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8 Best No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Cards in May 2024

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Do you feel like high interest charges are making it impossible to put a dent in your credit card balance each month, even though you pay at least the minimum amount due? If you’re struggling to pay down your credit card debt, a balance transfer card that offers an interest-free period for a year or longer can bring some relief.

These cards waive the 3% to 5% fee that most cards charge for a balance transfer. This can save you hundreds of dollars, depending on the size of your transfer. Each of the cards below offers a $0 balance transfer fee, a $0 annual fee and an intro APR for nine months or longer.

Find your perfect card in 30 seconds. Check your approval odds so you can shop smarter.

8 best balance transfer credit cards with no fee in January 2024

Card	Annual fee	Balance transfer intro APR	Ongoing APR	Membership requirements
First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard®	$0	N/A	13.50 to 18.00% APR based on your credit worthiness	Work or live in Lane County, Oregon; work for select partner companies or be a member of the Financial Fitness Association or Computer History Museum
Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card	$0	0.99% introductory APR for 12 months for balance transfers requested within 60 days of account opening	11.24% to 18.00% (variable)	Personal or family ties to the armed forces, DoD or National Guard
Wings Visa Platinum Credit Card	$0	N/A	13.40% to 18.00% (variable)	People who live in eligible locations in six states, aviation professionals or through current Wings ties
Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard Credit Card	$0	0% introductory APR for the first 12 billing cycles for balances transferred within 60 days from account opening	20.24%–29.99%	People who are Edward Jones customers
ESL Rewards Visa Signature^® Credit Card	$0	0% for 12 months	16.50% to 17.99% variable	People living in specific New York counties
PFFCU Contactless Rewards Visa	$0	0% for 9 months	14.4% to 18.00% variable	People who work as police, firefighters or select employee groups and also residents of specific DE, PA, NJ counties
BECU Visa Credit Card	$0	0% Intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers	13.24% to 25.24% variable	Residents of WA state, select counties in OR and ID, employees of BECU, Boeing and members of partner associations
Mastercard^® Rewards Points Credit Card	$0	2.99% to to 4.99% for 12 months	16.40% to 18.00% variable	Anyone can become a member by opening a $5 savings account

Other good cards with a 0% APR balance transfer

Although the following cards do have a balance transfer fee, they are worth considering. They are issued by national banks (rather than credit unions), making them easier to qualify for. They offer relatively long intro offers, which means you can save a lot on interest — especially if you have a large balance to transfer. Finally, many of them offer rewards programs, making them valuable long after your balance transfer is paid off.

Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card

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on Citibank's secure site
Discover it^® Balance Transfer

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Citi Simplicity^® Card

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on Citibank's secure site
U.S. Bank Visa^® Platinum Card

Learn More

on U.S. Bank's secure site
Bank of America^® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

Apply Now

on Bank Of America's secure site
Citi Double Cash^® Card
Rates & Fees

Apply Now

on Citibank's secure site
Rates & Fees

Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card*

LendingTree's Review

3.3

Citi<sup>®</sup> Diamond Preferred<sup>®</sup> Card

LendingTree's Review

3.3

Learn More

on Citibank's secure site

Intro APR of 0% intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers, then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)

Very long intro APR for balance transfers
$0 annual fee
Long balance transfer window

Balance transfer fee
No rewards program
Mediocre cardholder benefits

If you need an extremely long time to pay off your transferred balance, you should consider the Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card. It offers one of the longest interest-free periods currently available for a balance transfer. You’ll get an intro APR of 0% intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers, then a 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable).

You’ll also get an intro APR of 0% intro APR for 12 months on Purchases. After that, a 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable) APR applies.

0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Get free access to your FICO^® Score online.
With Citi Entertainment^®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
No Annual Fee - our low intro rates and all the benefits don’t come with a yearly charge

*The information related to the Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

Discover it^® Balance Transfer*

LendingTree's Review

4.9

Discover it<sup>®</sup> Balance Transfer

LendingTree's Review

4.9

Learn More

0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers, then 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

$0 annual fee
Cash back in popular spending areas
Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases

Balance transfer fee
Must activate quarterly bonus categories
Cap on quarterly bonus earnings

The Discover it^® Balance Transfer card gives you a 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers during which you can pay down your debt without accumulating interest along the way. After, a 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR applies. The card also has a rewards program that offers elevated rewards in popular categories that rotate quarterly.

INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
Your account may not always be eligible for balance transfers. Balance transfer eligibility is determined at Discover’s discretion.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
No annual fee.
Terms and conditions apply.

