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Is a Credit Card Balance Transfer a Good Idea or Not Worth It?

8 min read

Last Updated: November 8, 2024

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

A credit card balance transfer can help you save money on interest and pay down debt.
Consolidating credit card balances can lower your monthly payment.
When considering a balance transfer, factor in the cost of fees and other details in the APR offer.

Credit card debt can be a nuisance to your wallet and your credit score, especially if the interest on the card is high. If you’re weighing your options for paying down your credit card debt, you may have considered a balance transfer to a lower-interest credit card. But whether a credit card balance transfer is the right decision for you depends on many factors, from your existing credit card balance to the fee for transferring a balance, and more.

What is a credit card balance transfer?

A credit card balance transfer lets you transfer part or all of your balances from one or more credit cards to another. Credit card companies may give you a balance transfer offer, such as a low or 0% intro APR on the balances that you transfer to the card for a limited time.

Using a promotional interest rate offer may help you save money and pay off your debt faster if you transfer high-interest debt. But you’ll want to compare how much you can save to any potential fees and consider how you’ll manage your cards once the transfer is complete.

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Pros and cons of balance transfers

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of using a balance transfer before applying for a new credit card or requesting a transfer.

Pros

Here are some reasons why you might consider a balance transfer credit card offer:

Save on interest. Moving debt to a card that has a promotional low or 0% annual percentage rate (APR) offer can save you money.
Pay down debt faster. Because of your interest savings, a larger portion of your payments can go toward the principal balance if you transfer high-interest debt. As a result, you can pay down your debt faster, even if you’re making the same monthly payments.
Lower your monthly payment. If your credit card has a high APR, you may find yourself making bigger and bigger payments without much progress in repaying your balance. A low introductory APR balance transfer credit card offer may lower your monthly payments because you won’t owe as much toward interest. However, it’s usually still a good idea to pay more than the monthly minimum.

Cons

Consider the following disadvantages before you initiate a balance transfer:

There may be a fee. You may have to pay a balance transfer fee for any credit card balance transfers. The fee varies across credit card companies and offers, but it’s often around 3% or 5% of the amount you transfer, with a $5-$10 minimum.
The intro APR rate is temporary. A new balance transfer credit card’s low or 0% APR intro offer lasts only for the limited promotional period as stated in the terms. After the promotional period ends, any remaining balance will start to accrue interest at the card’s standard APR.
APR offers don’t always apply to purchases. If the promotional APR only applies to balance transfers and not new transactions, your purchases may start to accrue interest immediately.
Limits on transfer options. You generally can’t transfer balances between two cards from the same credit card provider. If you want to stick to one credit card company, a balance transfer may not be an option.

When is a balance transfer worth it?

Sometimes, a balance transfer is the right tool for managing high balances. In the following scenarios, you may want to consider credit card balance transfers.

Interest savings are more than the balance transfer fee

Many credit card issuers charge a fee for credit card balance transfers. However, depending on the specific balance transfer credit card offer, interest savings may offset fees. If you think a balance transfer might be a good choice, take the time to compare the length of promotional periods, APRs, and balance transfer fees to find the best credit card balance transfer offer for you. Keep your current balances in mind, too.

Sometimes the math might be surprising. For example, an offer with no balance transfer fee and a low interest rate might wind up saving you more money than an offer with a balance transfer fee and 0% APR.

You have too much high-interest debt

High-interest debt can be difficult to get under control – even if you make significant payments each month, your balance may continue to grow. It can be frustrating to take a look at your mobile banking app after making a payment to find that, because of interest charges, you’ve barely begun to chip away at your balance.

If your credit card’s interest rate is the primary reason you’ve struggled to pay down your existing credit card balance, a balance transfer might be the solution you need. A credit card that offers a low introductory APR might ease some of your stress and make it easier to get back on track.

You have a plan for repaying your balance

It’s important to have a plan for repaying your balance within your card’s promotional period. Otherwise, it’ll begin to accrue interest at your new card’s standard rate.

Maybe you plan to redirect a percentage of every deposit from your checking account to your credit card balance. Or perhaps you intend to stop eating at restaurants and put the money you save toward your balance instead. Make sure your plan makes sense for your budget and family finances—you likely don’t want to cut into necessities like housing costs, groceries, or even retirement planning.

You have multiple balances to transfer

Consolidating multiple credit card balances by transferring them to a single credit card can streamline your bills and save you money. Depending on the terms of your balance transfer card, you may even transfer money from an outstanding personal loan. However, you might have to make larger payments after debt consolidation if you want to pay off the balance before the end of the promotional period.

Did you know?

When you apply for a Discover^® Card that offers balance transfers, you could enjoy a low intro APR as a new cardmember.

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When are balance transfers not a good idea?

While, under the right circumstances, a balance transfer can be helpful, the following factors might mean it’s not the right time for a balance transfer.

You don't have good credit

Before you apply for a balance transfer card, it’s a good idea to check your credit report and credit scores. The best credit card balance transfer offers typically go to people with good or excellent credit scores. If your credit isn’t as strong, you may not qualify for a low enough introductory interest rate to make your balance more manageable.

You’ll be tempted to overspend

Overspending doesn’t always mean lavish shopping sprees. One or two big purchases on your old or new card may leave you deeper in debt. Closing your higher-interest account after transferring the balance may remove some temptation, but it may hurt your credit score. If opening a new credit card account doesn’t seem like the best solution, you may consider a personal loan or home equity loan to consolidate debts instead, depending on your unique circumstances.

You can't pay more than your minimum payment

You usually have to pay more than the required monthly minimum to repay a large balance within a credit card’s promotional APR period. However, you may not always have room in your budget for a higher credit card payment. If you can’t repay your balance in full before the end of your promotional period, it accrues interest at the standard rate, which may leave you back where you started.

You can repay your current balance quickly

If you can repay your debt within a few months, your interest savings on a balance transfer may not be worth the fees and the hassle. Your credit card issuer, bank, or credit union may offer a debt calculator on their online banking portal that can help you determine whether you may benefit from a balance transfer.

You’re overwhelmed by debt

A credit card balance transfer can make it easier to manage some balances. However, it’s not always the solution if your debts have grown completely out of control. If you have multiple high debts, you may be limited by the card’s balance transfer limit, which could be lower than its credit limit for purchases. And if you’re considering a new credit card, you won’t know this limit until after you apply. Plus, a balance transfer doesn’t necessarily address the circumstances that contribute to overwhelming debt. If you feel completely overwhelmed by debt, a reputable credit counselor may help you get back on track and achieve your financial goals.

Balance transfer credit card offers may not completely solve your debt problems. However, in the right circumstances, they can be helpful tools for managing high balances.

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