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Low Balance Transfer Credit Cards

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A balance transfer credit card allows you to transfer your existing credit card balances and repay them at a much lower rate, sometimes even 0% interest, over a set term. If you still have a leftover balance after the balance transfer offer expires, the remaining balance will generally revert to the standard purchase rate for the credit card. The following is a comprehensive guide to help you understand exactly what a balance transfer is, how it can benefit you by reducing your credit card interest repayments, and how to compare the available balance transfer credit cards to find the best offer for you.


Take note that all balance transfer offers require good credit for application approval.

Since all these cards offer 0% for 6 months, it basically comes down to annual fee, or which provider you’re currently with or have a personal preference towards.


Bankwest Lite MasterCard Offer

Best Introductory Balance Transfer Credit Card

The Bankwest Lite MasterCard offers extremely low rates for both balance transfers and purchases makes it a truly amazing card offer.


If you are looking for both a low rate and balance transfer credit card that will give you the flexibility to spend without racking up credit card interest then this is a great card to consider:

  • $59 annual fee
  • 10.75% p.a. on purchases
  • 21.49% p.a. on cash advances
  • 1.99% p.a. for 9 months on balance transfers
  • Up to 3 additional card holders at no cost – absolutely free!
  • Benefit from 24/7 account access via Bankwest Online Banking as well as being able to use your Bankwest Lite MasterCard at over 28 million outlets worldwide.


0% p.a. for 6 months Balance Transfer Offers

Credit Card Card Details Interest Rate (p.a.) Cash Advance Rate (p.a.) Balance Transfer Rate (p.a.) Annual fee Interest free days (up to)
Coles Group Source MasterCard
Coles Group Source MasterCard

Our prime choice for short term 0% p.a. balance transfers.

19.74%21.99%0% for 6 months$062 Apply Now For The Coles Group Source MasterCard
Read More About The Coles Group Source MasterCard
Citibank Clear Platinum Visa Card
Citibank Clear Platinum Visa Card

A quality and low-cost platinum card after the balance transfer expires.

11.49%20.99%0.99% for 6 months$49 (First Year, Save $50)55 Apply Now For The Citibank Clear Platinum Visa Card
Read More About The Citibank Clear Platinum Visa Card
St George Vertigo
St George Vertigo

Awarded Australia’s ‘Cheapest Balance Transfer Credit Card by Money Magazine 2009.

2.99% for 6 months (reverts to 11.99%)20.74%2.99% for 6 months$5555 Apply Now For The St George Vertigo
Read More About The St George Vertigo
NAB Low Rate Visa Card
NAB Low Rate Visa Card
A low purchase rate credit card. 0% p.a. on purchases and 4.99% p.a. on balances transferred for the first 6 months. 0% for 6 months (reverts to 12.49%)20.99%4.99% for 6 months$4955 Apply Now For The NAB Low Rate Visa Card
Read More About The NAB Low Rate Visa Card
HSBC Credit Card
HSBC Credit Card

$0 annual fee for the life of the credit card and a 5.99% interest for 6 months balance transfer.

16.99%19.99%5.99% for 6 months$055 Apply Now For The HSBC Credit Card
Read More About The HSBC Credit Card


Up to 12 month Balance Transfer Offers

These credit cards allow you to transfer your other balances and take up to a year to repay your balance. Typically, the interest rate will be higher than a 6 month offer, but lower than a ‘life’ offer. However keep in mind you can’t claim reward points till you’ve completely paid off a balance transfer.