*The information related to the Discover it^® Balance Transfer has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

Citi Simplicity^® Card*

LendingTree's Review

4.8

LendingTree's Review

4.8

Learn More

on Citibank's secure site

Intro APR of 0% intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers, then 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)

$0 annual fee
No late fees or penalty APR
Intro APR on purchases
Long transfer window

Balance transfer fee
No rewards program
Foreign transaction fees

The Citi Simplicity^® Card also offers an exceptionally long intro APR of 0% intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers, followed by a 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable) APR. It doesn’t assess late fees or a penalty APR if you pay your bill late. This can be a huge relief if you accidentally miss your bill due date (though we recommend always paying your bill on time).

The card also offers an intro APR of 0% intro APR for 12 months on Purchases, then an APR of 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable). However, it doesn’t come with a rewards program.

No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Stay protected with Citi^® Quick Lock

*The information related to the Citi Simplicity^® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

U.S. Bank Visa^® Platinum Card*

LendingTree's Review

4.2

U.S. Bank Visa<sup>®</sup> Platinum Card

LendingTree's Review

4.2

Learn More

on U.S. Bank's secure site

0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on Balance Transfers, then 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable)

Lengthy intro APR period on balance transfers
$0 annual fee
Long intro APR on purchases

Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fees
No rewards program

In addition to offering an intro APR on balance transfers and purchases, the U.S. Bank Visa^® Platinum Card gives you the freedom to choose your own payment due date. On top of its balance transfer APR, it also features an equally long intro offer on new purchases. You’ll get a 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on Purchases, then 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable).

0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR currently 18.74% - 29.74%.
Get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your U.S.Bank Visa® Platinum Credit Card. Certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.
Choose a payment due date that fits your schedule
No Annual Fee
Terms and conditions apply.

*The information related to the U.S. Bank Visa^® Platinum Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

Bank of America^® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

LendingTree's Review

4.6

Bank of America<sup>®</sup> Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

LendingTree's Review

4.6

Apply Now

on Bank Of America's secure site

0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on balance transfers. A balance transfer fee applies: 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%

Sign-up bonus
Long intro APR on balance transfers
Long intro APR on purchases
$0 annual fee
Unlimited cash back

Balance transfer fee
Short period for balance transfers

The Bank of America^® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card offers a solid sign-up bonus and cash back rewards. It offers a generous intro offer on balance transfers and purchases. Once the 0% intro APR for balance transfers is over, you’ll have an 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on balance transfers.

With the card’s sign-up bonus, you can $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. The unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. makes this a card worth keeping even after you pay off your balance transfer.

$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 1.87%-2.62% cash back on every purchase with Preferred Rewards.
No annual fee.
No limit to the amount of cash back you can earn and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Citi Double Cash^® Card

LendingTree's Review

4.8

LendingTree's Review

4.8

Apply Now

on Citibank's secure site

Rates & Fees

Intro APR of 0% intro APR for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

$0 annual fee
Intro APR on balance transfers
Cash back on every purchase

Balance transfer fee
No intro APR on purchases
Foreign transaction fee

You’ll have a hard time finding a better cash back balance transfer card than the Citi Double Cash^® Card. In addition to its long intro APR on balance transfers, it earns a high rate of cash back. You Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.

However, while it comes with a $0 annual fee, it does not offer a 0% intro APR on purchases.

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou^® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

Is a credit card with no balance transfer fee right for you?

To help you determine which type of balance transfer credit card is right for you, consider where your situation falls according to the statements below:

A no balance transfer fee credit card is a better option if:

You can qualify for membership with the card’s credit union
The card offers an intro APR that’s long enough for you to pay off your debt
You don’t care about credit card rewards or additional card benefits

A credit card with a balance transfer fee is a better option if:

You need a card that offers a longer intro APR term
You want the rewards and benefits that the card offers
You don’t meet the membership qualifications for any card with no balance transfer fee

What is a balance transfer credit card?

If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed about the amount of credit card debt you’re currently carrying, a balance transfer card can help bring some relief. Balance transfer credit cards offer 0% introductory APR periods on balance transfers ranging from six to 21 months. This means they allow every penny of your monthly payments to go toward the balance during the promotional interest-free period instead of the balance plus interest charges.

Plus, as an added bonus, a few of these cards don’t charge balance transfer fees (typically 3% to 5% of the amount of each transfer). For context, if you transfer a balance of $15,000, this could save you upwards of $750.

