topic Re: Best Balance Transfer Card in Credit Cards

Best Balance Transfer Card

Colombiana79 — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:20:37 GMT

Hi All,

I'm looking for recommendations for a card I can transfer my Chase Freedom balance of $9000. Any cards that gives rewards would be awesome. I just make standard online and/or store purchases. I dont travel so travel points are not a need for me. I have a relationship with Chase already (Freedom and Prime) and also have a savings account with Navy Fed so any feedback on their cards would be good. But doesnt have to be one of theirs as well.

Any advice is appreciated! thanks

Edited 08/13/2025 - I literally opened the mail and recieved an offer from Navy Fed for their American Express. Thoughts?

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

crystal626 — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:42:28 GMT

Navy Federal Platinum. 0% for 12 months on balance transfers and no fees. I would apply for that one first because everyone else normally recommended charges BT fees. That's a savings of $270+.

EDIT: It seems the offer is .99% for 12 months right now but that's still cheaper than 3+% fees up front.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

Colombiana79 — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:44:12 GMT

@crystal626 wrote:
Navy Federal Platinum. 0% for 12 months on balance transfers and no fees. I would apply for that one first because everyone else normally recommended charges BT fees. That's a savings of $270+.

EDIT: It seems the offer is .99% for 12 months right now but that's still cheaper than 3+% fees up front.

Thanks for the recommendation. Does that card give any rewards as well?

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

Vinjints — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:44:54 GMT

If you're in with Navy, and you don't have a 2% catchall, why not go for a Cash Plus? 1.99% intro APR on transferred balance for 12 months. It's not the longest BT period, or a zero APR, but gives you a card that you can hang on to, and use the rewards afterwards. Could also get a sizeable SL. Or the platinum for 0.99 APR and then maybe PC once you've paid it off?

I guess it might depend on how long you need to pay it off, as there are longer length cards out there.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

Rebuild2019 — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:46:12 GMT

+1 on @crystal626 @suggestion. I have that card. My balance is $0.00 and yesterday they sent me an offer for a balance transfer for 0% and 12 months. Don't need it now, but always good to get an offer.

Good luck if you apply @Colombiana79

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

crystal626 — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:53:11 GMT

@Colombiana79 wrote:

@crystal626 wrote:
Navy Federal Platinum. 0% for 12 months on balance transfers and no fees. I would apply for that one first because everyone else normally recommended charges BT fees. That's a savings of $270+.

EDIT: It seems the offer is .99% for 12 months right now but that's still cheaper than 3+% fees up front.
Thanks for the recommendation. Does that card give any rewards as well?

This one doesn't but once your balance transfer is paid off you can request them to change it to a cashRewards or you can just grab it as a new card and get whatever the sign up bonus is. Navy Federal is pretty generous with credit limits. Each card can grow to $50K and you can have a max of $80K across both cards.

If you just want one card, you can get the cashRewards now. It's 1.99% for 12 months but the intro rate is only for balance transfers. If you put a balance transfer on this card you'll lose your grace period and be charged interest on purchases from the posting date after the first statement unless you pay off the entire balance, including the balance transfer. The cashRewards is 1.5% cash back on all purchases if you get approved for less than $5K, 2% if you get approved for $5K or more. There is a sign up bonus of $250 for spending $2500 but no way to avoid interest on those purchases after the first month when there's a BT.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

Colombiana79 — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:27:11 GMT

@Vinjints wrote:
If you're in with Navy, and you don't have a 2% catchall, why not go for a Cash Plus? 1.99% intro APR on transferred balance for 12 months. It's not the longest BT period, or a zero APR, but gives you a card that you can hang on to, and use the rewards afterwards. Could also get a sizeable SL. Or the platinum for 0.99 APR and then maybe PC once you've paid it off?

I guess it might depend on how long you need to pay it off, as there are longer length cards out there.

I'm not to familiar with their cards. I have a savings account and am looking to refinace my car with them soon. I did just browse over them a little while ago but didnt know you could PC with them. Thank you for the advice!

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

Colombiana79 — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:30:57 GMT

@crystal626 wrote:
@Colombiana79 wrote:

@crystal626 wrote:
Navy Federal Platinum. 0% for 12 months on balance transfers and no fees. I would apply for that one first because everyone else normally recommended charges BT fees. That's a savings of $270+.