Credit Card Card Details Interest Rate (p.a.) Cash Advance Rate (p.a.) Balance Transfer Rate (p.a.) Annual fee Interest free days (up to)
Bankwest Lite MasterCard
Bankwest Lite MasterCard

Editor's Choice:
Best Card

Benefit from a 1.99% balance transfer rate for up to 9 months, and a guaranteed low interest rate of 10.75% p.a. with the Bankwest Lite Mastercard. Reduce stress with a guaranteed low rate credit card that helps you manage your credit card debt.
10.75%21.49%1.99% for 9 months$5955 Apply Now For The Bankwest Lite MasterCard
Read More About The Bankwest Lite MasterCard
Bankwest Lite Gold MasterCard
Bankwest Lite Gold MasterCard
Complimentary international travel insurance, extended warranty, purchase security and price guarantee10.75%21.49%1.99% for 9 months$8955 Apply Now For The Bankwest Lite Gold MasterCard
Read More About The Bankwest Lite Gold MasterCard
Bankwest Lite Platinum MasterCard
Bankwest Lite Platinum MasterCard
Complimentary international travel insurance, Australian warranty 12 months extension, purchase security and price guarantee and lots more!10.75%21.49%1.99% for 9 months$12055 Apply Now For The Bankwest Lite Platinum MasterCard
Read More About The Bankwest Lite Platinum MasterCard
Citibank Silver Card
Citibank Silver Card

Lots of automatic Citibank benefits and services. The lowest annual fee of all Australian 2.9% p.a. balance transfer offers, hence the cheapest.

20.49%20.99%2.90% for 12 months$8955 Apply Now For The Citibank Silver Card
Read More About The Citibank Silver Card
Citibank Gold Card
Citibank Gold Card

Lots of automatic Citibank benefits and services. What the silver card provides, with more insurance, travel bonuses and luxury benefits

.
20.49%20.99%2.9% for 12 months$14955 Apply Now For The Citibank Gold Card
Read More About The Citibank Gold Card
Citibank BP Card
Citibank BP Card

Another competitive annual balance transfer rate offer. 0.5% cash-back on all purchases.

20.39%20.39%2.9% for 12 months$7955 Apply Now For The Citibank BP Card
Read More About The Citibank BP Card
ANZ Frequent Flyer American Express/Visa
ANZ Frequent Flyer American Express/Visa

Transfer your credit card balances and repay a transferred balance of 2.9% for 12 months.

18.99%20.24%N/A$9544 Apply Now For The ANZ Frequent Flyer American Express/Visa
Read More About The ANZ Frequent Flyer American Express/Visa
CUA Gold Rewards MasterCard
CUA Gold Rewards MasterCard

A decent balance transfer offer with one of Australia’s leading credit unions.

18.74%17.99%2.90% for 9 months$85.0055 Apply Now For The CUA Gold Rewards MasterCard
Read More About The CUA Gold Rewards MasterCard
IMB Gold Rewards MasterCard
IMB Gold Rewards MasterCard

Currently offering a very solid balance transfer deal on their Gold Card

18.74%17.99%2.90% for 9 months$99.0055 Apply Now For The IMB Gold Rewards MasterCard
Read More About The IMB Gold Rewards MasterCard
HSBC Credit Card
HSBC Credit Card

$0 annual fee for the life of the credit card and a strong balance transfer offer

16.99%19.99%5.99% for 6 months$055 Apply Now For The HSBC Credit Card
Read More About The HSBC Credit Card


Balance Transfer ‘For Life’ Offers

These credit cards allow you to transfer your other balances and take as long a you like to repay the balance. The term ‘for life’ means for the life of the credit card (as long as you own it).


Credit Card Card Details Interest Rate (p.a.) Cash Advance Rate (p.a.) Balance Transfer Rate (p.a.) Annual fee Interest free days (up to)
Citibank Platinum Card
Citibank Platinum Card
For high debt that needs a long time to be repaid, the 4.9% balance transfer for life can’t be beaten. Also a popular and prestigious Platinum card offer.20.49%20.99%4.9% for life$25055 Apply Now For The Citibank Platinum Card
Read More About The Citibank Platinum Card
Suncorp Clear Options Platinum Card
Suncorp Clear Options Platinum Card
Large range of rewards program. Complimentary travel insurance.19.99%19.99%3.9% for life$20555 Apply Now For The Suncorp Clear Options Platinum Card
Read More About The Suncorp Clear Options Platinum Card


Credit Card Debt Sufferers: Reduce your interest payments and save $1,000’s by Switching credit cards to a New Balance Transfer card

Credit Card Finder has compiled this step-by-step guide to help you compare the best* 0% and long term (Transfer balances for life) offers, takes you through choosing a deal and what to look out for.

