What is a balance transfer card?
It’s a credit card that lets you transfer existing credit card balances from other accounts.
Typically balance transfer credit cards offer an introductory 0% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) on your account for up to 12 months. This means you’re paying zero interest on your transferred balances.
A balance transfer could make your existing credit card debt much cheaper by reducing how much interest you pay.
How much money could you save?
Moving your credit card balance using a 0% balance transfer deal could save you hundreds of euros and help you pay off what you owe faster.
Exactly how much you’ll save depends on:
- How much you owe
- How quickly you pay off your balance
- The interest rate on your existing credit card
- If there are any balance transfer fees to pay
Here’s an example:
If you owed €2,000 on a credit card with an APR (Annual Percentage Rate) of 22.9% and did a 0% transfer lasting 12 months with no fee, you would save €232 in interest if you paid off your existing credit card balance in full by the end of the 0% period.
How do balance transfers work?
Once your balance transfer application is approved, you can move your outstanding credit card borrowing from one card to another.
You may have to pay a small balance transfer fee to do this, but many credit card providers in Ireland currently offer fee-free balance transfer deals. There is often a ‘transfer window’ of around 90 days.
Transferring your balance may differ between banks, but you can typically make transfers online or by phone.
You’ll need to provide information about the card debt you want to move and have enough credit available to cover the balance. The transfer of your balances should take up to 3 working days.
You’ll need to make your minimum monthly repayment on time each month and stay within your credit limit to keep your promotional rate.
Once the introductory rate ends, the standard variable rate applicable to your credit card account will apply.
How much can you balance transfer?
This will depend on the credit limit you are given on your new credit card. Most providers then allow you to transfer up to 95% of your total credit limit as a balance transfer.
How long does a balance transfer take?
This varies depending on your credit card provider, but once your request has been made it should be completed within 7 working days.
What happens after the balance transfer period ends?
At the end of your balance transfer period, you will be charged interest at your card’s standard APR on any outstanding balance.
This means you’ll start paying interest at the standard variable credit card rate if you don’t pay your balance in full and on time when due.
How many balance transfers can you make?
There is no set limit to the number of balance transfers you can do as long as the total amount you transfer is below your total credit limit.
However, you will need to meet the credit card provider’s lending criteria for each new credit card application you make. You must also pay the €30 government stamp duty charge each year on every credit card you keep open.
What is a money transfer?
Money transfers are similar to balance transfers, but instead of paying off another credit card you instead transfer funds directly to your bank account.
Money transfers can be a cost-effective alternative to using your overdraft or taking out a personal loan, but the overall cost will depend on a range of factors including:
- How much you borrow
- How long you take to pay it back
- The introductory interest rate your card offers on money transfers
- The APR of your credit card
How to choose the best balance transfer card
The best balance transfer card is the one that will save you the most money, but here are the most important factors to consider:
- Length of the introductory period: The best balance transfer credit cards offer a 0% rate for up to 12 months on your transferred balance.
- Typical APR: Consider the interest rate that kicks in at the end of the promotional period. Compare it against other credit card interest rates to ensure it’s not too steep.
- Fees and charges: Balance transfer fees are typically free or a small percentage of the transfer amount. Consider any other charges, such as account fees or cash withdrawals.
- Introductory rate for purchases: Some balance transfer cards also offer a 0% introductory rate on purchases, although its wise to avoid further shopping if you’re trying to reduce debt.
In most cases, the length of the interest-free balance transfer period is the most important factor because it’ll give you more time to pay off your borrowing. Bottom line, look for the best promotional rates with a long introductory period.
