cost of your debts.
Most of the big names offer balance transfer cards and some charge 0% interest for more than 12 months. The choice can sometimes be bewildering but it’s quick, easy and free to compare deals at MoneySupermarket.
If you pay off your credit card balance in full every month then a balance transfer card is not for you. But if you have built up debts on one or more cards, you might be able to save money with a balance transfer deal, particularly with a 0% card.
If you set up a direct debit and arrange to clear the debt before the 0% period expires, you could effectively borrow money for free.
A balance transfer card can also make it easier to keep on top of your payments and how much you owe because all your debts are on the same card.
You will almost always have to pay a fee to transfer your debts. Balance transfer fees usually range from 2.5% to 3% of the outstanding balance. So, if you switched debts of £1,000 you could expect to pay a fee of up to £30.
You need to take the fee into account when you are comparing balance transfer deals. But if you are paying a high rate of interest on your debts, then the fee could be well worth paying.
If you want to spend on the card as well as transfer a balance, bear in mind that any 0% deal might not apply to purchases. You could, therefore, end up paying a higher rate of interest when you buy goods and services.
It’s also worth noting that the best balance transfer rates are usually reserved for people with a good credit history. If you are currently juggling debts and you want a balance transfer card because you are struggling to keep up with your monthly payments, then you might not qualify for the cheapest deals.
Some balance transfer cards charge a low rate of interest until any debts are paid off, rather than 0% for an introductory period. A long-term, low rate card might be more suitable if you have big debts that will take some time to clear.
You can find these types of balance cards in our balance transfer tables - just scroll down through the table, below the 0% balance transfer offers, or see our low standard rate cards.
If you have larger debts, a personal loan is another option. Typical loan rates are lower than the rates on standard credit cards. A personal loan can also help you manage your money because you usually pay a fixed monthly amount over the term of the deal, which can be up to five years.
This stands for Annual Percentage Rate. Any firm that lends money is required by law to quote the APR. Introductory rates do not include arrangement fees you may be charged and also don’t reflect any higher rate of interest that your borrowings will ultimately revert to. The APR takes into account the interest on a loan plus and additional charges making it easier for you to compare products. In general, the lower the APR the better the deal.
Balance transfer rates are applied to existing card debt that is being moved from one issuer to another or a consolidation of other debts. These rates tend to be lower than standard rates and apply to the debt transferred or consolidated for a specified term or until it is repaid in full.
Credit cards are a form of borrowing used to purchase goods and services, to obtain cash advances and for consolidating debt.
This allows an organisation to take money directly from a persons bank account
The amount you must pay each month to keep your account in order
The time between when you buy something on the card and the date when you must pay your monthly bill. This can be 50 days or more and is interest-free. So if you settle your bill in full every month, it's free borrowing.
A rate that is applied to your account until a given expiry date. Thereafter it will revert to the rate applicable to your account at that time.
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