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Balance transfer credit cards
Shift existing card debt to 0% interest for up to 32 months
Updated 17 February 2025
Paying credit card interest? STOP. A balance transfer credit card can save you £1,000s by slashing the interest you pay. Our guide has full info and top picks, plus our Balance Transfer Eligibility Calculator will reveal the cards you've the best odds of getting.
First, a quick overview of balance transfers...
If you've debt on a credit card, a 0% balance transfer card is a powerful tool to slash costs. It pays off the debt on your existing card(s) for you, so you owe it instead, but interest-free for a set time. That way, more of your repayments clear the debt, rather than just paying interest....
- Don't just apply - go via an eligibility calc. Our 0% Balance Transfer Eligibility Checker speedily shows acceptance odds for top cards (some are 'pre-approved'), without affecting your creditworthiness.
· Go for the LOWEST FEE within a 0% time long enough to clear the debt. Longer balance transfers usually have a bigger one-off fee to transfer. So if you've a choice and can clear debt quicker, go for a shorter deal to minimise fees. Unsure? Go long.
Top-pick newbies' 0% balance transfers (longest first) |
|
New. HSBC Link goes via eligibility or read full HSBC review |
- Up to 32mths 0% - 3.49% fee |
New. MBNA Link goes via eligibility or read full MBNA review |
- Up to 32mths 0% - 3.2% or 3.49% fee |
| Link goes via eligibility or read full Barclaycard review |
- Up to 32mths 0% - 3.45% fee (min £5) |
| New. Tesco Bank Link goes via eligibility or read full Tesco Bank review |
- 30mths 0% - 2.95% fee - 24.9% rep APR after |
| Tesco Bank Link goes via eligibility or read full Tesco Bank review |
- 18mths 0% - 0.99% fee - 24.9% rep APR after |
| Link goes via eligibility or read full Barclaycard review |
- Up to 14mths 0% - NO FEE - 24.9% rep APR after |
- If you do get a card, ALWAYS follow the Balance Transfer Golden Rules:
a) Never miss the minimum monthly repayment, or you could lose the 0% deal.
b) Clear the card before the 0% ends, or the rate rockets to the higher APR.
c) Don't spend or withdraw cash. It usually isn't at the cheap rate.
d) If you don't transfer at application, you've usually only 60-90 days to get 0% deal.
The full balance transfer guide...
Now we've given you a brief overview and you understand the basics, let's take you through balance transfers in more detail...
What is a balance transfer card?
With a 0% balance transfer you get a new card to pay off debt on old credit and store cards, so you owe it instead, but at 0% interest. A card will have a 0% period, during which you pay no interest – for example, 28 months – and sometimes you'll pay a small fee. It means you become debt-free quicker, as more of your repayments reduce the debt, rather than pay off interest.
How does a balance transfer work?
A balance transfer allows you to transfer debt from one credit card provider to another. To do this you must open a new balance transfer credit card, which are specifically designed for this process and often come with deals which mean you pay no interest on your debt for a set number of months. There's usually a one-off fee to transfer the balance across, though some cards offer both no transfer fee and a number of months at 0% interest – though these are rare.
Once you've successfully applied for the card, you can request a balance transfer of all or some of your debt from old credit cards and it will be transferred to your new card. You usually need to request this within the first 60 to 90 days – if you delay, you could lose the promotional 0% deals.
Here's an example to help explain...
You get a credit card and, following a few unexpected purchases, owe £4,000 and are being charged 24.9% annual interest.
- To avoid paying interest on your debt, you open a balance transfer credit card, which comes with 20 months at 0% and a one-off fee of 3% of the amount transferred.
- Following your transfer request, the £4,000 is transferred from an existing credit card to the new card, which including the 3% fee gives you an outstanding debt of £4,120.
- You close the old card (as all outstanding debt has been transferred) and now have 20 months to pay off the £4,120 interest.
