Balance transfer credit cards let you transfer your existing credit card balance to a new credit card with a low or 0% introductory interest rate. These cards can save you money on interest costs and fees, and help you to pay off debt faster. See how much you could save by transferring to a top 0% balance transfer deal using the comparison table below. Start comparing now!
0% p.a. on purchases and 0% p.a. on balance transfers for up to 20 months from account opening (Reverts to 11.99% p.a). A balance transfer fee of 2% applies to the balance transferred. Low annual fee of $45.
0% p.a. on purchases and 0% p.a. on balance transfers for up to 20 months from account opening (Reverts to 11.99% p.a). A balance transfer fee of 2% applies to the balance transferred. Low annual fee of $45.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Low Rate Credit Card
0% p.a. for 32 months on balance transfers requested at card application. 0% balance transfer fee applies. Rate then switches to applicable variable cash advance rate. No annual fee for the first year, $55 thereafter. New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
0% p.a. for 32 months on balance transfers requested at card application. 0% balance transfer fee applies. Rate then switches to applicable variable cash advance rate. No annual fee for the first year, $55 thereafter. New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Vertigo - Balance Transfer Offer
0% p.a. for 32 months on balance transfers requested at card application. 0% balance transfer fee applies. Rate then switches to applicable variable cash advance rate. No annual fee for the first year, $55 thereafter. New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
0% p.a. for 32 months on balance transfers requested at card application. 0% balance transfer fee applies. Rate then switches to applicable variable cash advance rate. No annual fee for the first year, $55 thereafter. New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Vertigo - Balance Transfer Offer
0% p.a. on balance transfers for 36 months with no balance transfer fee. Terms and Conditions apply. Mozo Experts Choice Premium Rewards and Balance Transfer Platinum Credit Card Winner 2020.
0% p.a. on balance transfers for 36 months with no balance transfer fee. Terms and Conditions apply. Mozo Experts Choice Premium Rewards and Balance Transfer Platinum Credit Card Winner 2020.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Platinum Credit Card
0% balance transfer rate for 25 months and up to 55 interest free days. No annual fee for the first year and $49 after. Mozo Experts Choice Balance Transfer Credit Card Winner 2021^
0% balance transfer rate for 25 months and up to 55 interest free days. No annual fee for the first year and $49 after. Mozo Experts Choice Balance Transfer Credit Card Winner 2021^
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Low Rate Credit Card
0% p.a. for 32 months on balance transfers requested at card application. 0% balance transfer fee applies. Rate then switches to applicable variable cash advance rate. No annual fee for the first year, $55 thereafter. New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
0% p.a. for 32 months on balance transfers requested at card application. 0% balance transfer fee applies. Rate then switches to applicable variable cash advance rate. No annual fee for the first year, $55 thereafter. New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Vertigo - Balance Transfer Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus Qantas Points (min $3,000 spend in the first 3 months). New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
Earn 60,000 bonus Qantas Points (min $3,000 spend in the first 3 months). New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Amplify Qantas Platinum
130,000 bonus Amplify Points (min $3,000 spend within 90 days. 0% p.a. for 24 months on balance transfers requested at card application (1% BT fee). New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
130,000 bonus Amplify Points (min $3,000 spend within 90 days. 0% p.a. for 24 months on balance transfers requested at card application (1% BT fee). New cards only, Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Amplify Rewards Platinum
Enjoy a super low rate of 13.74% with 55 days interest free plus up to $400 cashback - $100 cashback for each month you spend $1,000 or more on eligible purchases in the first 4 months from card approval. New Cards only. T&C's and exclusions apply.
