Best Balance Transfer Cards With High Limits [2024]

You can’t control the credit limit you receive if you’re approved for a credit card. Credit card issuers determine your credit limit by checking multiple factors, such as your income and credit history.

But if you meet the requirements lenders look for, it’s possible to receive a high credit limit on many different cards. We recommend applying for cards with excellent intro APR offers on qualifying balance transfers, including the Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited^®.

Let’s explore how credit limits work so you can find the best balance transfer card for you.

Key takeaways

• You typically can’t know the exact credit limit you will receive if you’re approved for a credit card. But if you have enough income and meet other requirements, card issuers are more likely to give you higher limits on certain cards.
• We think the Wells Fargo Reflect is an excellent balance transfer card because of its long intro APR periods.
• The Chase Freedom Unlimited and Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card are Visa Signature cards, which often have higher credit limits than traditional Visa cards.

4 of the best balance transfer cards that may offer high limits

• Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card
• Chase Freedom Unlimited^®
• Citi Double Cash^® Card
• Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Compare the best balance transfer cards with high limits

Card name	Balance transfer offer	Recommended credit	Annual 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 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable)	Excellent, Good	$0
Chase Freedom Unlimited® 4.7 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 15 months on balance transfers (then 20.49% - 29.24% Variable)	Excellent, Good	$0
Citi Double Cash® Card 4.8 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 on balance transfers (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable))	Excellent, Good, Fair	$0
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit 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 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable)	Excellent	$0

Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card

The Wells Fargo Reflect has some of the longest intro APR offers available.

Why we like it: It has a $0 annual fee and cell phone protection, as well as exceptional intro APR offers.

If approved, you can expect a minimum credit limit of $1,000 with no published maximum amount. Reports show that some cardholders have received credit limits of $10,000 to $20,000 or more.

What we don’t like: You don’t earn any rewards for making purchases with the Wells Fargo Reflect.

Intro APRs

Intro APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable).

Intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases (then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable).

Read our full Wells Fargo Reflect Card review for more details.

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a balanced card that earns rewards and provides intro APR offers.

Why we like it: It has a $0 annual fee and provides 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

New cardmembers can also earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).

According to reports, the Freedom Unlimited credit limit typically starts around $500, but can go as high as $20,000 or more.

What we don’t like: This isn’t the best card for international travel as you have to pay a foreign transaction fee (3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars) on applicable purchases.

Intro APRs

Intro APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 20.49% - 29.24% Variable).

Intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 20.49% - 29.24% Variable).

Read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited review for more details.

Citi Double Cash^® Card

The Citi Double Cash makes sense as a simple rewards card with an excellent intro APR offer.

Why we like it: It has a $0 annual fee and provides 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; 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).

As a new cardholder, you can earn $200 in 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.

According to reports, the Citi Double Cash credit limits typically start around $500 but can reach $25,000 or more.

What we don’t like: You have to pay a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad or from foreign merchants.

Intro APRs

Intro APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)).

Read our full Citi Double Cash review for more details.

Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards makes sense if you want customized earning potential with multiple intro APR offers.

Why we like it: It has a $0 annual fee, provides 3% cash back in the category of your choice and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and 1% on all other purchases.

The 3% categories you can choose from include:

• Gas and EV charging stations
• Online shopping
• Dining
• Travel
• Drugstores
• Home improvement and furnishings

As a new cardmember, you can earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

According to reports, the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards typically has a starting credit limit of around $500, but that could go up to $20,000 or more.

What we don’t like: The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards bonus categories have quarterly spending caps.

Intro APRs

Intro APR on balance transfers: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable).

Intro APR on purchases: 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable).

Read our full Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards review for more details.

How are credit limits determined?

Your credit limit is determined by various elements after you’ve applied for a credit card. In general, most credit card companies will consider some (or all) of these factors.

• Credit history: Lenders want to see your payment history and whether you carry a balance, among other things.
• Credit score: A higher credit score could qualify you for a higher credit limit. This is typically a reflection of your credit card usage found in your credit report.
• Income: The higher your income, the more likely you are to receive a higher credit limit.
• Debt: Your debt-to-income ratio (your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income) is an easy way for lenders to see if you can manage additional credit card debt. If your budget allows, you might qualify for a higher credit limit.
• Limits on other cards: Lenders are less likely to offer you a lot of credit if you already have a lot of available credit from other credit cards.

