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Can You Pay a Credit Card with Another Credit Card?

4 min read

Last Updated: December 3, 2024

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Key Takeaways

You may be able to pay your credit card bill with a cash advance from another card, though fees and high interest often apply.
You can use a balance transfer to pay the balance on one credit card by moving it to another, which may include a fee.
Some credit cards offer new cardmembers low introductory interest rates on balance transfers.

If you’re short on cash but need to pay your credit card bill, you may wonder if you can pay your credit card with another credit card. While the short answer is yes, is it a good idea? It depends on a few factors, including the payment method.

There are two ways to pay a credit card with a credit card: a cash advance and a balance transfer. There are pros and cons of each method and alternatives to using one credit card to pay another.

How can you pay credit card A with credit card B?

A cash advance or balance transfer may help you cover a portion of your balance (like your minimum payment) or pay your credit card balance in full. Each has benefits and drawbacks.

Cash advance

When you need cash to pay your credit card bill, you may be able to take a cash advance from another credit card. While it might help you avoid a missed credit card payment and late fee, a cash advance can be pricey.

You can expect three things with a cash advance:

A higher interest rate than you pay for purchases
A cash advance fee (typically a percentage of the withdrawal amount)
Possible ATM fees

Your credit card company will start charging interest on a cash advance on the day the money is withdrawn from your account (and you may lose the grace period on interest for purchases). This means your new purchases will not get a grace period if you don’t pay your new balance in full and on time each month.

Balance transfer

Balance transfer cards allow you to move debt from one credit card account to another. And if both credit cards have a balance, consolidating two credit card balances into one can simplify repayment. Your credit card issuer may even offer a balance transfer card with a low interest rate. Balance transfer cards are a popular form of debt consolidation for this reason.

Did you know?

Moving a high-interest credit card balance to a card with a lower interest rate can reduce your interest payments and help you pay your debt off quicker. Some credit card companies, including Discover, may even offer low promotional interest rates for a limited time on a balance transfer offer.

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However, you may pay a one-time balance transfer fee as a percentage of the amount you transfer. And if you can’t pay the transferred balance before the end of the promotional period, you’ll start accruing interest at your standard interest rate.

Should you pay a credit card with a credit card?

The decision to pay credit with credit depends on your unique financial situation. If you’re struggling with overspending or regularly paying your monthly credit card bill, neither a cash advance nor a balance transfer may be the solution. If possible, it may simply be safer to make your minimum payment with your debit card if you have the funds available in your bank account.

Taking on high-interest debt by withdrawing cash from one card to make the monthly payment for another is risky if you can’t pay it back immediately—this payment method may be best for emergencies. Regularly withdrawing cash from another card could increase your credit utilization ratio and hurt your credit report and credit score. Plus, repaying balances across multiple credit cards could quickly become difficult to manage, especially with interest charges.

While consolidating credit card debt with a balance transfer can help you responsibly manage repayment (especially when you pay your balance before any promotional interest expires), you’ll have to decide if the potential fee is worth it.

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Alternatives to paying a credit card with another credit card

Instead of making a credit card payment with another credit card, it may be better to develop a financial plan that helps you save cash for unplanned expenses.

One idea is to open a savings account if you don’t already have one. This can give you access to cash money instead of using your card if an emergency comes up.

Another opportunity is to align your credit card spending to fit your budget. Non-profit credit counseling can help you with debt management and other money matters.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, it’s important to assess your financial situation to help you understand exactly why you’re in debt before taking out a loan. One solution is to review your spending habits to determine if you’re spending more than you’re earning. If so, you can try using online banking or a mobile banking app to set spending alerts, auto bill pay, or a personal spending limit across multiple credit cards. And if paying your monthly credit card bill becomes difficult or even impossible, you could explore credit card debt relief.

Overall, thinking twice before using one credit card to pay down another is important. While it may seem like a convenient solution, there are drawbacks to consider and options to weigh.

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