Enjoy a super low rate of 13.74% with 55 days interest free plus up to $400 cashback - $100 cashback for each month you spend $1,000 or more on eligible purchases in the first 4 months from card approval. New Cards only. T&C's and exclusions apply.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Low Rate - Cashback Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus Qantas Points - when you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within 90 days of card approval (T&Cs apply)
Earn 90,000 bonus Qantas Points - when you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within 90 days of card approval (T&Cs apply)
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Amplify Qantas Signature
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Credit cards Awards
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It’s May and if you’re in the market for a balance transfer credit card in 2022, here’s what you need to know:
Citi Australia spending data shows that the increased cost of living has impacted Aussie card spending. Impacted by inflation and globally volatility, from February 2022 petrol was a top spending category for Australians. “We expect this to continue into the coming quarter as the war in Ukraine continues, and global inflation rises,” Citi Australia’s head of cards and Loans, Choong-Yu Lum said.
With the announcement of the federal budget, a coming federal election, looming interest rate changes, and global instability and inflation, card spend will likely remain in flux for the remainder of 2022.
If you’re feeling the hit of inflation and are looking to take control of your debts, a balance transfer credit card could be a good fit.
Longest Balance Transfer offers:
HSBC Platinum Credit Card - 36 months (no BT fee)
Citi Clear Credit Card - 36 months (no BT fee)
Humm90 - 36 months (no BT fee)
Coles Low Rate Mastercard - 36 months (no BT fee)
See our editor's picks for April: Best credit cards
Written by: Ava Crawford, Money writer, 1 May 2022.
A balance transfer is when you take the debt that you've built up on your credit card, and move it to a new credit card at a much lower interest rate, often even 0%.
Without a hefty interest-rate hanging over your head you can repay that debt faster, because payments are going towards wiping the balance away, instead of keeping up with interest charges.
A balance transfer can be a great tool to help you clear credit card debt once and for all, but before you get started there are two things to bear in mind.
Firstly, until you've paid off the balance transfer, it's best that you don't use the new card for new purchases. This is because most cards won't give you any interest free period on new things that you buy, until that balance has gone.
Balance transfer rates are always limited time offers. You should always have a plan for how you are going to pay off the debt within the low interest period.
Now you know what a balance transfer card actually is, let’s take a look at how it works. It’s important to know the ins and outs of balance transfers before you sign up, so that you give yourself the best chance of actually clearing your debt.
You can usually transfer a balance of around 80% of the new card’s credit limit, but sometimes it’s 70% or even as much as 100%. Let’s break that down.
Say you apply for a balance transfer deal that allows you to transfer up to 80% of your credit limit. If you’ve got a balance of $4,000 to clear, you’d need to be approved for a credit limit of at least $5,000 to put it all on the one balance transfer.
This can get tricky if you’re transferring multiple debts, so be sure to crunch the numbers carefully. Keep in mind there might also be minimum transfer limits with some balance transfer cards, so you may not be eligible if you’ve only got a small balance to clear.
A balance transfer can help you save money by putting a stop to mounting interest. Wondering how much you could save? Check out this scenario:
Say you have $10,000 owing on your current credit card with a 20% interest rate and you make monthly repayments of $600. To pay this off, it will take you 1 year and 8 months and you will pay $1,814 in interest. Whereas if you move that debt across to a 0% balance transfer card, you will pay no interest at all and on top of that you will also repay your debt three months earlier. Think of all you could do with nearly $2,000!
Savings crunched using our debt repayments calculator.
But, and there is a but, if you use the balance transfer card unwisely by spending on the card or fail to repay the debt within the balance transfer period you could end up paying high revert rates and fees, and find yourself back where you started.
Also remember, there may be fees attached to your new balance transfer card, so consider these in your budget.
Generally speaking, whenever you’re using a balance transfer deal, you don’t get interest free days on your regular spending. Once you’ve paid off your debt and you’re back down to a zero balance, you will again be eligible for the card's standard interest free days on new purchases which will usually be between 44 - 55 days depending on the card.
The good news is that doesn't leave you any worse off than before - if you carry any balance on your credit card you usually won’t be eligible for interest free days until you’ve paid the balance back in full anyway.