Transfer debts and Keep more money in your pocket.


What is a balance transfer?

It’s when one credit card repays debts on other credit or store cards; so you now owe it the money instead, hopefully at a special cheap rate.

Balance Transfer Process

Example of a Balance Transfer

  • Old Card: American Express Platinum MoneyBack $3,000 at 19.99% and a Commonwealth Bank Platinum $2,500 at 19.74%.
  • New Card: the ANZ Low Rate Mastercard 0% p.a. for 6 months on balance transfers with a 12.74% p.a. interest rate.
  • The Process: You apply for the ANZ card and in the application ask them to balance transfer you American Express ($3,000) and Commonwealth bank card ($2,500). (You can also just transfer a single card if you only own one.)
  • Results: The American Express and Comm Bank cards are now zeroed out, the debt on these cards has been transferred to the ANZ card. You now owe $5,500, although will not have to pay interest on this for 6 months i.e. you are now being charged 0% interest on this debt.

TIP It is best to make your balance transfer within a couple of months of opening the new card account otherwise the opportunity could expire. It’s important you don’t confuse cutting the interest with paying less each month, as that’s determined by the minimum repayments.


How to Choose the Best Balance Transfer Deal

Following is a step by step guide to selecting a balance transfer deal. Just answer each of the questions and follow the tree to our recommended areas.


Question 1: Have you got a good credit history?

A good credit score will give you a much better chance to get a Balance Transfer If your credit score isn’t good, the likelihood is you’ll either be offered a much worse rate than advertised, or be rejected. If you’re commonly rejected for new credit, a balance transfer won’t work for you. There are some tips you can use when you have bad credit, take a look at our bad credit balance transfer guide.




You can check your credit score with Veda.

Question 2: Are you able to payoff Your debt within 6 months?

You have 2 options


  1. Get more time to payoff debt – Consider a longer term life time balance transfer or perhaps a 12 months balance transfer to give yourself more time to payoff the debt
  2. Switch more than once – If your credit rating is good enough you can consider retransferring your balance transfer after the 1st 6 month deal is finished. This way you can buy yourself enough time to payoff your debt. You need to be careful with this as it will require careful management of your cards and you will need a very strong credit rating.

Recommended Deals

Take advantage of the 0% 6 months balance transfer offers Since you can payoff your debt in 6 months it would be wise to use a 6 month offer. These usually come with lower annual fees and allow you to revert to a lower purchase rate if you want to continue to use the card after the balance transfer is over.



Recommended Deals:


Top 0% p.a. Credit Card Balance Transfers*

BEST Deal: 6 months Balance Transfers*

In Australia 6 month 0% balance transfer deals are normal. There are not many 0% for 12 months deals although there are some 12 month deals where you will pay between 3 – 7% p.a. In Australia there are no fees for transferring a balance from one card to another.

  • Competitive 6 months deals: * The following providers have offers that last for 6 months at 0%

The longest balance transfer deals There are deals in Australia where you can transfer the balance of your credit card for life. This means that for however long you have that balance the card provider will only charge you the rate you balance transferred at. E.g. if the balance transfer rate is 7.9% for life like with the citibank personal account you will only be charged 7.9% on that balance until you pay it off. This is good if you want to lock in your rate and give yourself plenty of time to pay it off.

Warning about long term balance transfers

There’s a hidden sting with these cards; if you spend on them, it’s at a high interest rate and can’t be repaid until all the cheap debt has been. They may try and tempt you with cashback or short term 0% deals on any spending; ignore it. The rule is simple; never, ever, ever, ever spend on these cards. If you do all the benefit will be lost. All these deals require you to pay a one-off fee when you do the transfer, the trade-off is you get it interest free for a long time.

