topic Re: Nominations for Best Balance Transfer Keeper Cards in Credit Cards

Nominations for Best Balance Transfer Keeper Cards

elboullee — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 20:22:05 GMT

Like the title says, what are your nominations for the best no AF balance transfer cards that are solid keepers for long-term use.

Seems like several of the usual suspects touted for balance transfers like the WF or CITI Simplicity are more or less useless once the 0/0 intro period expires.

Looking around, the Amex BCE seems like a solid candidate. 0/0 for 15 months, 3% fee not 3.5%, $200 SUB, and then three really usefull 3x categories going forward. Is Amex likley to give decent SLs on that card to make it truly useful as a balance transfer card so you don't end up with a very high utilization if you do end up transfering a balance?

What other cards should one consider?

Thanks.

Re: Nominations for Best Balance Transfer Keeper Cards

ptatohed — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 01:21:00 GMT

How about the Double Cash or the Custom Cash? The DC has a longer 0% period (18 mo vs 15 mo) and a lower BT fee (3% vs 5%) but both are keepers after the 0% period.

Re: Nominations for Best Balance Transfer Keeper Cards

SouthJamaica — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 01:50:59 GMT

IMHO the best permanent balance transfer cards are credit union, non-rewards platinum, no-balance-transfer-fee cards.

Re: Nominations for Best Balance Transfer Keeper Cards

elboullee — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 04:05:42 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
How about the Double Cash or the Custom Cash? The DC has a longer 0% period (18 mo vs 15 mo) and a lower BT fee (3% vs 5%) but both are keepers after the 0% period.

Good nomination and a couple of really solid cards.

Speaking for myself, at this point I'd be more inclinded to get back into the Amex ecosystem than with Citi, and I have this feeling that Amex might be more likely to give me a decent SL than would Citi. I'm also thinking that within the next year, it would be nice to be able to pick up the Bonvoy Brilliant without another HP.

Re: Nominations for Best Balance Transfer Keeper Cards

FicoMike0 — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 04:51:22 GMT

I have to agree with @SouthJamaica . For large bts, no fee is worth a lot. Maybe pc after the free period. As far as amex, I got $6000 inital, auto cli to $9000, requested cli to $27000 in a year.

Re: Nominations for Best Balance Transfer Keeper Cards

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:10:11 GMT

I agree with SouthJamaica and FicoMike0 and with FicoMike0 agreeing with SouthJamaica

Agreements aside:

Big List of the Big Name and Bigish Name Rewards Cards with 0% APR BT intro period that might be worth keeping or PCing after the BT intro period.

Balance Transfer Fees of 3% or 5%

I am sure my list isn't all inclusive.

Listed alphabetically and no endorsements from me.

Only the applicant can know if they are worth keeping or PCing afterwards, or even getting in the first place.

Disclaimer: Not responsible for errors, omissions, or any thing at all really

----------------------

AAdvantage Aviator

Welcome Offer: Total of 70,000 miles.

60,000 miles with 1 purchase and paying the annual fee in the 1st 90 days.

10,000 miles by adding an authorized user and making 1 purchase on the authorized user card in the 1st 90 days.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers.

BT Fee: 5%

Card Rewards:

- 2 points - AA purchases

- 1 points - everything else

AF: $99

----------------------

Amex BCE Blue Cash Everyday

Welcome Offer: $200 statement credit with $2,000 spend in 1st 6 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 3% cashback - US supermarkets up to $6,000 spend per year

- 3% cashback - US gas stations up to $6,000 spend per year

- 3% cashback - US online retail up to $6,000 spend per year

- 1% cashback - everything else

AF: $0

----------------------

Amex BCP Blue Cash Preferred

Welcome Offer: $250 statement credit with $3,000 spend in 1st 6 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 6% cashback - U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 spend per year

- 6% cashback - select U.S. streaming subscriptions

- 3% cashback - U.S. gas stations and transit (e.g., taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more)

- 1% cashback - everything else

AF: $0 first year, then $95

----------------------

Amex Everyday Preferred

Welcome Offer: 15,000 points with $2,000 spend in 1st 6 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 3 points - supermarkets up to $6,000 spend per year

- 2 points - gas stations

- 1 points - everything else

- Plus, 50% extra points when the card is used 30 times or more within a billing cycle.

AF: $95

----------------------

Amex Everyday

Welcome Offer: 10,000 points with $2,000 spend in 1st 6 months.