To avoid the traps of a balance transfer credit card, and make the most of your time off from paying interest, check out these basic rules of BT cards.
Rule 1# Always create a repayment plan
Unlike a debt consolidation loan where the provider tells you how much you need to repay each month to pay off your loan within the given timeframe, with a balance transfer card all you're required to pay is the minimum monthly payment amount, which is usually 2-3% of the balance.
But the minimum repayment isn't going to clear your debt within the interest free period. So make sure you use a debt payments calculator to work out how much you'll need to repay each month to totally clear your debt before the balance transfer period comes to an end.
Rule 2# Compare balance transfer deals before you start
Before you apply for a new balance transfer offer, make sure you take a look around to be sure you’ve found the right fit for your needs. There’s more information on choosing the right balance transfer deal in the next section.
You can easily compare balance transfer cards using Mozo’s unique Switch & Save Calculator which will help you find the cards that will save you the most in interest and fees. We’ll compare your existing card, balance owing and repayments with hundreds of other cards in the market. Like all of our comparison tools, it's free, so why not see how much you can save by switching now?
Rule 4# Don't use it like a regular credit card
Spending on your new card will only get you deeper in the red, because the low balance transfer interest rate doesn't apply to new purchases. Instead those new gadgets will be charged the card's much higher purchase rate, and you won't get the benefit of any interest free days on new purchases until you have paid off your outstanding debt in full.
Another thing to be mindful of is payments have to be made towards the highest accruing debt, which is usually the purchase rate. So if you spend $300 on the card and you've worked out you can afford to repay $500 a month, $300 will go towards paying off the new purchases first and only $200 will go towards paying off the original debt.
Rule #5 Steer clear of cash advances
Steering clear of the ATM or taking cash out over the counter with your credit card is a good rule of thumb at any time, but it’s especially important now. That 0% interest rate also doesn't apply for ATM cash withdrawals, instead you will be charged the much higher cash advance rate, soaring close to the 22% mark in some cases. And you guessed it, there are no interest free days.
Rule #6 Choose the right balance transfer for you and stick with it
Did you know applying for too many balance transfers could affect your credit rating, especially if you are rejected by multiple banks or card providers? That's why it's important to get a free copy of your credit rating prior to applying for the new card, to check if there are any mistakes that could affect your chances of being approved for the card.
And once you do get a balance transfer credit card, do your best to pay out the debt within the 0% balance transfer period. Continually moving your debt from one balance transfer card to another, may hurt your credit rating and your likelihood of being approved for other banking products like car loans, personal loans and home loans later on.
Rule #7 Don’t repeat old mistakes and stay debt free
Lastly, don't revert back to your old spending habits, instead only spend within your means by creating an airtight budget. And if you decide to keep on using the credit card, be sure to pay the balance in full each month to avoid the bite of interest and late payment fees.
With so many things to consider, finding the right balance transfer card for you can seem overwhelming. So to help you make sure you’re not forgetting anything crucial, here are the five key questions you should ask when comparing balance transfer deals and choosing a card.
There’s a fine art to choosing the right balance transfer deal for your needs. You need to find a card that offers an interest free period long enough to allow you to comfortably pay off your debt.
For example, if you have a $5,000 balance and choose a card with 0% interest for 12 months, you’ll need to pay at least $417 each month to clear your balance before the interest free period is over.
Applying for a balance transfer credit card is just like applying for any other credit card, but at some point during the application process, you’ll need to choose the balance transfer option, and put down what balance you’d like to transfer over.
Getting started is really easy - if you’ve found the right balance transfer deal for you here at Mozo, just click the blue Go to Site button to go to the credit card providers website. Once there, you can find some more information or start an application.
Let's look at transferring your debt in a little more detail. Here are the main steps you'll follow when transferring credit card debt using a balance transfer deal.