  • Say you have transferred a balance of $10,000 to your ‘for life’ offer credit card. You then spend a $500 purchase on the card, at a 15% interest rate.
  • You will not be able to pay off that $500 purchase until the whole transferred balance itself has been paid off, thus accumulating a fair bit of interest.
  • It is simply one of the techniques used by banks to profit from balance transfers. As mentioned prior there’s a simple solution to avoid the hidden sting – use a different credit card for new purchases.
  • Banks often provide the incentive of an annual fee waiver if $X amount of money is spent on your card during a balance transfer.
  • These offers should typically be ignored as the cost of the interest repayments will almost certainly not compensate for the cost of the annual fee in the first place.


How Do Low Rate Balance Transfer Credit Cards Work?


Learn how low rate balance transfer credit cards works, and how to identify the best offers. Be aware of the main pitfall of making purchases on a balance transfer credit card. Check out the BankWest Lite MasterCard as a great all-rounder for balance transfers and future purchases.


A low rate balance transfer credit card is used when you have an outstanding balance on another credit card at a regular rate of interest. The process is that you apply for the new low rate balance transfer card and make the request to transfer the balance on the application form itself. This is used for balances that are likely to take more than a few months to pay off. Any less than that, and you will probably pay more on the new card's annual fee than you save on interest charges.


Making a balance transfer will allow for a quicker repayment of the balance because you can direct the money you save on interest towards paying it down, or alternatively you can take more time paying it off because you know that the interest charges are not so punitive. In the latter scenario, as balance transfer deals are for a limited time, you should still aim to clear the balance before the offer period ends and the interest rate reverts to the card's regular one.



Low rate balance transfer credit card options:


There are different kinds of low rate balance transfer credit cards available. Your choice will depend on the amount you need to transfer, and crucially on how long you predict it will take to pay it off completely. The most common deal at the moment is the 0% balance transfer offer that is set for six months. You can also find slightly higher rates for a year or so, and higher rates again for offers that last until the transferred amount has been paid off in full, however long that takes.


It is important that you judge this correctly and do not go for the 0% deal just because it is the lowest, especially if the card's regular interest rate is one of the highest. If you fail to pay off the balance in full within the allotted period, you will then be subject to this regular rate. It is far better to take a slightly higher balance transfer rate for a longer period. Probably the best choice all-round at the moment is the BankWest Lite MasterCard which is offering 1.99% p.a. for 9 months on balance transfers, and the lowest regular rate on purchases of just 10.75% p.a.


Very few credit cards in Australia charge a balance transfer fee, so if you do see one that does charge you need to consider looking elsewhere, especially if an annual card fee is also being levied. However, bear in mind that you will very seldom find a great balance transfer deal and a zero annual fee combined. The credit card provider has to make some money somewhere.


Tips on what to look for in a low rate balance transfer credit card:


What is the interest rate on balance transfers?
The obvious question, and the answer is to look for a zero or very low rate.




Is there a balance transfer handling fee?


As mentioned already, this is not normal, so the deal must be truly spectacular to justify one being in place.


How soon do you have to transfer your balance?


You may have up to three months to make the transfer before the option to do so expires. However, why would you want to waste that amount of time? Your best bet is to make the transfer request on the application form for the card itself. There is a special page for this.


How are your payments allocated?


This is very important. Your repayments will be directed towards paying off your cheapest debt first, so you should not be making any purchases on a credit card that you have transferred a balance to, because these purchases will accrue interest at the regular rate until your transferred amount has been fully paid off.


Is there an annual fee?


As mentioned, this is usual on a credit card offering a good balance transfer deal.


The key to securing the best low rate balance transfer credit card is to do your homework: research and compare.


How To Compare Low Rate Balance Transfer Offers



Learn the key points that must be taken into account when you compare balance transfer credit cards. Understand how to make sure that a great balance transfer deal works in your favour by recognising the main trap to avoid.

There are not too many issues to watch out for when you compare balance transfer credit cards, but you must get them right. This is especially the case if you are making a large balance transfer because so much more is as stake.

A low rate balance transfer credit card is used when you have an outstanding balance on another credit card at a regular rate of interest. The process is that you apply for the new low rate balance transfer card and preferably make the request to transfer the balance on the application form itself. Balance transfers are for useful for amounts that will take more than a few months to pay off, because if you are looking at any less time, you will probably pay more on the new card's annual fee than you save on interest charges.


