What is the APR for balance transfers?
Christopher Harper
Updated on March 29, 2026
A balance transfer APR is the interest rate an issuer charges on debts moved to a credit card from another loan or credit card. Many balance transfer offers include an introductory 0% APR that lasts for a specified number of months, usually 6 to 21 months.
What does 0 APR on balance transfers mean?
A 0% introductory purchase APR means you won’t be charged interest on your purchases for a certain period of time as determined by your credit card company. A 0% introductory APR offer on balance transfers means you’re not charged interest on a balance you transfer from another credit card.
Is balance transfer a good option?
But in general, a balance transfer is the most valuable choice if you need months to pay off high-interest debt and have good enough credit to qualify for a card with a 0% introductory APR on balance transfers. Such a card could save you plenty on interest, giving you an edge when paying off your balances.
Is a 9.9 APR good?
A good APR for a credit card is anything below 14% — if you have good credit. If you have excellent credit, you could qualify for an even better rate, like 10%. If you have bad credit, though, the best credit card APR available to you could be above 20%.
What is the best credit card for transferring balance?
The best balance transfer credit card is the Chase Slate® card because it has an intro APR of 0% for 15 months on balance transfers and purchases, plus a balance transfer fee that’s $0 for the first 60 days.
What is the best way to transfer a credit card balance?
Request a balance transfer Typically,the first step of doing a balance transfer is getting in touch with the issuer of the card to which you’re moving debt and
Can you earn Reward points on a balance transfer?
Many of the best balance transfer cards also offer rewards, and while you won’t earn rewards on your transferred balance, you can still earn cash back, points, or miles , for every qualifying purchase you make with your card.
Are credit card balance transfers worth it?
When it comes to credit card debt, balance transfers are worth it if one measure is met: If the balance being transferred has an annual percentage rate (APR) that is lower than its current APR.