To be eligible for one of these debt blasting offers, you’ll need to tick a few boxes, including:
Sometimes there is a balance transfer fee that you’ll need to pay when taking up one of these deals. It’s a one off handling fee payable upfront, which is usually a percentage (between 1 - 3%) of the amount you’re transferring. For instance, if there was a 1% fee and you transferred $5,000, you would be charged a fee of $50.
This fee is usually linked to cards that have longer balance transfer terms (18 - 24 months). So you’ll need to weigh up the cost of the fee against the benefit of having more time to pay back the debt at little or no interest.
The good news is, if you’re reading this you’ve already taken the first step to getting rid of your bad debt. Here are a few other tactics to help you stay debt free.
If you’ve tried all that and you’re still struggling to pay off your balance, make repayments and stay debt free, it might be time to look at other options. Some steps you can take include:
Otherwise take a look at what we've decided to be the best credit cards.
A balance transfer can both help or hurt your credit score, it all depends on how you use the card. The following things might have a negative impact on your credit rating:
applying for a number of balance transfer credit cards at once
not making minimum repayments each month
not paying down your debt in full before the 0% promotional period is up
keeping your old credit card account open without using it
transferring the same debt from one balance transfer card to another.
However, if you pay down your debt and make all your minimum repayments on time on your balance transfer card, it may actually improve your credit rating as you are lessening the debt you have and becoming a less risky borrower.
Yes, as long as you have credit card debt you can apply for a balance transfer credit card at any time. As mentioned, remember to select the ‘balance transfer’ option when applying for your desired card and indicate how much you intend to transfer over.
There is no limit to the amount of times you do a balance transfer across multiple credit cards.
The truth is, balance transfers can be a good way to pay off what you owe. So taking advantage of multiple offers may be a smart way to avoid paying interest while you clear debt. Keep in mind that there are also disadvantages to making multiple transfers, if you don’t approach it properly. Things like applying for multiple cards at once, being rejected for a card or missing repayments can negatively impact your credit rating. Ultimately it means you may be rejected by a credit card provider if you are constantly moving your debt around without paying it down.
Plus, there are also additional costs that come with making multiple balance transfers, such as the card’s annual fee, balance transfer fee, interest on new purchases etc.
This depends on what type of debt you have. On the one hand, if you are just wanting to clear credit card debt, then you are more likely suited to a balance transfer. This way, you might end up paying no interest on your debt as you pay it back over 6 to 36 months, according to the Mozo database.
Alternatively, if you have multiple personal debts, it may be a better idea to take out a debt consolidation loan. This way all your debt repayments are rolled into one and you can save yourself in interest by choosing a low rate option. It’s important to remember though, while these loans have longer term options than a balance transfer, they are not interest free.
It’s up to you. There is no requirement that you close your credit card once the balance transfer offer is over. In fact, it could have a positive impact on your credit score if you continued making purchases on the card - once you have cleared your debt. Bear in mind though, it will only be beneficial if you use the credit card responsibly and pay off your balance, or at least the minimum repayment each month. Don’t use the card if you feel you will spiral into unmanageable debt and be back where you started.
Also consider any fees and the revert rate that is attached to the card, as they may not fit within your budget. In this case, you may want to make the switch to a low interest rate credit card or no annual fee option.
I find ANZ a very middle ground bank. They have been good to me, although I felt like when I was hacked, I needed to prove that I was not in 3 states at once. ANZ is basic, and I have heard many people say they need to jump through hoops to achieve anything with them.
Read full reviewI find ANZ a very middle ground bank. They have been good to me, although I felt like when I was hacked, I needed to prove that I was not in 3 states at once. ANZ is basic, and I have heard many people say they need to jump through hoops to achieve anything with them.
The discovery card makes it really easy to earn Qantas points for my everyday expenses. No fee makes it even better
Read full reviewThe discovery card makes it really easy to earn Qantas points for my everyday expenses. No fee makes it even better
Trustworthy bank. Very happy with their customer service.
Read full reviewTrustworthy bank. Very happy with their customer service.
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