5 Balance Transfer Credit Cards With Long 0% APR Intro Periods

Balance transfers can be a big help in managing credit card debt. You can transfer your high-interest debt from one credit card to a new card with a 0% intro APR.

And while you likely won't find a 36-month balance transfer offer, the longest balance transfer credit cards typically give you up to 21 full months to repay your debts without accruing interest. The next longest 0% intro APR period is 18 months.

We've analyzed a range of cards from top issuers to identify the best balance transfer credit cards with generous intro periods. The Citi Simplicity^® Card stood out in our research for its long intro APR period on balance transfers and for being one of very few credit cards without a late fee. It also has a lower balance transfer fee for the first four months.

Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card(Rates and fees) is another one of our favorites because it offers a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (then 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable) and also packs in long-term perks like cell phone insurance. It's the one we'd recommend if you're looking for a long intro purchase APR, too.

Besides these two options, we've found excellent cards with long balance transfer periods from Citi, U.S. Bank, and Bank of America.

Longest balance transfer credit cards

Best 0% intro APR for 21 months
Card name	Intro APR on balance transfers	Balance transfer fee
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card 4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, then 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable	5%, min: $5
Citi Simplicity® Card 4.5 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	0% intro APR for 21 months from date of account opening, then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable); Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening	3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card 4.4 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	0% intro APR for 21 months from date of account opening, then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable); Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening	5% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum)

Best 0% intro APR for 18 months
Card name	Intro APR on balance transfers	Balance transfer fee
Citi Double Cash® Card 5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	0% intro APR for 18 months, then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)	3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends
BankAmericard® credit card 4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any qualifying balance transfers made in the first 60 days, then 15.24% - 25.24% Variable	3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%

Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card

The Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card comes with a $0 annual fee, plus additional cell phone protection and roadside dispatch benefits. These make it a valuable card to keep in your wallet even after you've paid off your balance transfer, and it comes with zero liability protection that adds additional peace of mind.

You never know when you'll drop your phone or have your engine blow up on the highway. Plus, the zero liability protection adds additional peace of mind if your card is stolen while you're on a trip.

I also think that offering a full 21 months from account opening of 0% intro APR on purchases (then 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable) and 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers of a 0% intro APR (then 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable) is a huge deal. Some cards (primarily Citi ones) give you either a long balance transfer or purchase intro period, but not both. If you have a lot of high-interest debt you need to transfer but also plan on spending big in the next few months, this card is for you.

There is a standard balance transfer fee — 5%, min: $5, which can quickly add up if you have a hefty transfer, but this is no different than most other cards on this list.

Apply now for the Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card or for more information, read our full Wells Fargo Reflect Card review.

Citi Simplicity^® Card

At a whopping 21 months from date of account opening, the Citi Simplicity^® Card has a very long 0% introductory APR on balance transfers (then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)). You also have four months to actually make your transfer after account opening to take advantage of this extended period, which is more time than many other card issuers will give you (around 60 to 90 days is standard). Plus, you can't beat having a $0 annual fee.

There are even no late fees or penalty rates if you don't make a payment on time. Hopefully, that's not something you plan on doing, but life happens, so it's good to know you won't be penalized for it. This might be the card for you if you have a history of missing payments.

This one also has a low intro balance transfer fee — 3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends. For example, if you make a $5,000 balance transfer with the 3% fee, you'll save $100 compared to the 5% fee.

All these benefits aside, there are two key downsides: You don't earn any rewards with this card, and there's a 3% foreign transaction fee — but all the cards on this list have a similar fee.

For more details, check out our Citi Simplicity Card review.

Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card

The Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card is similar to the Citi Simplicity in that it has a lengthy balance transfer 0% intro APR period of 21 months from date of account opening (then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable)). It's also similar in that you need to make your transfer within four months of opening your account. However, it has an edge over its cousin for offering a slightly lower regular APR on balance transfers whether you qualify for the minimum or maximum rate. If you're worried you might need longer than 21 months from date of account opening to pay off your balance, every bit of interest savings counts.

Another feature that sets this card apart is its access to Citi Entertainment, which includes tickets, VIP packages, and events, along with access to Citi Concierge service. Plus, you can enjoy protection against unauthorized credit card charges and special access to events and concerts through Citi Entertainment. It's rare for a card focused on balance transfers to offer lifestyle perks like this. I'd definitely recommend this card over others we've included if you would use entertainment benefits in the long term.

