Do you owe thousands of dollars on a credit card – or maybe even a few credit cards? You certainly aren’t alone, as credit card debit is a common problem.
The average U.S. household is carrying a balance of nearly $7,000 in credit card debt. And if you don’t pay off that debt, it could make it difficult to pay your bills and afford your living expenses.
Fortunately, you don’t have to struggle to pay this debt and its sky-high interest rate. You can get an interest rate as low as 0 percent. All you have to do is open a balance transfer credit card.
A balance transfer credit card is a credit card that allows you to transfer the debt of one card onto another. And the new card will typically carry a lower interest rate, helping you pay off your debt faster. Moving your balance onto a new balance transfer card can make your debit an easier mountain to tackle.
The following are a few of the best balance transfer cards available today.
BankAmericard Credit Card
The best balance transfer credit cards are those that offer a 0% interest rate – and the BankAmericard Credit Card does exactly that. This credit card, which is offered by Bank of America, will cut your costs and help you tackle your debt as quickly as possible.
Balance Transfer Details
If you’re approved for the Bank Americard Credit Card, you’ll have an introductory period of 0% APR for 15 billing cycles. There are no balance transfer fees for the first 60 days (2 months) after your account is opened.
After that introductory period, the balance transfer fee will be either $10 or 3% of every transaction added together, whichever is greater. The interest rate will become variable, ranging between 15.24 and 25.24 percent.
Other Benefits
- $0 annual fee
- No penalty APR – interest rate won’t increase if you miss a payment
- See your updated FICO score every month
- Access to Bank of America credit education tools
American Express EveryDay Credit Card
If you need more than just a few months to pay off your credit card debt, you need a card with a long introductory period – or very low interest. The American Express EveryDay Credit Card will give you a long no-interest period, plus perks like rewards that make opening a new card worthwhile.
Balance Transfer Details
Transfer your credit card balance onto the American Express EveryDay Credit Card within 60 days of opening your account and you’ll pay $0 in balance transfer fees. You’ll enjoy an introductory 0% APR on all purchases and any balance transfers for 15 months.
Once the introductory period ends, the variable APR will range between 15.24 and 26.24%.
Other Benefits
- No annual fee
- Welcome offer for new cardholders: Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards Points for making $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of your account
- Ongoing rewards, earning 2 points per dollar spent
Aspire Platinum Rewards Mastercard
Anyone who’s looking to pay down credit card debt without losing perks should consider a balance transfer to the Aspire Platinum Rewards Mastercard. Available for employees of certain companies, their families, and Aspire members, joining the Marine Mammal Stranding Center will give you access to this special card.
Balance Transfer Details
There are no balance transfer fees or costs during the first 6 months after opening the Aspire Platinum Rewards Mastercard. Cardholders will also enjoy 0% APR for those first 6 months on any balance transfers.
Once the introductory period wraps up, you’ll pay a variable interest rate ranging from 10.90 to 18.00%.
Other Benefits
- No annual fee
- Sign-up bonus: Earn 5,000 Bonus Rewards Points for spending $3,000 in the first 60 days of opening the account
- Bonus transfers qualify for the sign-up bonus and rewards points
SunTrust Prime Rewards Credit Card
If your credit card debt is high and you need flexibility, time, and a set interest rate to be able to get it under control, the SunTrust Prime Rewards Credit Card is the best choice you’ll find today. This balance transfer card offers the longest low-interest introductory period available according to NerdWallet, and it offers the time you need to tackle your debt.
Balance Transfer Details
For the first 3 years with a SunTrust Prime Rewards Credit Card, you’ll get a Prime Rate of 5.50% variable APR on any balance transfers made within 60 days (2 months) of opening your account. There are no balance transfer fees during the first 60 days either.
After the first 3 years, your interest rate will switch to a variable APR between 13.49 and 23.49%.
Other Benefits
- No annual fee
- Sign-up bonus of $100 in statement credit if you spend $500 on qualifying purchases in 3 months
- Earn 1% back in cashback rewards on every purchase
How to Choose the Right Balance Transfer Credit Card
Before you pick a credit card to transfer your current balance to, it’s important to do your research. Opening just any credit card won’t necessarily help you tackle your debt or get a better interest rate. You need to know which cards accept balance transfers and which will help you pay down your balance.
To find low-interest balance transfer credit cards, you should search online and compare the available options. Do these cards offer long 0% APR periods? Will the interest rates stay low? Are there any benefits, like no annual fee or reward earnings? Will you be able to better pay off your debt with the card?
Once you’ve searched and compared a few different balance transfer credit cards, you’ll be well-informed and ready to choose the one that’s best for your finances.