Key points when you compare balance transfer credit cards:


What interest rate applies to the balance transfer?



This is the first question to ask when you compare balance transfer credit cards because this is the whole point of your making a balance transfer - to enjoy a lower rate of interest on your outstanding debt. Rates for balance transfers range from 0% to around 9%, depending on the length of time the offer is for. Generally speaking, at the lower rate you will be allowed less time to settle your debt before the regular rate kicks in. Offers come and go, so you may find that some of the higher balance transfer rates fall away somewhat if there are low regular rates available. Credit card providers know that an 8.99% balance transfer rate does not look so hot when there are credit cards that offer regular rates of just slightly more. At the moment, the BankWest Lite MasterCard is offering the lowest regular purchase rate at 10.75% p.a..


How long does the balance transfer rate run for?


Another crucial question to ask when you compare balance transfer credit cards. This is something you must judge correctly, or you may choose too short a period and end up with a portion of your debt still unpaid when the offer period expires and the higher rate takes over. Currently, there are a number of offers at 0% for six months, but you can also find six month offers at 7.99%. This latter example is with the ANZ Gold Visa Credit Card and can be set at a less attractive level because this card - being Gold - has a host of extra perks and benefits to offset it. For the most part, the longer the offer period for the balance transfer, the higher the interest rate. However, you should always check on current offers because some can buck the trend a little and be pleasantly surprising. Again, this is the case with the BankWest Lite MasterCard that is now offering 1.99% p.a. for 9 months on balance transfers. Balance transfers that last for the life of the debt can also be found, but these tend to be more common on platinum level cards.


Is there an annual fee?


It is quite normal for an annual fee to be charged for the account maintenance of the credit card, although an actual balance transfer fee would be very unusual. Annual fees are something to check when you compare balance transfer credit cards, to make certain you are not being penalised for a great balance transfer rate by a hefty annual fee. However, depending on the size of the transferred amount and the rate offered, paying a few dollars more for an annual fee is probably neither here nor there.

At the moment, there are balance transfer credit card deals that do not charge an annual fee, including the HSBC Credit Card, the Woolworths Everyday Money Card (for the first year anyway), the Commonwealth Low Fee Card (for existing customers), and the BankWest Zero Platinum MasterCard.

Is there a balance transfer window?

You will normally find in the fine print that you have a limited time from the date you receive your card in which to instigate a balance transfer. This could be up to three months, or could be as little as one month. This means that after this time you will not be able to make a balance transfer according to the original offer. You must also remember that the offer period on your balance transfer begins when you get your card, not when you decide to request the transfer. So, with a six month deal, if you delayed three months before making the transfer, you would only have three months left at the lower rate of interest.

What does the balance transfer apply to?

The clue to this is in the wording: balance transfer. Hoping to compare balance transfer credit cards and find one that covers everything you put on the card is not realistic. The special rate of interest applies to the transferred amount only. It will not apply to any new purchases, nor to any new cash transactions made on the card, including purchases of foreign currency and traveller's cheques, nor any gambling transactions. The amount you are transferring from your old credit card can obviously contain transactions made in these ways, but making such transactions on your new card will cause them to be treated very differently to the transferred amount. The reason for this is down to the next point.

What is the order of payments?

This is also sometimes called the allocation of payments or the adverse order of payments. These all refer to one practice: namely, the way the credit card company uses your repayments to pay off the balance on your credit card. The order of payments rule states that the lowest rate debts are cleared first. This means that the amount of your 0% balance transfer is paid down before your purchases at 15%, which are cleared before your cash advances at 20%.

Your repayments are not split in any way. Until your balance transfer is paid off in full, any new purchases or cash advances on the credit card will not be touched and will simply accrue interest. Clearly, if a large amount of purchases were allowed to accrue interest untouched for twelve months, this could easily negate a lot of the benefits of having made a balance transfer in the first place. This would be a key point on which to compare balance transfer credit cards if different providers payed things differently, but this is a rule that is applied everywhere in the Australian credit card industry. It is for this reason that it is very important that you do not make any purchases or cash advances on a credit card you have transferred a balance to at a much lower rate. The only time this is not the case is when your new card has a combined offer applying to balance transfers and new purchases that are at the same rate for the same length of time.