There are a few things to look out for when it comes to choosing a balance transfer credit card. In addition to selecting a card with no or a low balance transfer fee, you’ll also want to try to pay off the total amount of the transfer within the promotional period. Any balance remaining after the promotional period ends will be subject to the card’s ongoing APR.

What is a balance transfer fee?

Most balance transfer credit cards charge a fee each time you transfer a balance to the card — this is known as the balance transfer fee. Balance transfer fees are typically 3% or 5% of the amount of each transfer (with a minimum fee of either $5 or $10).

When you transfer an existing balance to a card that charges a balance transfer fee, the fee will be added to the card balance at the time of the transfer. So instead of paying the balance transfer fee in full up front, you can pay it off over time as you pay down your transferred balance.

The balance transfer fee will reduce the amount you’re allowed to transfer.

For example, let’s say you’re approved to transfer $5,000 to a card with a 3% balance transfer fee. The balance transfer fee of $150 ($5,000 x 3% = $150) will lower the amount you’re initially able to transfer to $4,850 ($5,000 – $150 = $4,850).

With that in mind, make sure the amount you’re eligible to transfer to your new card is high enough to cover your existing credit card debt as well as the balance transfer fee.

Benefits of a no balance transfer fee credit card

The main benefit of a no balance transfer fee credit card is that you save money by not paying a balance transfer fee. These fees generally range between 3% and 5%, which means you would save between $180 and $300 on a $6,000 balance.

A card with no balance transfer fee can often save you more than transferring to a card with a longer intro period, especially considering that the APRs on these cards also tend to be lower. As you can see in the comparison table below, the no balance transfer fee card has a lower overall cost for transferring and paying down a balance compared to a card that has a longer 0% APR.

	Card A (balance transfer fee)	Card B (0% transfer fee)
Intro APR	0% for 21 months	0% for 12 months
Regular APR	22%	14%
BT fee	3%	0%
Cost to transfer $6,000 balance	$180	$0
Interest paid ($300 monthly payment)	$0	$137
Overall cost	$180	$137

How to calculate a balance transfer fee

Calculating how much a balance transfer fee will cost you is pretty straightforward. Simply multiply the amount you plan to transfer by the balance transfer fee. For example, if you want to transfer a $10,000 balance to a card that charges a 5% balance transfer fee, the fee will equal $500 ($10,000 x 5% = $500).

$10,000 balance x 5% balance transfer fee = $500

As mentioned earlier, the balance transfer fee will be subtracted from the initial amount you’re allowed to transfer — reducing that amount to $9,500 ($10,000 – $500 = $9,500).

Pros and cons of no balance transfer fee cards

Can potentially save you hundreds in balance transfer fees
Transfer a balance interest-free for an extended period of time
Consolidate credit card debt
No collateral needed
May earn rewards

Balance transfer fee
Possible high interest rate after intro APR ends
High credit limits are not guaranteed
Usually require good to excellent credit

How to qualify for a no balance transfer fee credit card from a credit union

The best no balance transfer fee credit cards are issued by credit unions, which require membership. Becoming a member can be tricky if you don’t live near a certain credit union or work or a qualifying organization, like the military or an affiliated company. However, there are workarounds that you can try, as some credit unions have alternate ways to gain membership.

Here are your best bets for becoming a credit union member:

Work for or be affiliated with a partner organization. Some credit unions only require you to have an affiliation with one of their partners which may include school districts, the Boys and Girls Club, local companies or religious organizations.
Live in a certain state or county. You may be eligible to join a credit union based on your location alone. Some credit unions go as far as to allow any other family members to join through you, or vice versa, regardless of where the new applicant lives.
Work for a member organization of the credit union. From teachers and tradespeople to farmers and people of specific faith and cultural groups there are credit unions that cater to specific groups.
Military affiliation. If you are, or were, in the military, check the credit union of your branch. You may also qualify if a relative is or was in the military.
Fulfill other membership requirements. Bethpage Federal Credit Union only requires opening a savings account with a $5 minimum deposit. First Tech Credit Union allows anyone to become a member by joining the Financial Fitness Association which is just $8 for a one-year membership. And there are hundreds of partner organizations that provide access to a membership with the Police and Fire Federal Credit Union (PFFCU).

Pro tip: Check the membership requirements for a credit union after you find one you’re interested in. This will keep you from wasting time comparing cards that are not accessible to you. The best way to find out their requirements is to look under headings that say “join” or “become a member.”