Intro: 0 % APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 2 points - US supermarkets

- 1 points - everything else

- 20% extra points on all purchases when using card 20 or more times per billing period

AF: $0

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BOA Customized Cash Rewards

Welcome Offer: $200 with $1,000 spend in 1st 3 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 3% cashback - your choice of one category: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores, or home improvement/furnishings

- 2% cashback - groceries and wholesale clubs up to $2,500 spend per quarter combined with the 3% categories

- 1% cashback - everything else

AF: $0

----------------------

Capital One SavorOne

Welcome Offer: $200 with $500 spend in 1st 3 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 10% cashback - Uber and UberEats

- 8% cashback - Capital One Entertainment

- 5% cashback - hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.

- 3% cashback - dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target)

- 1% cashback - everything else

AF: $0

----------------------

Capital One VentureOne

Welcome Offer: 20,000 miles with $500 spend in 1st 3 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3% for the first 15 months then 4%.

Card Rewards:

- 5 miles - hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel

- 1.25 miles - everything else

AF: $0

----------------------

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Welcome Offer: Additional 1.5% cashback up to $20k spend in the first year (total 3 points).

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 5 points - travel purchased through Chase Travel(SM), including airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, activities and cruises

- 5 points - Lyft Rides

- 3 points - dining, including takeout and delivery

- 3 points - drugstores

- 1.5 points - everything else

AF: $0

Re: Nominations for Best Balance Transfer Keeper Cards

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:10:51 GMT

Citi Custom Cash

Welcome Offer: $200 with $1,500 spend in 1st 6 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 5%

Card Rewards:

- 5% cashback - first $500 spend per billing cycle in your top eligible category, then 1% cashback.

- Categories are: restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, live entertainment.

- 1% cashback - everything else

AF: $0

----------------------

Citi Double Cash - Use or PC to extra Custom Cash

Welcome Offer: $200 cashback with $1,500 spend in 1st 6 months

Intro: 0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 2% cashback - 1% at swipe and 1% when you pay at least the minimum due on time.

AF: $0

----------------------

Citi Rewards+ - Keep for multiplier or PC to extra Custom Cash

Welcome Offer: 20,000 points with $1,500 spend in 1st 3 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 2 points - gas and supermarkets on the first $6,000 spend per year

- 1 points - everything else

- All transactions round up to the nearest 10 points (a $1 purchase earns 10 points)

- 10% Points Back when you redeem, up to the first 100,000 points redeemed per year.

AF: $0

----------------------

Citi Diamond Preferred - PC to extra Custom Cash

Intro: 0% APR for 21 months on balance transfers from when the first balance transfer is made (within 1st 4 months of opening).

Intro: 0% APR for 12 months on purchases from date of opening.

BT Fee: 5%

Card Rewards: None

AF: $0

----------------------

Citi Simplicity - PC to extra Custom Cash

Intro: 0% APR for 21 months on balance transfers from when the first balance transfer is made (within 1st 4 months of opening).

Intro: 0% APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards: None

AF: $0

----------------------

Discover It Miles

Welcome Offer: $100 with 1 purchase in the 1st 3 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 1.5 points - Unlimited

AF: $0

----------------------

Discover It

Welcome Offer: $100 with 1 purchase in the 1st 3 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 5% cashback - rotating categories each quarter

- 1% cashback - everything else

- All cashback earned 1st year is matched

AF: $0

----------------------

Freedom Flex

Welcome Offer: $200 with $500 spend in 1st 3 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 5 points - rotating categories up to $1,500 combined purchases

- 5 points - travel purchased through Chase Travel, including airline tickets, hotels, car rentals, activities and cruises

- 3 points - dining, including takeout and delivery

- 3 points - drugstores

- 1 points - everything else

AF: $0

----------------------

JetBlue Plus

Welcome Offer: 50,000 points with $1,000 spend in 1st 90 days.

Intro: 0% APR for 12 months on balance transfers.

BT Fee: 5%

Card Rewards:

- 6 points - JetBlue purchases

- 2 points - groceries and restaurants

- 1 points - everything else

AF: $99

----------------------

JetBlue

Welcome Offer: 10,000 points with $1,000 spend in 1st 90 days.

Intro: 0% APR for 12 months on balance transfers.