This card doesn't have the intro balance transfer fee offer that the Citi Simplicity does — instead, it's 5% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum).

Apply now for the Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card(Rates and fees) or check out our Citi Diamond Preferred review.

Read more: Citi Simplicity® Card vs. Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Perspectives

Allison Weston

Writer and Editor

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Allie is a writer who focuses on personal financial topics.

WHY I LIKE THIS CARD

I had an upcoming surgery that cost $8,000 out of pocket. After researching, I decided the Citi Diamond Preferred would be the best option to pay for the surgery over time. Thanks to the long introductory APR on new purchases, I was able to easily break the total into monthly autopayments over 12 months from date of account opening.

I also took advantage of the 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of account opening (then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable)), and transferred existing debt from another high-interest credit card. Ultimately, both of these benefits saved me thousands of dollars and allowed me to pay down debt much faster.

Citi Double Cash^® Card

The Citi Double Cash^® Card has a lot going for it if you're looking for a balance transfer option — including a welcome offer that allows you to 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.

Of course, this might be a con if you're tempted to spend more money than you normally would just to earn the bonus. But if the welcome offer qualifications line up with your typical spending, then it's a huge pro, as you can use this money to pay down your debt. Note that balance transfers do not count as spending for the welcome offer, so this is on top of your debt.

The Citi Double Cash also lets you earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.

It's unusual to find a balance transfer card that gives you cash back — especially at such a high rate. Choose this card if you plan on continuing to spend while paying off your balance.

Another cool perk of this card is the intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each balance transfer ($5 minimum) within 4 months of account opening; then 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) after the 4 month intro period ends.

Apply now for the Citi Double Cash^® Card(Rates and fees) or check out our Citi Double Cash review.

BankAmericard^® credit card

With the BankAmericard^® credit card, you can enjoy a balance transfer fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%. That's certainly a rarity in the world of balance transfer cards.

Another reason I'd recommend this card? There's no penalty APR if you're late on a payment, a perk this card shares with the Citi Simplicity^® Card. Again, you should never plan to miss a payment, but if you do, you won't be charged an arm and a leg for it.

And while this shouldn't entirely influence your decision, if you're a history or art buff, you can't beat the BankAmericard's free admission to select U.S. museums on certain dates. You can put the money you save on admission tickets toward paying down your debt. All in all, we've found this to be the best balance transfer card from Bank of America because the 0% intro APR offer is for 18 billing cycles for any qualifying balance transfers made in the first 60 days compared to 15 months.

Just keep in mind, you'll have a 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any qualifying balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 15.24% - 25.24% Variable). The 60-day period is shorter than other cards on this list but comparable to the U.S. Bank Platinum Visa card.

For more details, check out our BankAmericard review.

Cards that didn't make our list

Naturally, these aren't the only balance transfer credit cards out there with long intro APR periods. Here are a few others we considered, but ultimately didn't think were strong enough to make the cut.

TD FlexPay Credit Card

With the TD FlexPay Credit Card, you get a full 18 billing cycles of 0% intro APR on balance transfers (then 18.24%, 20.24%, 23.24%, 26.24% or 28.24% (variable)). There's also a $0 annual fee and one late fee waiver per year.

All in all, this card might be great if you have the occasional late payment. But other than that, it doesn't really stand out, especially when there are other cards offering a full 21 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers.

Apply now for the TD FlexPay Credit Card(Rates and fees) | Learn more in our TD FlexPay Credit Card review

Chase Slate Edge℠

The Chase Slate Edge℠ has a $0 annual fee and an 0% intro APR period on balance transfers for 18 months (then 18.99% to 28.99% Variable).

While this isn't a bad deal, I didn't choose this card for the list because it doesn't have much else going for it. The only other unique benefit is the chance to lower your APR by 2% each year you pay on time and spend $1,000 on the card — but this isn't helpful for someone looking to pay off a balance transfer in the next year or two.

What is a balance transfer?

With a balance transfer, you open a credit card account that offers a long introductory period at 0% intro APR. Then, you work with the issuer to use your available credit to pay off other high-interest debts you may have.

Once the existing credit card debts are paid with your new card, you make monthly payments to reduce that total amount by the time the introductory period is over. If there is still a balance, you can do the same thing all over again with a new 0% intro APR balance transfer card if you qualify for one.

What this does is buy you some time to ensure every monthly payment you make is applied to the balance of the card rather than interest. When you pay interest, as little as 1% of your monthly minimum payment could be applied to your principal balance. Depending on your interest rate, that can make it difficult to make progress on your credit card debt.