In addition to these factors, you might receive varying credit limits depending on the credit card issuer and the type of card you apply for. For example, premium travel cards with high annual fees often have higher minimum credit limits. A specific instance is the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® requiring a minimum $10,000 credit limit, which is common for Visa Infinite cards.

What to do if your credit limit is too low

You might be approved for a credit card, but the credit limit isn’t high enough for the balance transfer you’re planning. In this scenario, consider these options.

• Talk to your card issuer: It doesn’t hurt to call your credit card company and see if they can increase your credit limit. Keep in mind that manual credit limit increases could impact your credit score.
• Wait for an automatic credit line increase: Some card issuers review your credit card usage and payment history to see if you qualify for an automatic credit line increase. If you always pay your bill on time and often use your credit card, you might receive an automatic increase.
• Consider applying for a new credit card: It isn’t recommended to continuously apply for new credit cards as it could affect your credit score. But it’s possible that you might receive a higher credit limit if you’re approved for a different card, especially from a different lender.
• Ask to move credit from another card: Depending on the card issuer, you might be able to transfer some of your existing credit from one card to another.
• Do a partial transfer: It’s not an ideal solution, but you could transfer part of your existing debt to your new balance transfer card. This might not be worth it if your new card has a low credit limit.
• Look for an alternative: If a balance transfer card isn’t working out, consider other options, such as personal loans or debt consolidation companies. Personal loans can’t usually match 0% intro APR offers on balance transfer credit cards, but they could still make sense for lowering your overall interest rate and organizing your debt.
• Develop your own payment strategy: This can take a lot of motivation, but it’s always possible to create your own budgeting strategy. The best budgeting apps can help you stay on track with your preferred budgeting style.

How to choose the best balance transfer credit card

Credit requirements

It’s common to be required to have a good credit score — at least a 670 FICO score — to qualify for most balance transfer cards. If you have above a 670 FICO score and can meet other criteria, such as a good payment history and a low debt-to-income ratio, you have a better chance of being approved for a balance transfer credit card.

Intro APR offer

If you compare credit cards, most balance transfer cards provide 0% intro APR periods of at least 12 months. That means you have 12 months of no interest on a transferred balance.

Keep in mind that some cards offer longer intro APR periods, even up to 18 or 21 months. If you want more time to pay off your balance without having to worry about interest, consider cards with longer intro APR periods.

Potential credit limit

You can’t determine your credit limit ahead of time as it depends on the card issuer and its guidelines or requirements. However, certain types of cards tend to have higher credit limits. For example, if a higher credit limit is your main concern, it could make sense to apply for a Visa Signature card over a Visa Traditional card.

Fees

There are two primary fees to consider with a balance transfer card.

• Annual fee: How much you have to pay each year for card membership
• Balance transfer fee: How much you have to pay to transfer a balance

Fortunately, most balance transfer cards don’t have annual fees. Balance transfer fees typically range from 3% to 5% of the balance being transferred. For example, a 5% fee on a $5,000 balance transfer would cost $250. It’s rare to find a balance transfer card that doesn’t charge a balance transfer fee.

Rewards and benefits

While likely not the most important factor in choosing a balance transfer card, having rewards and benefits can be a nice bonus.

That could include earning cash back, points, or miles when you make eligible purchases. For benefits, you might consider things like cell phone protection, purchase protection, and travel insurance coverage.

FAQ

Best best balance transfer cards with high limits: bottom line

Whether or not you qualify for a balance transfer card with a high credit limit depends on various factors, including your income, the type of card you’re applying for, and the credit card company.

If you meet the criteria card issuers look for, we think cards like the Wells Fargo Reflect and Chase Freedom Unlimited could make sense because they have excellent intro APR offers.

For more balance transfer recommendations, check out our list of the best balance transfer cards.

Methodology

To determine the best balance transfer cards with high limits, we researched and compared different cards that have introductory APR offers on balance transfers.

We evaluated each card using various factors, including annual fees, recommended credit scores, card type (Visa Traditional, Visa Signature, etc.), rewards rates, and welcome offers. We acknowledge that each person and situation is unique, which is why we included a variety of different cards.

Note that our recommendations aren’t listed in any particular order and the list doesn’t include all available options. We see our list as a useful starting point for someone looking for a balance transfer card that could have a high limit.

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 on qualifying balance transfers and purchases for 21 months from account opening, then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR
• Cell phone protection
• $0 annual fee

Drawbacks

• No rewards for spending

Card Details

• Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific 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. 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% 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.