BT Fee: 5%

Card Rewards:

- 3 points - JetBlue purchases

- 2 points - groceries and restaurants

- 1 points - everything else

AF: $0

----------------------

TD Double Up

Welcome Offer: $150 statement credit with $1,000 spend in 1st 90 days.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 2% cashback - Unlimited

AF: $0

----------------------

USB Altitude Go

Welcome Offer: 20,000 points with $1,000 spend in 1st 3 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 4 points - dining, takeout, food delivery

- 2 points - groceries, grocery delivery, streaming services, gas

- 1 points - everything else

AF: $0

----------------------

USB Cash+

Welcome Offer: $200 with $1,000 spend in 1st 90 days.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 5% cashback - first $2,000 spend per quarter in two categories you choose quarterly. Categories: fast food, TV, internet and streaming, cell phone providers, home utilities, departments stores, electronics stores, sporting goods stores, movie theaters, gym/fitness centers, furniture stores, ground transportation, select clothing stores.

- 2% cashback - one category you choose quarterly. Categories: grocery stores and delivery, restaurants, gas stations, EV charging stations.

- 1% cashback - everything else

AF: $0

Re: Nominations for Best Balance Transfer Keeper Cards

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:11:22 GMT

Wells Fargo Active Cash

Welcome Offer: $200 with $500 spend in 1st 3 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.

BT Fee: 3%

Card Rewards:

- 2% cashback - Unlimited

AF: $0

----------------------

Wyndham Earner Plus

Welcome Offer: 100,000 points with $2,000 spend in 1st 6 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers.

BT Fee: 5%

Card Rewards:

- 6 points - Wyndham hotels

- 6 points - gas

- 4 points - dining and groceries

- 1 points - everything else

AF: $75

----------------------

Wyndham Earner

Welcome Offer: 75,000 points with $2,000 spend in 1st 6 months.

Intro: 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers.

BT Fee: 5%

Card Rewards:

- 5 points - Wyndham hotels

- 5 points - gas

- 2 points - dining and groceries

- 1 points - everything else

AF: $0

Re: Nominations for Best Balance Transfer Keeper Cards

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 22:58:39 GMT

TL;DR

AAdvantage Aviator

Bonus: 60k+10k = 70,000 Miles

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT

BT Fee: 5%

AF: $99

----------------------

Amex BCE Blue Cash Everyday

Bonus: $200

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Amex BCP Blue Cash Preferred

Bonus: $250

Intro: 0% APR 12 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0 first year, then $95

----------------------

Amex Everyday

Bonus: 10,000 points

Intro: 0 % APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Amex Everyday Preferred

Bonus: 15,000 points

Intro: 0% APR 12 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $95

----------------------

BOA Customized Cash Rewards

Bonus: $200

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Capital One SavorOne

Bonus: $200

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Capital One VentureOne

Bonus: 20,000 miles

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Chase Freedom Flex

Bonus: $200

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Bonus: Additional 1.5% CB 1st year

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Citi Custom Cash

Bonus: $200

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 5%

AF: $0

----------------------

Citi Double Cash

Use or PC to extra Custom Cash

Bonus: $200

Intro: 0% APR 18 months BT

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Citi Rewards+

Keep for multiplier/Use or PC to extra Custom Cash

Bonus: 20,000 points

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Citi Diamond Preferred

PC to extra Custom Cash

Bonus: Is Intro

Intro: 0% APR 21 months BT

Intro: 0% APR 12 months Purchases

BT Fee: 5%

AF: $0

----------------------

Citi Simplicity

PC to extra Custom Cash

Bonus: Is Intro

Intro: 0% APR 21 months BT

Intro: 0% APR 12 months Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Discover It Miles

Bonus: $100

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Discover It

Bonus: $100

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

JetBlue

Bonus: 10,000 points

Intro: 0% APR 12 months BT

BT Fee: 5%

AF: $0

----------------------

JetBlue Plus

Bonus: 50,000 points

Intro: 0% APR 12 months BT

BT Fee: 5%

AF: $99

----------------------

TD Double Up

Bonus: $150

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

USB Altitude Go

Bonus: 20,000 points

Intro: 0% APR 12 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

USB Cash+

Bonus: $200

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Wells Fargo Active Cash

Bonus: $200

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT and Purchases

BT Fee: 3%

AF: $0

----------------------

Wyndham Earner Plus

Bonus: 100,000 points

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT

BT Fee: 5%

AF: $75

----------------------

Wyndham Earner

Bonus: 75,000 points

Intro: 0% APR 15 months BT

BT Fee: 5%

AF: $0