By taking high interest rates out of the equation, you can continue to make the same payments — or higher ones if you can swing it — and see a much greater and faster reduction of your debt.

Common mistakes to avoid

While using an intro APR balance transfer strategy can be very powerful for reducing debt, there are a few things to watch out for.

Making a lot of new purchases

If you read the terms and conditions that come with your balance transfer card, you may find that your monthly payments get applied first to purchases you make before being applied to the balance you're trying to pay off. This can undermine your intentions of paying off the balance before the introductory period ends.

Additionally, you don't want to keep spending on your old cards. Your goal is to lower your overall debt and use of revolving credit. If you add charges to the cards you've just cleared, you increase your credit utilization ratio and overall debt, which will reduce the positive impact you're trying to make.

Not accounting for balance transfer fees

Credit card issuers typically charge between 3% and 5% of the amount you transfer as a fee. This amount is added to the total amount you will owe and lowers the total amount you can transfer from the existing card. Most credit cards will not allow a transfer amount higher than your credit limit, and they will apply the balance transfer fee first.

For example, if your limit is $5,000 and you have a 5% balance transfer fee, you'd pay a $250 fee. That means the most you could transfer is a $4,750 balance.

Not paying off your card before the intro period ends

Be aware of how long you have to pay off your balance without accruing interest. It's easy to let the months go by without realizing you're not as far along paying off your balance as you want to be.

I recommend creating a repayment schedule so you know exactly where you should be with your goals. At the very least, add a reminder to your calendar so you know when the end of the period is approaching.

How to choose the longest balance transfer credit card

As you consider credit cards with lengthy balance transfer offers, here are the main factors we suggest keeping in mind:

• Fees: Does the card offer no annual fee? Does it have foreign transaction fees or late fees? Many balance transfer cards don't have annual fees, but foreign transaction and late fees are common. Some cards, including one on this list, don't have late fees or penalty APRs.
• Regular APR: A nice, long intro APR offer is all fine and good, but there's always a chance it isn't long enough. Because you can't be certain you'll pay off your entire balance before a promotional period expires and you start racking up interest, look for cards with regular balance transfer APRs that are lower than the APRs on the debt you're considering transferring.
• Perks: Does the card offer any perks such as cashback rewards, a higher rewards rate for certain bonus categories, or a statement credit toward travel?
• Credit needed: Do you have the FICO score to qualify? You typically need good credit, and often excellent credit, to qualify. Check your credit report to know what cards you're likely to qualify for.
• Promotional period: How long does the promotional period last? Could you realistically pay off the card balance before the introductory offer ends?

Once you choose a credit card offer, apply, and are approved, pay attention to how long you have to transfer the balance. You may need to transfer the balance within 60 days of account opening, for example. From there, you can take advantage of the lower interest rate and make progress on your credit card debt.

Alternatives to balance transfer cards

If you're tired of dealing with a variable APR, you could look into an alternative such as a personal loan or home equity loan. These options typically have a fixed interest rate, and you can consolidate debt from multiple high-interest credit cards. You can find these loans with online lenders as well as local ones such as credit unions.

If you own a home and don't mind a variable rate, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) could also be a good way to consolidate debt. Keep in mind that a home equity loan or line of credit is secured by your home, so if you stop paying, you could lose your home.

FAQs

Bottom line

Balance transfer cards offer a simple way to get out from under the weight of high-interest debt — at least for a little while. While many of these cards have similar terms, if your primary goal is avoiding interest for as long as possible, opt for a card with a 21-month intro offer on balance transfers.

But there are other factors to consider alongside the duration of the intro period. Many cards with the longest intro periods don't earn rewards, for example. If you know that you can pay your debt down in less than 21 months, you may benefit more from the earning opportunities offered by a card like the Citi Double Cash^® Card, which offers an 18-month intro period on balance transfers.

Depending on your specific situation, the best balance transfer card for you may not be the one with the longest offer.

Extra Long Intro APR on Purchases & Qualifying Balance Transfers

Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

Benefit from a long introductory APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Annual Fee

$0

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, then 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR
• Up to $600 Cell phone protection when you pay for the cell phone with your card (subject to a $25 deductible)
• $0 annual fee
• The ongoing APR may still be competitive compared to other cards

Drawbacks

• No rewards for spending
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• 5%, min: $5 balance transfer fee
• Limited list of card perks

Card Details

• Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
• $0 annual fee.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.