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In general, there aren't many options for balance transfer cards if you have a fair credit score.
Most balance transfer credit cards that provide 0% intro APR offers require a good or excellent credit score to qualify. However, there are a few cards available with less strict credit qualifications that also provide balance transfer offers. And fortunately, the available options are quite good.
Let's explore the best balance transfer cards for fair credit to see which one is best for you.
Compare balance transfer cards for fair credit
| Card name | Recommended credit | Balance transfer period | Annual fee |
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Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Card
3.3
|
Excellent, Good, Fair | 0.99% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers (then 10.99% to 18.00% (variable)) | $0 |
Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Card
- $0 annual fee
- No balance transfer fees
- No foreign transaction fees
- Must be a member of Navy Federal Credit Union
- Doesn't earn rewards
The Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum makes sense if you're currently a Navy Federal Credit Union member or eligible to join and want a low intro APR offer.
Why we like it: The Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum provides 0.99% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers (then 10.99% to 18.00% (variable)).
That's not as good as a 0% intro APR offer, but it's close. And if you consider this card doesn't charge a balance transfer fee (almost all balance transfer cards charge 3% to 5% balance transfer fees), this could be a better offer in some situations.
Note that if you like to travel abroad, the Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
What we don't like: You have to be a member of Navy Federal Credit Union to qualify for this card. Active duty, retired, and veterans of all branches of the armed forces are eligible for membership, as are their family members, including grandchildren. Department of Defense civilians are eligible to join as well.
Also, you don't earn any rewards for making eligible purchases.
How to choose the best balance transfer card for fair credit
Credit requirements
If you have a fair credit score, you likely won't qualify for cards that require a FICO score of 670 or higher. Rather than trying to apply for those cards and potentially impacting your credit score with hard inquiries, only consider cards that are known to have less strict credit requirements.
Intro APR offers
The best balance transfer offers tend to provide 0% intro APR for at least a 12-month period. However, it's possible to find intro APR periods that last up to 15, 18, or even 21 months. Keep in mind that the longer the intro APR period, the longer you have to avoid interest charges and pay off your transferred balance.
Annual fees
Most balance transfer cards don't charge an annual fee, so you shouldn't have to worry about this factor too much. But it's always a good idea to check credit card annual fees whenever you compare credit cards. If a card has an annual fee, you need to weigh the benefits of the card versus the cost to see if the fee would be worth paying for you.
Earning potential
A secondary benefit of many balance transfer credit cards is that they also earn points, miles, or cash back. Having any sort of rewards rate could be a long-term benefit for you well after you've taken advantage of a balance transfer offer.
Perks and benefits
While the intro APR offer is the primary benefit on balance transfer cards, it's worth looking into other built-in perks and benefits you might receive as a cardholder. For example, if two cards are generally similar but one provides purchase protection or travel insurance, it might make sense to apply for the card with more benefits.
How to boost your credit
Follow these steps to improve your credit score over time.
- Make on-time payments: Paying your bills on time and not making late payments is a huge factor in determining your credit score. If you often forget payment dates, use automated alerts or set up automatic payments.
- Use multiple credit products: Having a good mix of open credit, such as both credit cards and loans, can help boost your credit score.
- Check your credit report: It's possible to have errors on your credit report, which could negatively impact your credit score. Make sure to frequently check your credit report for errors. If you find errors, dispute them with the applicable credit companies and bureaus.
- Keep low balances: It's best to have a low credit utilization, which is how much credit you're using of your available credit. That means not carrying high balances.
- Increase your credit limit: Having more available credit can make it easier to have a better credit utilization ratio. Some card issuers allow you to request credit limit increases without affecting your credit score.
- Keep old accounts active: Your average credit history is a factor used to determine your credit score. That means it's beneficial to keep old credit cards active even if you don't use them much.
- Space out your new credit accounts: New credit inquiries could have a small impact on your credit score, and too many inquiries in a short period of time might look risky to a lender. Even applying for a new balance transfer card could affect your credit score by a small amount.
Balance transfer card alternatives
Doing a balance transfer might not make sense if you don't qualify for a balance transfer credit card, don't have much debt, or you don't think it will help you pay off debt. In these cases, consider other alternatives.
- Personal loan: A personal loan might make sense if you have a substantial amount of debt that a balance transfer card wouldn't be able to cover. For example, if you want to do a balance transfer for $10,000, but your balance transfer card only has a $5,000 limit, you would need to consider other options.
- Credit counseling: A credit counseling company or agency could help you create a debt management or debt payoff plan if you're not sure how to do it yourself or you've become overwhelmed with trying to get out of debt.
- Budgeting: You can create your own budget plan and pay off your credit card debt a little at a time. This requires a lot of self-motivation and persistence. If you want some extra help and direction, consider using a budgeting app.
FAQ
Can I do a balance transfer with fair credit?
Yes, it's possible to do a balance transfer with fair credit if you qualify for a card with an intro APR offer on balance transfers. Some cards that offer this are available to people with fair or average credit, unlike many of the best balance transfer cards that require good credit or better to qualify. However, whether you're approved for a card depends on your overall creditworthiness, and card issuers will take more than just your credit score into account.
What credit score do I need for a balance transfer card?
The best balance transfer credit cards typically require a good or excellent credit score to qualify, along with other factors. However, there are a few balance transfer cards with less strict credit requirements, including those on this list.
What could be the easiest balance transfer card to get approved for?
The easiest balance transfer card for you to get approved for depends on your unique credit profile, and the easiest card for one person to get might not be the easiest card for another. Credit card issuers often check multiple factors, not just your credit score, to determine your creditworthiness. Other factors could include your total income, debt, and payment history.
Can I get balance transfer card with bad credit?
You likely won't be approved for a balance transfer card if you have a bad credit score. In general, balance transfer cards require at least a 670 or higher FICO score. In some cases, depending on the card, you might qualify with a fair credit score in the 580 to 669 range.
Balance transfer cards for fair credit: bottom line
The best balance transfer cards often have intro APR periods of at least 12 months, with longer periods reaching up to 18 or more months.
You won't typically qualify for many balance transfer cards with a fair credit score, but it's possible to get approved for some. If these cards aren't the right fit for you, check out the best credit cards for fair credit.
Methodology
The companies we chose for our balance transfer cards for fair credit list may be current or past FinanceBuzz partners. We did not review all companies in the market. When evaluating these companies, we considered factors such as balance transfer period, credit score needed, and overall benefits.
2025 award winner
Best 0% Intro APR Credit Card
Benefits Card Details Intro Offer
Benefit from a long introductory APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Annual Fee $0 Why we like it
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