The information related to the Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card, Wings Visa Platinum Credit Card, Edward Jones Business Plus MasterCard Credit Card, ESL Rewards Visa Signature^® Credit Card, PFFCU Contactless Rewards Visa, BECU Visa Credit Card and Mastercard^® Rewards Points Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Frequently asked questions

To do a zero interest balance transfer you need a credit card that offers a long 0% APR intro offer on balance transfers. Generally you will find the longer intro offers with cards that charge a balance transfer fee. On a large balance, the savings in interest will offset the balance transfer fee.

Depending on the issuer, a balance transfer can take several weeks to process. With Chase balance transfers, for example, most transfers are processed within one week; however, they may take up to 21 days.

After you’re approved for a balance transfer credit card, you’ll need to contact the credit card company online or by phone to initiate the transfer. Be ready to provide the name of the credit card company from which you’re transferring the balance, the account number and the amount you want to transfer.

You should remain current on your existing credit card payments until you receive confirmation that your transfer has been completed. It may take up to three weeks for your balance to transfer.

To get a balance transfer credit card that offers free balance transfers, simply find a card and apply. For the best chance of being approved for a credit card, make sure you fall within a card’s recommended credit score range.

Some card issuers allow you to transfer up to the amount of your approved credit limit on the new card. Other issuers only allow you to use a portion of your credit limit for a transfer. It’s best to read the card’s terms and conditions page on the issuer website or contact the issuer directly before you apply to find out exactly what their balance transfer policy is.

Balance transfer credit cards often allow you to transfer up to the amount of your approved credit limit. That said, some credit card issuers set additional limits on balance transfers. For example, Chase only allows you to transfer up to $15,000 within a 30-day period and balance transfer fees are included in this amount.

If you apply for a new balance transfer credit card, a hard inquiry will appear on your credit report. This will lower your credit score by a few points each time it occurs and will remain on your credit report for two years (although the negative impact will lessen over time).

On the other hand, having more available credit can decrease your total credit utilization ratio, which may improve your credit score. You can also improve your credit score by making on-time payments. As the total amount of debt that you owe decreases over time, you will likely see your credit score increase.

No, you cannot transfer balances between two cards from the same issuer. For example, you cannot transfer a balance from one Citi card to another Citi card.

A balance transfer window is the amount of time you have to transfer your balance and take advantage of the promotional intro APR. Typically, issuers require you to make the transfer within the first 60 days of opening your account.

Just know that issuers may require your account to be open for a set period of time before you’re able to transfer your balance. For example, Discover requires your account to be open for 14 days before a balance transfer can be processed.

Methodology: How we chose the best balance transfer credit cards with no fee

To bring you our list of best balance transfers cards with no fee, we use an objective rating and ranking system that compares features across a large set of credit cards (over 200 of them from over 50 issuers). We use calculations to estimate the value of each card for the average cardholder, based on LendingTree and U.S. Bureau of Labor data.

Intro offer savings (90% of rating): We calculate the amount you’ll save on a balance transfer, based on the length of the introductory period. We assume a transfer amount of $6,000 and a monthly payment of $300. We subtract balance transfer fees, annual fees and the amount paid on interest for any amount left over after the introductory period expires.
Ongoing value (10% of rating): We also consider the yearly value in rewards for the average cardholder, minus the card’s annual fee. For nonrewards cards, this value will be $0, or less than $0 if the card charges an annual fee.

Charlotte Zhang

Expertise: Credit cards, personal finance, life insurance, real estate investing
Education: Martin Luther College

Charlotte Zhang is a staff writer focusing on credit cards.

Prior to becoming a personal finance writer, Charlotte Zhang spent more than 15 years as an English as a Foreign Language teacher in small-town China after receiving her education degree from Martin Luther College. She taught thousands of students across all levels; from preschoolers to C-suite executives, with middle school being her favorite age group.

She’s written personal finance content for Joy Wallet, Save, Insurify, The Penny Hoarder, Money Under 30, RBC Wealth, Next Advisor, Credit Sesame, The Simple Dollar, Work+Money, Capital One, Incomes Abroad and International Living. Additionally she’s ghostwritten content for real estate investing and insurance blogs.

When she’s not scanning receipts to earn cash back rewards or giving personal finance tips to friends, she enjoys knitting woolen socks (not a frugal hobby), cooking (a great way to save) and hanging out with her husband and two kids.

The above offers and/or promotions may have since changed, expired, or is no longer available. Check the Issuers’ website for more details.

On this page

8 Best No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Cards in May 2024

8 best balance transfer credit cards with no fee in January 2024