- Paying £206 per month over 20 months would accomplish this.
As you can see, these cards can offer a vital relief from interest charges, allowing you some breathing space to pay off debt as quickly as you can.
Watch: Martin Lewis explains balance transfer credit cards
A 0% balance transfer is where you get a new credit card to pay off debt on your existing card(s), so you owe it instead, but with no interest for a set period. That way, more of your payments reduce the actual debt – getting you debt-free quicker. Watch this video of Martin Lewis explaining how to effectively use a balance transfer credit card.
Embedded YouTube Video
From The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on Tuesday 21 January 2025, courtesy of ITV. All rights reserved. Watch the full episode on ITVX.
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- Get personalised acceptance odds for credit cards and loans.
Which balance transfer card is best for me?
First up, you can't transfer a balance between cards from the same bank/group. So where you're transferring debt from will narrow down the choice. Of those left, which to go for will largely be determined by which cards you're eligible for, as you'll need to pass a credit check as part of any application.
Our eligibility calculator will show your chances of acceptance for most of the top interest-free balance transfer cards in this guide, with no impact on your credit score. If it shows you're eligible for many cards but you're unsure which to pick, follow this rule...
Go for the card with lowest fee in the 0% period you're sure you can repay it in. If unsure, play safe and long.
When making your choice, here are the key factors to look out for...
- The balance transfer period is how long you get at 0% interest. Different cards have different lengths at 0%, try to choose one that will give you enough time to pay back your debt.
- The balance transfer fee is a one-off charge calculated as a percentage of the amount of debt you transfer to your new card. Typically, the longer the period, the higher the fee. Some credit cards offer shorter periods where you pay no fee, though these are rare.
- The APR is the rate of interest at which you will be charged after the 0% period ends, should you have debt remaining on the card. The higher the APR, the more you'll be charged on any outstanding balance. The APRs providers advertise are representative examples, meaning only 51% of applicants have to get that rate (so up to 49% could be accepted and be charged a higher rate of interest).
Best 0% balance transfer cards
We've highlighted the standout cards here, yet our eligibility calculator has many more, so it's best to use that to get your personalised best-buy table. The calculator also shows if you're 'pre-approved' for any cards, and for a few can even show a guaranteed credit limit.
Top-pick 0% balance transfer cards for new cardholders
New. HSBC |
Joint-longest 0%. If you're pre-approved in our eligibility calc you'll get the full 32mths. If not, it could be 26mths – still decent, but check to see if you'd get longer with any of the cards below. | |||
- Up to 32 months 0% - 3.49% fee - 24.9% rep APR |
CHECK ELIGIBILITY (i) | |||
New. MBNA |
Joint-longest 0%. Apply via our eligibility calc and, if eligible for the card, you'll be pre-approved for either 32mths with a 3.2% fee or 14mths with a 3.49% fee (if the latter, try for one of the cards below). | |||
- Up to 32 months 0% - 3.2% OR 3.49% fee - 24.9% rep APR |
CHECK ELIGIBILITY (i) | |||
|
Joint-longest 0%. If pre-approved in our eligibility calc you'll get the full 32mths. If not, it could be a much shorter 16mths, so try for another card. |
|||
- Up to 32 months 0% - 3.45% fee (min £5) - 24.9% rep APR |
CHECK ELIGIBILITY (i) | |||
 New. Tesco Bank |
Longest definite 0%. If you've decent acceptance odds for this card, its advantage is everyone accepted will definitely get the full 30mths. If you can repay in that time, combined with the lower fee, it beats the cards above. | |||
- 30 months 0% - 2.95% fee - 24.9% rep APR |
CHECK ELIGIBILITY (i) | |||
|
Definite 0% with very low fee. If you can repay quite a bit quicker, this 18mth card is in a sweet spot as it's still pretty long but the fee is just £10 per £1,000 shifted, and all accepted get the full 18mths. | |||
- 18 months 0% - 0.99% fee - 24.9% rep APR |
CHECK ELIGIBILITY (i) | |||
|
Longest NO FEE 0% card. If pre-approved in our eligibility calc, you'll get the full 14mths at 0%, if not you may get just 7mths, so then also check NatWest's NO-FEE card, as if eligible, you'll be pre-approved for 12 or 10mths 0%. |
|||
| - Up to 14 months 0% - NO FEE - 24.9% rep APR |
||||
| The next best 0% balance transfer cards. Here are quick details of decent alternatives. | ||||
| NatWest | - Up to 31 months 0% - 3.49% fee - 24.9% rep APR |
CHECK ELIGIBILITY (i) | ||
| Lloyds | - Up to 29 months 0% - 2.49% OR 3.49% fee - 24.9% rep APR |
CHECK ELIGIBILITY (i) | ||
| New. Santander | - 29 months 0% - £20 Amazon voucher - 3.4% fee (min £5) - 24.9% rep APR |
CHECK ELIGIBILITY (i) | ||
| NatWest | - Up to 12 months 0% - NO FEE - 24.9% rep APR |
CHECK ELIGIBILITY (i) | ||
Important: Balance transfer fees are a percentage of debt shifted. To get the 0% and fee, you must usually do the balance transfer within 60 or 90 days of opening. You can't balance-transfer between cards from the same bank/group.｜Representative APR (variable) after the 0% period is stated above – your balance transfer interest may be different. (i) These providers have asked us to only link to our eligibility calculator.｜See all official APR examples.
Longest 0% period of 29 months, plus £25 cashback if transferring over £2,500 – but if you're not pre-approved in our eligibility calculator you could get just 14 months at 0%.
Apply via our links by Thurs 8 Feb and transfer £2,500+ within 60 days and you'll get £25 cashback. You won't qualify for the cashback if you've had a Barclaycard within the last six months.
0% period
Up to 29 months (some could get 14 months)
Fee
3.45%
Rep APR
24.9%
Another long 0% period of 28 months, though, again, if you're not pre-approved you could get just 20 months at 0%.
This could be a good option if you're not pre-approved for the Barclaycard above, as although the fee is a smidge higher, the worst-case acceptance scenario is better.
0% period
Up to 28 months (some could get 20 months)
Fee
3.49% (min £5)
Rep APR
24.9%
Longest definite 0% period – all accepted get the full 26 months at 0%.
Slightly shorter interest-free period than the above cards, but you'll definitely get the full 26 months if accepted. This could be a good option if you're not pre-approved for the above cards and you don't want to risk being offered fewer interest-free months
0% period
26 months
Fee
3% (min £5)
Rep APR
23.9%
Longest 0% period with NO FEE – all accepted get the full 13 months at 0%. A winner if you can repay before the 0% ends, as this transfer will cost you absolutely nothing.
Plus, our eligibility calculator will tell you if you're pre-approved for a guaranteed minimum limit. This card is also offered by sister banks RBS and Ulster Bank, though these do not feature in our eligibility calculator.
0% period
13 months
Fee
NO FEE
Rep APR
24.9%
The next best 0% balance transfer cards
A good option if you've poor acceptance odds for the above cards. A slightly shorter 27 months at 0%, though if you're not pre-approved you could get just 20 or 14 months.
0% period
Up to 27 months (some could get 20 or 14 months)
Fee
3.49% fee (min £5)
Rep APR
24.9%
A shorter 0% period than the above cards – 20 months at 0% – but a lower 2% fee. All accepted get the full 20 interest-free months.
0% period
20 months
Fee
2%
Rep APR
24.9%
0% period
Up to 12 months
Fee
NO FEE
Rep APR
24.9%
Important: The fee is a percentage of debt shifted. To get the 0% and fee, you must usually do the balance transfer within 60 or 90 days of opening. You can't balance-transfer between cards from the same bank/group.｜Representative APR (variable) after the 0% period is stated above – your balance transfer interest may be different. See all official APR examples.
Best balance transfer cards for bad credit
To be accepted for most of the deals above, you need a decent credit score. If that's not you, there's still hope, as a few providers offer cards for those with a patchy credit past – though the 0% transfer periods are usually much shorter. Some will accept you even with past defaults or county court judgments (CCJs). For more info on cards for those with bad credit, see our full guide.
The cards below are all included in our eligibility calculator, but they're worth highlighting because of one big difference...
The interest rates after the 0% periods end are VERY expensive, so plan how much to shift. All the cards below charge up to 34.9% rep APR after the 0% periods end, so compare that against your current card's interest rate. If your current card's rate is higher, then shift as much debt as possible. If it's lower, then only shift the amount of debt you're sure you can clear within the 0% period.
Virgin Money |
Long 0%, accepts some past credit issues. All accepted get the full 16 months at 0%. Even if you've had CCJs or defaults in the past, you may still be accepted if you have a recent history of managing credit, a UK bank account, and a yearly personal income of £7,000 or a household income of £15,000 (including non-salary income such as pensions). | |
- 16 months 0% - 29.9% rep APR |
CHECK ELIGIBILITY (i) |
|
 Fluid |
Lower minimum income needed on shorter 0% period. You may still be accepted if you've been declared bankrupt, had a CCJ, or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) as long as it's more than three years old. You need £5,000/year min income, 12 months' UK address history and a UK bank account. |
|
- 9 months 0% - 3% fee - 34.9% rep APR |
Apply (not in our eligibility calc) |
|
Important: Balance transfer fees are a percentage of debt shifted. To get the 0% and fee, you must usually do the balance transfer within 60 or 90 days of opening. You can't balance-transfer between cards from the same bank/group. (i) These providers have asked us to link only to our eligibility calculator. | See all official APR examples.
Longest 0% period for poorer credit scorers – 16 months at 0%. All accepted will get the full 16 interest-free months.
You must have a history of managing credit, even if you've had CCJs or defaults in the past, and a yearly £15,000+ personal income (including non-salary income such as pensions).
0% period
16 months
Fee
3%
Rep APR
29.9%
Not available direct
Longest 0% period with NO FEE for poorer credit scorers – 6 months at 0%. All accepted will get this deal.
You must have a minimum personal income of £10,000, plus two active lines of credit such as a phone contract or overdraft.
0% period
6 months
Fee
NO FEE
Rep APR
34.9%
The next best poor-credit balance transfer cards
Not in our eligibility calculator
A decent 0% period of 9 months, which all accepted will get.
You can't have been declared bankrupt in the last 18 months or have had any CCJs in the past 12 months.
0% period
9 months
Fee
3%
Rep APR
34.9%
Not available direct
A good option if you've poor acceptance odds of the above cards – all accepted get six months at 0%.
You must have a recent history of managing credit, even if you've had past CCJs or defaults.
0% period
6 months
Fee
3%
Rep APR
34.9%
Important: Fee is a percentage of debt shifted. To get the 0% and fee, you must usually do the balance transfer within 60 or 90 days of opening. You can't balance-transfer between cards from the same bank/group. | Representative APR (variable) after the 0% period is stated above – your balance transfer interest may be different. See all official APR examples.
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For all the latest deals, guides and loopholes simply sign up today – it's spam-free!
Cashback sites may pay you for signing up
As an extra boon, members of specialist cashback websites can be paid when they sign up to some financial products. Do check that it's exactly the same deal though, as terms can be different. And remember that the cashback is never 100% guaranteed until it's in your account.
There is full help to take advantage of this and pros and cons in our Top cashback sites guide.
If you can't get a new 0% card, try the credit card shuffle to cut interest
If you're unable to get any of the cards above (use our eligibility calculator to check), you may still be able to slash the interest and save money by asking for a low-rate or 0% deal on the card you already have.
If you've more than one credit card, you can then shift debt to the card which offers the lowest rate, though you'll need to factor in any one-off transfer fees.
Here's how to do it step by step:
- List all your debts. Take stock of your current situation and note down all your existing debts, including an overdraft if you have one. Our credit card shuffle worksheet may help.
- Check your account(s) for existing-customer offers. Lenders sometimes offer special deals (either a lower rate or 0% for a set period) for transferring new debt to your existing cards, though usually for a one-off fee. You can usually find these on your online account or by calling your card provider.
If you're paying debts at 18.9% APR on a credit card, and you can get a low-rate deal for 6.9% APR on another card you have, you could save about £120 interest in a year on a £1,000 debt.
- Shift debts to the cheapest card. Do a balance transfer to shift your debt from the card(s) charging the most interest to the one charging the least (or the cheapest ones, if your credit limit isn't big enough to allow you to move it to just one card). You could even consider shifting debt away from any card that will offer you a 0% deal for transferred balances. You can then transfer it back along with debt from other cards to get the 0%. Though be aware of balance transfer fees that could wipe out the gain.
- Repay the most expensive debts first – the most crucial part. Once all your debt's as cheap as possible, relist them in the credit card shuffle worksheet. Then, focus as much cash as possible on the most expensive debt first and just pay the minimum repayments on any less expensive debts. Once that's repaid, shift focus to the next highest-rate debt... continue this until you're debt-free.
Quick credit card shuffle questions
Balance transfer FAQs
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Should I apply if my eligibility odds are, say, only 20%?
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Remember percentages are a clinical measure. A 50% chance means half those in your situation will be accepted. And while 95% seems almost certain, you can still be the 1 in 20 who doesn't get it.
My worry is many are wrongly put off by low odds. I often tell a tale of something that happened a few years ago, which may help...
I sat with a MoneySaver who had large, costly card debt and a poor credit history. Her eligibility showed zero chance of all balance transfers, except a 20% chance with Halifax. She looked despondent and asked me: "Is there any point?"
I explained that as it was the only credit she needed - there was no mortgage application or similar due - it didn't overly matter that a rejection would mark her file. The reason to protect your credit history is so you can get maximum use from it when needed.
This was her most pressing financial need, so a 20% chance was better than nowt. The worst that could happen was a rejection. She applied and got a 26mth 0% card with a £1,500 limit.
For more on this, and what you can do to improve things, see my related blog: Why you shouldn't worry too much about your credit score - it's not actually a real thing. -
What if my credit limit isn't big enough?
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The application is now on your credit file anyway, so make use of it. Use the new card to shift as much debt as you can to cut costs.
Once that's sorted, you can use our 0% Balance Transfer Eligibility Calculator again to see your chances of acceptance for other providers' cards. Though try to spread future applications out, as too many in a short space of time can hurt.
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Can I shift debt to my existing cards too?
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Yes and it's worth looking at. Some cards will give existing cardholders special offers (eg, 12mths 0% for a 3% fee), not as good as new customer deals, but useful, especially as it won't usually go on your credit file.
Even if you don't get a special rate, try and move all your debt to where it's cheapest. For example, if one is 18% APR, another 30%, ask the 18% card if you can shift debt from the other to it, it'll help. For a full step-by-step, see the credit card shuffle for how this all works.
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Should I try and pay off my biggest debts first?
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The best thing to do is list all of your debts in order of the interest rate (APR) with the highest first.
Then focus all spare cash on clearing that highest APR debt – as that's growing most quickly – and just pay the minimum on all others. For many people this will be the overdraft at first, as at 40% it's often more than double a high street credit card. So reducing your debt on it is the priority.
Once you’ve cleared the costliest debt, shift your spare cash to the next highest APR, and so on. This way you’ll pay less interest and more of your money will be clearing the actual debt.
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