In This Article
- Quick Comparison
- Citi Simplicity — Longest 0% APR Period
- Wells Fargo Reflect — Best for Extended 0% Period
- BankAmericard — Longest 0% Intro on Purchases Too
- Discover it Balance Transfer — Best for Cash Back + Transfer
- U.S. Bank Visa Platinum — Low-Key Reliable Pick
- Chase Slate Edge — Best for Credit Score Tracking
- How Balance Transfers Work
- How to Choose the Right Card
- 5 Mistakes to Avoid
If you're carrying credit card debt at 20%+ APR, every month that passes costs you real money. On a $5,000 balance at 22% interest, you're losing roughly $90 a month to interest alone — money that could be going toward actually paying down what you owe.
A balance transfer card fixes this by moving your existing debt to a new card with a 0% introductory APR — typically for 15 to 21 months. During that window, every dollar you pay goes directly toward reducing your balance. No interest. No surprises.
The catch? There's usually a balance transfer fee (3–5% of the amount transferred), and you need to pay off the balance before the promotional period ends, or the regular APR kicks in. But even with the fee, most people save hundreds to thousands of dollars compared to leaving debt on a high-interest card.
Quick Comparison
| Card | 0% APR Period | Transfer Fee | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Simplicity | 21 months | 3% or $5 min | $0 |
| Wells Fargo Reflect | 21 months | 5% or $5 min | $0 |
| BankAmericard | 21 billing cycles | 3% or $10 min | $0 |
| Discover it Balance Transfer | 15 months | 3% | $0 |
| U.S. Bank Visa Platinum | 20 billing cycles | 3% or $5 min | $0 |
| Chase Slate Edge | 18 months | 3% or $5 min | $0 |
1. Citi Simplicity — Longest 0% APR Period
The Citi Simplicity has held the crown for the longest 0% intro APR period for years, and it's still the one to beat. Twenty-one months of zero interest gives you nearly two full years to chip away at your balance without a single penny going to interest charges.
What makes the Simplicity card even more forgiving: there's no late fee. Ever. If you miss a payment (please don't), you won't get hit with a $40 penalty. You also won't face a penalty APR, which is a rate increase that some issuers apply when you pay late. Citi Simplicity keeps things simple, just like the name says.
The trade-off is clear: this card has no rewards program. No cash back, no points, no sign-up bonus. It's purely a debt payoff tool — and for that purpose, it's the best in class.
- 21 months at 0% APR — longest available
- No late fees, no penalty APR
- Low 3% transfer fee
- No annual fee
- No rewards or cash back
- No sign-up bonus
- Requires good to excellent credit
2. Wells Fargo Reflect — Best for Extended 0% Period
The Wells Fargo Reflect matches Citi Simplicity's 21-month intro period with a twist: the base offer is 21 months of 0% APR on both balance transfers and purchases. If you make all your minimum payments on time during that period, Wells Fargo rewards your good behavior with the full 21 months.
Like the Citi Simplicity, this is a pure debt-payoff card with no rewards program. But it applies the 0% rate to purchases too, which is helpful if you need a short-term interest-free window on new spending as well. Just be careful not to add new debt while you're trying to pay off old debt — that defeats the purpose.
The higher transfer fee (5% vs. Citi's 3%) is a notable drawback. On a $5,000 transfer, that's $250 vs. $150 — so run the numbers for your specific situation.
- 21 months at 0% APR
- 0% applies to purchases too
- No annual fee
- Cell phone protection included
- 5% transfer fee — higher than most
- No rewards
- Higher ongoing APR after intro period
3. BankAmericard — Longest 0% on Purchases Too
Bank of America's no-frills balance transfer card offers 21 billing cycles of 0% APR on both balance transfers and purchases. The key advantage over competitors: the ongoing APR after the intro period is lower than most — starting at just 16.49%. If you don't pay off the full balance in time, you'll face less pain than with Citi or Wells Fargo.
The 3% transfer fee keeps costs reasonable. If you're a Bank of America checking customer, you may also qualify for relationship benefits and a potentially smoother approval process.
There's no rewards program, but Bank of America's mobile app and account management tools are solid. For a straightforward balance transfer with a lower back-end APR, this is a smart pick.
- 21 billing cycles at 0% APR
- Lower ongoing APR (starting at 16.49%)
- 3% transfer fee
- 0% on purchases too
- No rewards or sign-up bonus
- $10 minimum transfer fee
- Requires good credit
4. Discover it Balance Transfer — Best for Cash Back + Transfer
Most balance transfer cards make you choose: 0% APR or rewards. The Discover it Balance Transfer says "why not both?" You get 15 months of 0% APR on transfers plus Discover's full rewards program — 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories and 1% on everything else.
Even better, Discover's Cashback Match doubles every dollar of cash back you earn in your first year. So while you're paying off transferred debt interest-free, you're also earning double rewards on daily spending. It's the best two-for-one deal in the balance transfer space.
The 0% period is shorter than the 21-month options above (15 months vs. 21), so this card works best for smaller balances you can realistically pay off in about a year. But the combination of transfer savings plus cash back makes it uniquely valuable.