EDIT: It seems the offer is .99% for 12 months right now but that's still cheaper than 3+% fees up front.
Thanks for the recommendation. Does that card give any rewards as well?
This one doesn't but once your balance transfer is paid off you can request them to change it to a cashRewards or you can just grab it as a new card and get whatever the sign up bonus is. Navy Federal is pretty generous with credit limits. Each card can grow to $50K and you can have a max of $80K across both cards.

If you just want one card, you can get the cashRewards now. It's 1.99% for 12 months but the intro rate is only for balance transfers. If you put a balance transfer on this card you'll lose your grace period and be charged interest on purchases from the posting date after the first statement unless you pay off the entire balance, including the balance transfer. The cashRewards is 1.5% cash back on all purchases if you get approved for less than $5K, 2% if you get approved for $5K or more. There is a sign up bonus of $250 for spending $2500 but no way to avoid interest on those purchases after the first month when there's a BT.

See I didnt know any of this. Thank you for educating me!

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

ptatohed — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 17:41:29 GMT

@Colombiana79 wrote:
Hi All,
I'm looking for recommendations for a card I can transfer my Chase Freedom balance of $9000. Any cards that gives rewards would be awesome. I just make standard online and/or store purchases. I dont travel so travel points are not a need for me. I have a relationship with Chase already (Freedom and Prime) and also have a savings account with Navy Fed so any feedback on their cards would be good. But doesnt have to be one of theirs as well.

Any advice is appreciated! thanks

With a $9,000 balance, I don't think you should be making more purchases via credit card(s). Lock them away. I would not be overly concerned with the new card having rewards or not. I'd look for the lowest rate (read 0%), lowest transfer fee (0%, 3%?), and longest time (21 months?). Stop using credit cards, get that $9k on a long 0% promo, and pay it off. Then you can look for a new reward card(s). GL.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

Colombiana79 — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 17:55:23 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
@Colombiana79 wrote:
Hi All,
I'm looking for recommendations for a card I can transfer my Chase Freedom balance of $9000. Any cards that gives rewards would be awesome. I just make standard online and/or store purchases. I dont travel so travel points are not a need for me. I have a relationship with Chase already (Freedom and Prime) and also have a savings account with Navy Fed so any feedback on their cards would be good. But doesnt have to be one of theirs as well.

Any advice is appreciated! thanks
With a $9,000 balance, I don't think you should be making more purchases via credit card(s). Lock them away. I would not be overly concerned with the new card having rewards or not. I'd look for the lowest rate (read 0%), lowest transfer fee (0%, 3%?), and longest time (21 months?). Stop using credit cards, get that $9k on a long 0% promo, and pay it off. Then you can look for a new reward card(s). GL.

Just an FYI. I have other cards that are at 0 balance. I have a fico score of 802. The reason why its at the amount was for an emergeny surgery that was not covered by insurance NOT because of irresponsibility. I chose that card bc I have a 15k limit plus 1.5% cash back. But thanks for assuming!

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

ptatohed — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 18:27:12 GMT

@Colombiana79 wrote:
@ptatohed wrote:
@Colombiana79 wrote:
Hi All,
I'm looking for recommendations for a card I can transfer my Chase Freedom balance of $9000. Any cards that gives rewards would be awesome. I just make standard online and/or store purchases. I dont travel so travel points are not a need for me. I have a relationship with Chase already (Freedom and Prime) and also have a savings account with Navy Fed so any feedback on their cards would be good. But doesnt have to be one of theirs as well.

Any advice is appreciated! thanks
With a $9,000 balance, I don't think you should be making more purchases via credit card(s). Lock them away. I would not be overly concerned with the new card having rewards or not. I'd look for the lowest rate (read 0%), lowest transfer fee (0%, 3%?), and longest time (21 months?). Stop using credit cards, get that $9k on a long 0% promo, and pay it off. Then you can look for a new reward card(s). GL.
Just an FYI. I have other cards that are at 0 balance. I have a fico score of 802. The reason why its at the amount was for an emergeny surgery that was not covered by insurance NOT because of irresponsibility. I chose that card bc I have a 15k limit plus 1.5% cash back. But thanks for assuming!

I'm not assuming anything. I'm only going by what you provided. You've told us that you have a $9,000 balance on a card that is charging you what? 18% - 28% interest? You earned 1.5% on your $9000 spend = $135. If you pay just one month of interest at even the best rate (18%), you'll pay that exact same amount ($135) in interest. Net zero. And month #2?...... You get the idea.

I'm not saying you are irresponsible, I'm just suggesting you come up with a plan to pay this $9k off as cheaply as possible.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

Kforce — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 19:50:00 GMT

The answer depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

Some want to spend as little as possible to just stretch out payments because of cash flow problems,

and have extra income or large deposits at 7-9 months to pay it off. (Smallest monthly payment)

Others want what cost the least in interest and figure they will just get another BT in a year,

and keep extending the debt. (Least loss from fee's and Interest)

If trying to pay off the debt, and wanting to only do a one time BT, it depends on what you can afford to apply monthly to the problem.

{Navy} // A one year, ~1% interest, zero fee would require: $755/mo payments to pay off in 12/mo, and cost ~$50 in interest loss.

{USBank} // A 24/mo, zero interest, 5% fee would only require $395/mo payments but cost ~$225/yr in fees

The first loan example with the same $395 would cost ~$70 interest and at the end you would still have $4,330+ balance to start paying 25% interest on (~$90/mo) on or do a new BT.

Best card depends on your plan, pay or push, and amount of monthly payments available.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

dlister70 — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 21:28:16 GMT

Do you have a relationship with US Bank? Mortage? Car? Checking? It looks like you don't have one of their cards from your sig.

Their newish Shield Visa has 24 months 0% intro for balance transfers, but they are notorious for giving low limits if you don't already have a relationship with them. I had to call and beg to get my $500 card changed to $5000 when I first applied with them.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

ocheosa — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 22:25:35 GMT

@Colombiana79 wrote:
Hi All,
I'm looking for recommendations for a card I can transfer my Chase Freedom balance of $9000. Any cards that gives rewards would be awesome. I just make standard online and/or store purchases. I dont travel so travel points are not a need for me. I have a relationship with Chase already (Freedom and Prime) and also have a savings account with Navy Fed so any feedback on their cards would be good. But doesnt have to be one of theirs as well.

Any advice is appreciated! thanks

@Colombiana79 I would also recommend the Navy Platinum, then product change at years end.

At the same time, you could open a checking/savings advantage account(s) with BECU (Boeing Employees' Credit Union) to set the table for the next balance transfer if/when needed. BECU's Low Rate Card is 0% APR with No Fee. This would give you two years to affordably pay back that $9k spend. BECU can be skittish to out of state applicants so best to join at least 6 months prior to credit application. Unfortunately BECU does not allow product changes.

To become eligible to join BECU , first apply for membership with GoWest Foundation.*

The donation is $5.00 to join as a friend. On the application under the credit union drop down box choose BECU.

There are other options but NFCU and BECU are the most cost-effective in my opinion.

Good luck!

*GoWest Foundation (formerly NW Credit Union Foundation) member, donor, employee, volunteer or retiree.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

CashOutReFi — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 22:32:56 GMT

Fidelity Rewards (by Elan, but appears in your Fidelity Investments login page) is offering 0% for 12 months. There is a 4.99% fee for doing so, but I thought they had a rather generous maximum limit of $15,000 (I believe this to be an absolute maximum, as it was the same when my credit line was both $5,000 lower, and $10,000 lower than it is now.

The card offers unlimited 2% cash back, and they give you a blank check to write out your draw to the party of your choosing, including yourself. I have tested writing the check to myself (this was even a Fidelity cash management account under the same login) and it still received the promotion. It will not trigger a cash advance rate. [TESTED]

There are some banks who will only let you select from a drop-down of major credit card companies to BT from and do not give you the option for checks or even a free-form entry for a smaller bank or retailer that is not prepopulated.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

Kforce — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 22:34:52 GMT

@dlister70 wrote:
Do you have a relationship with US Bank? Mortage? Car? Checking? It looks like you don't have one of their cards from your sig.

Their newish Shield Visa has 24 months 0% intro for balance transfers, but they are notorious for giving low limits if you don't already have a relationship with them. I had to call and beg to get my $500 card changed to $5000 when I first applied with them.

Not sure you are a good yard stick to use for CL at USBank.

I got $20,000 from USBank 3 months ago (Smartly), and the last 4-5 Shield CL's in card approvals have been (11k, 15k, 17k, & 20k)

Rumor in the forum that "Navy" is becoming stingy, going to lower over generous limits and has been raising APR's for card's.

Just a few of the recent post titles for a search of "Navy"

* {Navy Federal maxing out the cash advance APR on their cards}

* {No more Navy Federal APR reduction request allowed?}

* {Navy Federal to charge daily interest Oct 1, 2024}

Any new card is a roll of the dice.

The "Navy" cards allowing product change and other cards with value is a plus in my book.

Over all they are also known for generous CL's

Nothing against other choices, the USB Shield seems to have the longest term and because of that the fee is equivalent to a one year 2.5% fee, which is lower than 90+% of the major players fee's.

If a one year is OK, Navy might be a good card, but 24 months > 12 months, by a lot.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

dlister70 — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 23:42:41 GMT

@Kforce wrote:
@dlister70 wrote:
Do you have a relationship with US Bank? Mortage? Car? Checking? It looks like you don't have one of their cards from your sig.

Their newish Shield Visa has 24 months 0% intro for balance transfers, but they are notorious for giving low limits if you don't already have a relationship with them. I had to call and beg to get my $500 card changed to $5000 when I first applied with them.

Not sure you are a good yard stick to use for CL at USBank.
I got $20,000 from USBank 3 months ago (Smartly), and the last 4-5 Shield CL's in card approvals have been (11k, 15k, 17k, & 20k)

Are you suggesting that you've never heard of the $500 US Bank limit issue for new clients? I'm definitely not the yard stick by which US Bank is measured, but it's hardly a unique thing that only happened to me. This was 2018 when I applied to them, so maybe it's not so bad anymore. But it was a huge issue with posts that I've seen for years after, and including a post on the approvals forum from yesterday.

At the time that I applied, I had a $10,000 Discover card, so it was kind of weird to get a $500 card. But I did call the recon line and just asked for $5000 and they gave it to me.

I only mention it because if OP hadn't heard of that issue and applied and got a low starting limit, there's always recon.. but maybe even they don't give you enough limit for the balance transfer that you want to do. Obviously, that's possible with any card, but when I say that US Bank is "notorious" for it, it's because I've personally seen dozens of posts about the starting $500 limit here, on reddit, and on other credit forums. But I haven't paid close attention lately, so maybe it's not so bad now. :shrug:

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

Kforce — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:04:53 GMT

Another option if the OP has larger monthly spend and pay in full practise, is to bypass the BT fee's and go for a card with Zero APR on New Purchases for 15-18 months. If monthly is large enough to move 9k in 2-3 months, depending on current Chase card rate, it could cost less than a BT fee for same pay off time. Also a new set of cards to recommend. This might be an option if normal monthly spend is more than ~3000/mo. Worth a good look if monthly >= $4500month.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

FicoMike0 — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 02:25:32 GMT

Good idea @Kforce

For me the 5% fee on a lot of 0% intro cards is a showstopper. Overall, the navy 1.99% isn't bad. As far as initial cls, from Us b I got $2000 on connect, $7000 on shoppers and $6500 from navy on flagship. At the time my high limit was $27,000 on amex bce. No very helpful if you're looking for $9000+. Recently, I got $9000 on prime and $15,000 on aven, neither offer intro apr.

So, for me, getting a high enough limit is a concern. I was new at navy at the time.

Re: Best Balance Transfer Card

Colombiana79 — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:26:47 GMT

@dlister70 wrote:
Do you have a relationship with US Bank? Mortage? Car? Checking? It looks like you don't have one of their cards from your sig.

Their newish Shield Visa has 24 months 0% intro for balance transfers, but they are notorious for giving low limits if you don't already have a relationship with them. I had to call and beg to get my $500 card changed to $5000 when I first applied with them.

That reminds me that I have to update my cards in my signature. But no, I dont have a relationship with US bank. This is something that I am afraid of, applying for a card and not giving me a high enough limit. Some cards are just plain stingy. For example I have high limits for other cards but Discover will nooooot budge! Its been 4k for years smh.