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Balance transfer

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Tiersha
Regular Contributor

Balance transfer

I have two unused cards, both with bt option.  While my score is important to me I also am not applying for any loans in the foreseeable future and will have a chunk of change in a yr or so from a real estate sale.

 

How much  is it going to hurt my fico to max out my bt cards with a full bt transfer?  I have a decent score but don't want to see it tank.

 

It would be a $1600 bt  (between 2 cards maxing both for the bt) off of a 4k cl.

 

Money is more imp now than my fico which inhereently may answer my question.

11 REPLIES 11
markbeiser
Established Contributor

Re: Balance transfer

Maxing out two cards will be a pretty big ding to your credit scores.
What do you mean by "decent credit?"

Back to gardening until Late February 2026.
Current FICO8:
Message 2 of 12
Tiersha
Regular Contributor

Re: Balance transfer

679, 671, 683

Message 3 of 12
markbeiser
Established Contributor

Re: Balance transfer


@Tiersha wrote:

679, 671, 683


Darn, not quite high enough to get a $10k+ CL on one of the credit union cards that are known for big limits.
The problem with maxing out a couple of cards is that, even if you don't care about the credit score impact, it could spook your existing lenders and trigger credit limit decreases and/or balance chasing, which would really wreck your utilization.

Back to gardening until Late February 2026.
Current FICO8:
Message 4 of 12
JoeRockhead
Community Leader
Senior Contributor

Re: Balance transfer


@Tiersha wrote:

I have two unused cards, both with bt option.  While my score is important to me I also am not applying for any loans in the foreseeable future and will have a chunk of change in a yr or so from a real estate sale.

 

How much  is it going to hurt my fico to max out my bt cards with a full bt transfer?  I have a decent score but don't want to see it tank.

 

It would be a $1600 bt  (between 2 cards maxing both for the bt) off of a 4k cl.

 

Money is more imp now than my fico which inhereently may answer my question.


 

@Tiersha isn't this the same scenario you posted about a couple of weeks ago here. The same advice would still apply. The only way a BT doesn't hurt you in your case, is to keep the UTI down across all cards to the lowest point you are able to get them. My post from your other thread:

 

"The best way to utilize the 1600 in BT you have available would be to only use 28% of those available credit limits or roughly $448.00 (combined on both cards). Although they're labeled as BT cards, they're still just revolving credit accounts, so maxing out either, or both of them is only going to hurt you not help you. You're just trading one maxed  out account for another (or two). If anything I would do as South Jamaica suggested and put the money towards the maxed out card (4k) which might actually improve your scores somewhat"

Message 5 of 12
Tiersha
Regular Contributor

Re: Balance transfer

You are right, it is but I couldn't find this comment.  The savings are more imp which is why I am asking.


@JoeRockhead wrote:

@Tiersha wrote:

I have two unused cards, both with bt option.  While my score is important to me I also am not applying for any loans in the foreseeable future and will have a chunk of change in a yr or so from a real estate sale.

 

How much  is it going to hurt my fico to max out my bt cards with a full bt transfer?  I have a decent score but don't want to see it tank.

 

It would be a $1600 bt  (between 2 cards maxing both for the bt) off of a 4k cl.

 

Money is more imp now than my fico which inhereently may answer my question.


 

@Tiersha isn't this the same scenario you posted about a couple of weeks ago here. The same advice would still apply. The only way a BT doesn't hurt you in your case, is to keep the UTI down across all cards to the lowest point you are able to get them. My post from your other thread:

 

"The best way to utilize the 1600 in BT you have available would be to only use 28% of those available credit limits or roughly $448.00 (combined on both cards). Although they're labeled as BT cards, they're still just revolving credit accounts, so maxing out either, or both of them is only going to hurt you not help you. You're just trading one maxed  out account for another (or two). If anything I would do as South Jamaica suggested and put the money towards the maxed out card (4k) which might actually improve your scores somewhat"


 

Message 6 of 12
Kforce
Valued Contributor

Re: Balance transfer

As others have said.

It is going to hurt your score's

You might have AA on cards.

No one can tell you the your future scores or chance of AA occurring.

 

If you need the savings, do it.

What will happen will happen.

You might save money and come out with out a single scratch .or.

you might save money and have two cards closed and two with a 500 CL

 

Only you know how worthwhile the savings of doing the BT's is for your financial position.

 

Message 7 of 12
Tiersha
Regular Contributor

Re: Balance transfer

This answered my question...not wanting cards removed or lowered cl etc.  30% or less bt is what I will do.

Message 8 of 12
SouthJamaica
Mega Contributor

Re: Balance transfer


@Tiersha wrote:

I have two unused cards, both with bt option.  While my score is important to me I also am not applying for any loans in the foreseeable future and will have a chunk of change in a yr or so from a real estate sale.

 

How much  is it going to hurt my fico to max out my bt cards with a full bt transfer?  I have a decent score but don't want to see it tank.

 

It would be a $1600 bt  (between 2 cards maxing both for the bt) off of a 4k cl.

 

Money is more imp now than my fico which inhereently may answer my question.


It's going to hurt your FICO scores plenty. 


Total revolving limits 569520 (505320 reporting) FICO 8: EQ 699 TU 696 EX 673




Message 9 of 12
Kforce
Valued Contributor

Re: Balance transfer


@SouthJamaica wrote:

@Tiersha wrote:

I have two unused cards, both with bt option.  While my score is important to me I also am not applying for any loans in the foreseeable future and will have a chunk of change in a yr or so from a real estate sale.

 

How much  is it going to hurt my fico to max out my bt cards with a full bt transfer?  I have a decent score but don't want to see it tank.

 

It would be a $1600 bt  (between 2 cards maxing both for the bt) off of a 4k cl.

 

Money is more imp now than my fico which inhereently may answer my question.


It's going to hurt your FICO scores plenty. 


Please report back with where your score land. as a data point for others.

Message 10 of 12
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