- 0% APR plus real cash back rewards
- Cashback Match doubles rewards in year one
- 3% transfer fee
- No annual fee
- Shorter 0% period (15 months)
- Rotating categories require activation
- Discover accepted at fewer merchants
5. U.S. Bank Visa Platinum — Low-Key Reliable Pick
The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum doesn't get the same buzz as Citi or Wells Fargo, but it quietly delivers one of the longest 0% APR periods available — 20 billing cycles on both balance transfers and purchases. That's just one billing cycle shorter than the leaders.
The 3% transfer fee is competitive, and U.S. Bank includes cell phone protection (up to $600 per claim when you pay your phone bill with the card). It's a nice perk for a no-annual-fee card focused on balance transfers.
No rewards, no flashy bonus — just a long 0% window and a reliable issuer. If you already bank with U.S. Bank, the convenience of managing your balance transfer within the same institution is a real plus.
- 20 billing cycles at 0% APR
- 3% transfer fee
- Cell phone protection included
- Convenient for existing U.S. Bank customers
- No rewards program
- Less widely known brand
- May prefer existing U.S. Bank relationship
6. Chase Slate Edge — Best for Credit Score Tracking
Chase Slate Edge is designed for people who want to pay off debt and build better credit habits at the same time. You get 18 months of 0% APR on balance transfers with a 3% fee — shorter than the 21-month leaders, but still a solid runway.
Where Slate Edge stands apart is credit-building features. Chase offers automatic credit limit increase reviews after your first six months, which can improve your credit utilization ratio. You also get free access to your FICO score and credit health insights directly in the Chase app.
After 12 months of on-time payments, Chase may offer to lower your ongoing APR by up to 2%. It's a small gesture, but it signals that this card rewards good behavior — exactly the kind of thing that helps beginners build confidence alongside their credit score.
- Automatic credit limit review at 6 months
- APR decrease possible after 12 months
- Free FICO score and credit insights
- 3% transfer fee
- Only 18 months at 0% (shorter than top picks)
- No rewards
- Higher ongoing APR than some competitors
How Balance Transfers Work
If you've never done a balance transfer before, the process is straightforward:
Step 1: Apply for a balance transfer card. You'll need good credit (typically a FICO score of 670+) for the best offers. Check your score first so you know where you stand.
Step 2: Request the transfer. Once approved, tell the new card issuer which existing card(s) you want to transfer balances from. You'll provide the account numbers and amounts. Most issuers let you do this during the application or shortly after.
Step 3: Wait for processing. The transfer typically takes 5–14 days. Keep making payments on your old card until the transfer is confirmed — you don't want to accidentally miss a payment.
Step 4: Pay it off before the 0% period ends. Divide your total balance by the number of months in your 0% window. That's your target monthly payment. Set up autopay for at least this amount so you're debt-free by the time regular interest kicks in.
How to Choose the Right Balance Transfer Card
All six cards above are strong options, but the best one for you depends on your specific situation:
Choose Citi Simplicity if you need the longest possible 0% window and want the lowest transfer fee. It's the most straightforward debt-elimination tool available.
Choose Wells Fargo Reflect if you want 21 months at 0% and also need 0% on new purchases during the intro period.
Choose BankAmericard if you're worried about the ongoing APR after the intro period. Its 16.49% starting rate is significantly lower than competitors if you can't pay off everything in time.
Choose Discover it Balance Transfer if you have a smaller balance you can pay off in 15 months and want to earn cash back rewards at the same time.
Choose U.S. Bank Visa Platinum if you already bank with U.S. Bank and want a long 0% period (20 months) with a competitive transfer fee.
Choose Chase Slate Edge if you're focused on improving your credit score while paying off debt. The automatic credit limit reviews and APR reduction opportunity are unique perks.
5 Mistakes to Avoid With Balance Transfers
1. Only making minimum payments
The 0% APR window is a gift, not a permanent solution. If you only make minimum payments, you'll still have a large balance when the regular APR hits — and then you're right back where you started. Divide your balance by the number of 0% months and pay at least that amount each month.
2. Adding new spending to the card
Some balance transfer cards charge regular APR on new purchases while giving you 0% only on the transferred balance. Even cards that offer 0% on both can tempt you into spending more. The point of a balance transfer is to eliminate debt, not create more of it.
3. Missing the transfer deadline
Most cards require you to complete the balance transfer within 60–120 days of opening the account to qualify for the 0% rate. After that window, transfers happen at the regular APR. Transfer your balance as soon as your card arrives.
4. Ignoring the transfer fee in your math
A 3–5% fee is usually worth it, but do the math for your specific situation. If you're transferring a small balance you could pay off in two or three months anyway, the fee might exceed the interest you'd save. The sweet spot is balances you'll need 6+ months to pay off at high interest rates.
5. Closing your old card
After transferring a balance, your old card will have a $0 balance. Resist the urge to close it. The available credit on that card improves your overall utilization ratio, and the account age helps your credit score. Tuck it in a drawer — but don't use it to spend again.
Related Guides
Balance transfers work best as part of a bigger debt strategy. Here are some guides that work hand-in-hand with your new 0% card: