Balance Transfer Credit Cards, Best
Cards for Balance Transfer & Top Balance Transfer Card Offers
Balance
transfer credit cards are designed to help people
consolidate their credit card debt onto one card, thus saving
money on interest charges
Balance transfer credit cards have become very popular
in recent years. The idea is simple enough. You just transfer
the balance of a high interest credit to a low or no interest
credit card. But there are several factors you need to consider
before you do this.
First, how is your credit rating? If your credit is poor or shaky,
you probably won’t qualify for a low enough interest rate
to make the transfer feasible. Assuming the new company will even
accept you for a balance transfer credit card. However,
if your credit is good, you could save thousands of dollars in
interest charges and allow you to pay off large debts fairly quickly
making the same monthly payment as before. If you can qualify
for a 0% interest introductory rate balance transfer credit
card, that’s will save you even more money since the
entire payment would go to reducing the principal.
Second, you need to determine how much you will be allowed to
transfer. You want to be sure that you transfer as much as possible
from your highest interest credit card to the balance
transfer credit card as the new company will allow. Even
if this is only part of the balance, it can save you a considerable
amount of money over time.
Third, you need to determine what additional fees are involved
in the transfer. Unless otherwise stated, there are almost always
transfer fees involved…usually in the neighborhood of 3%
of the amount transferred up to whatever the bank has stated as
the maximum fee. The maximum fee depends on the bank but usually
is around $100. Although most banks do limit the maximum transfer
fee so people won’t be discouraged from transferring large
balances to a balance transfer credit card, not all banks
limit the maximum fee. Be certain you check to be sure.
These balance transfer credit cards can make it possible
for you to become debt free if you use them to your fullest advantage
by paying as much as you can during the 0% or low introductory
period.
|