Balance Transfer Basics ; What is a balance transfer fee? ; How to manage debt with a balance transfer card ; How long does a balance transfer take? ; What is the limit for a balance transfer card? ; Everything you need to know about balance transfer checks
Key takeaways ; Zero percent APR cards generally offer promotional periods between 12 and 21 months, during which no interest is charged on your qualifying balance. Many consumers use 0 percent APR cards to save on interest, pay off debt more quickly or catch up on their savings. Zero percent APR cards are typically only available to consumers with good or excellent credit, but all users need to be cautious about running up balances they can't pay off before the promotional period expires.
Key takeaways ; A 0% APR credit card can be a great financial tool, but there are debt traps to be aware of when using one. ; Always make the minimum payments on your credit card to avoid consequences like late fees, damaged credit and penalty APRs. ; Pay attention to when the intro period ends and have a plan to pay your balance off before the end of the promotional period.
The Fed cut rates. Why are credit card APRs still so high? ; What is a purchase APR? ; You owe interest on a 0% APR credit card. How did that happen?
You can transfer debt from multiple credit cards to a balance transfer card, as long as it fits within your credit limit. If you don't get the credit limit you need, you can ask your issuer...
Key takeaways ; A balance transfer credit card with an introductory 0 percent APR can help you pay off existing debt. Decide whether it’s worthwhile to transfer the debt considering that balance transfer offers typically carry a fee, and the regular APR can be considerably higher if you don’t pay off your debt within the introductory window. Compare different card offers to determine which might work best for you, keeping in mind that — even if balance transfer cards offer introductory zer...
Key takeaways ; A 0 percent intro annual percentage rate (APR) card can help you consolidate and pay down debt faster – without interest payments – if you’re disciplined in how you use it. ; These cards typically come with a balance transfer fee, and you risk losing the 0 percent intro APR if you’re late with a payment. ; If you can’t pay off what you transfer before the intro period ends, you’ll pay much higher interest on the remaining balance.
In fact, there are plenty of things to know about zero interest... 0 percent APR credit card with the intention of paying down debt, look for balance transfer cards with long intro periods...
Written by Garrett Yarbrough ; Edited by Courtney Mihocik ; Reviewed by Jason Steele
What the limit on balance transfers is · What the balance transfer fee is · What the APR on balance transfers is · How long any introductory APR windows are · What the APR will be when that window closes