Is a same-bank balance transfer possible?

No, you must be transferring a balance from a different bank than the new card is issued by. For example, you could not transfer a balance from one ANZ credit card to a different ANZ credit card.


Do I still have to make my minimum payments?


Yes, you are not absolved from making your minimum payments just because you have a new low rate of interest on your balance transfer. You are still required contractually to pay at least your minimum payment each month, and a failure to do so could even cause your low rate offer to be rescinded. This is a point to check out in the fine print when you compare balance transfer credit cards, but don't be too surprised if this is the case.


Examples to help you compare balance transfer credit cards:


Here are a few examples of balance transfer deals currently available, to give you an idea of what to look for:



How To Use Low Rate Balance Transfer Credit Cards


Learn the simple rules on how to use balance transfer credit cards. Understand that balance transfer credit cards should only be used for balance transfers, and not for purchases or cash advances, otherwise much of the benefit will be negated by the order of payments rule.


The best advice on how to use balance transfer credit cards is to make your balance transfer and then not to use your card again until it is fully paid off. The reason for this will become abundantly clear. The other main issue to remember is why you have had to make the balance transfer in the first place. If this is because of some poor financial planning in the past, now is the time to start putting things right.


Budget!


This is not just an important factor in how to use a balance transfer credit card, it is also an important life-skill to possess. Presumably you will have chosen your balance transfer credit card carefully, picking one with a low enough rate and a long enough offer period to allow for the transferred amount to be fully paid off. This, of course, can only happen if you plan ahead. Whatever you used to pay on interest charges should now be paid towards the debt. The extra finances should not be seen as spare cash to spend on further items. You need to write a detailed budget, taking into account your income and expenditure, and then set aside as much as you can spare to pay down your balance each month so that it is completely paid off before the offer expires and the higher regular rate of interest kicks in.


This is key in how to use a balance transfer credit card; you must try not to be caught with an outstanding balance at the end of the offer period. It may be that another balance transfer could be made to another credit card, but this cannot be guaranteed. This will all depend on your credit rating, which may not be good enough to allow for another transfer to take place. This means it is imperative that you take full advantage of the opportunity afforded by your low rate balance transfer deal, and clear your debt in full within the allotted time. By understanding your credit card you will learn valuable financial skills.


Don't spend!


The worst decision on how to use a balance transfer credit card is to treat it as just another credit card, meaning you use it for new purchases or cash advances. Once you have set your balance transfer in progress, you need to put your new credit card somewhere safe and not take it out again until after your offer period has expired. This is because of the way credit card companies apply your repayments. It is variously called the order of payments, the adverse order of payments, or the allocation of payments. It means that the way your debts are repaid is according to the rate of interest applied to them, and your cheaper debts are always repaid first. This keeps the more expensive debts earning interest for the credit card provider for the longest time. The message is therefore to avoid purchases and cash transactions on a credit card to which you have transferred a balance.


The only time this will not apply is when there is a combined deal on balance transfers and purchases, but these must be at the same rate of interest and for the same time period. Even then, cash transactions will not be included, which means no ATM cash withdrawals, no foreign currency purchases or traveller cheque purchases, and no gambling transactions. If you do want to continue with your credit card spending, use the old credit card that now has a clear balance.


Don't delay!


The best time to make your balance transfer is when you are filling out the credit card application form. There will be a special page for this request to be made. This is important in how to use a balance transfer credit card most effectively because it presents you with the longest amount of time for your balance transfer to be in effect. Your balance transfer is time-limited in how long the offer is for - unless it is a balance-transfer-for-life - and also in how much time you have to set it in motion. It may be that you only have one to three months from the time you receive your card to actually request the balance transfer. If you are looking at a 0% deal for six months, then every day lost is going to cost you in the higher interest rate you are still being charged. If you move outside this transfer window, your chance to act will be lost.


That's about it on how to use a balance transfer credit card. The rules are few and simple, but you need to adhere to them for there to be any point in making the balance transfer in the first place. Stick to the rules and you can enjoy a zero or low rate of interest and clear your debt in the quickest possible time.


How to avoid the biggest mistake with a balance Transfer

There is no single more important thing to remember about balance transfers than the following.

Never, ever, ever, spend on a card after balance transferring to it!

Why it’s such an expensive nightmare

Credit cards allow us to do a number of different things such as spend on them, shift balances to them or withdraw cash. These are all different transaction types and it’s the interactions between them that cause the problem.

  • Each type of transaction has a different interest rate. While it might be 0% for balance transfers, any new purchases will get a much higher interest rate and cash withdrawals even higher.
  • Your repayments will go towards clearing the debt you transferred first. You don’t choose what your repayments go to, the credit card company does. And lenders will make your repayments go towards paying off your balance which is at a lower interest rate first.

This means the expensive debts from spending are effectively trapped, speedily accruing interest, and you can’t repay them until you’ve cleared all the cheap debt. Thus you can be racking up debt which you will eventually have to repay later. Clearly credit card providers make their money this way because they want you to spend whilst you are paying off your balance you transferred to them. To avoid this situation it would be better to get a second card with a low purchase rate.

-

A handy note to keep in mind about American Express cards commented on by one of our users:

Sandra wrote: “In the traps section you should add that with amex, if you miss a monthly payment they revert the interest rate from the changeover rate to their standard rate.

This is not disclosed until you sign up and get the final paperwork !!!


Frequently Asked questions





  • How Do I Request A Balance Transfer, And How Long Does It Take To Process?

    If you are considering a balance transfer from your existing credit card to a new credit card at a special introductory rate, the Aussie MasterCard is a great card to consider with a low interest rate on balance transfers and purchases.


  • Visa Balance Transfer

    If you are looking to transfer your existing credit cards and their outstanding balances to a new Visa balance transfer credit card, the Citibank Clear Platinum is a good option to consider with a low interest rate on purchases and balance transfers.


  • Balance Transfer for 12 Months With Bankwest

    While there are many great introductory credit card interest rates available, finding the best balance transfer for 12 months means more time to repay the debt balance and still enjoy low rates.

    Best 12 months Balance Transfer Credit Card
    The Bankwest Lite MasterCard has the lowest MasterCard purchase rate in Australia combined with a long balance transfer [...]


  • Top 5 Low Rate & Balance Transfer Credit Cards – A Current Affair ACA.com.au

    Aussie John Symonds on A Current Affair (ACA) – Top 5 Low Rate Credit Cards

    Best Balance Transfer Credit Card
    The Bankwest Lite MasterCard has the lowest MasterCard purchase rate in Australia combined with a long balance transfer period making it the best credit card to apply for

    $59 annual fee
    10.75% p.a. on purchases
    21.49% p.a. on cash advances
    1.99% [...]


  • Balance Transfer Deals

    There are many balance deals that let you pay down debt without paying high interest fees. The choice between these cards comes down to the amount you have to transfer, the amount of time you need to pay it off, and your other credit card needs. This is a great option that when used with [...]


  • How Long Does A Balance Transfer Take?

    If you are wondering how long it takes for a balance transfer to take effect, then take a look at this article to find out how fast they can be processed. It is probably faster than you think!

    A balance transfer is not a difficult and complicated procedure, and it is in fact much easier than [...]


  • How A Balance Transfer Could Have A Negative Impact On Your Credit Score

    Understand how making too many balance transfers can cause problems for your future creditworthiness. Avoid this mistake by adopting a responsible attitude to the repayment of your transferred debt.

    Anyone who owes money on a credit card and who is paying a high rate of interest will no doubt think that making a balance transfer to [...]


  • What Happens After Your Balance Transfer Honeymoon Period Is Over?

    Understand the importance of clearing your transferred debt before the balance transfer revert rate takes over. Check out the Aussie MasterCard as a great balance transfer credit card with a low revert rate.

    Unless you take up a credit card with a lifetime-of-the-debt offer on it, then you will need to [...]


  • Balance Transfer Credit Card Comparison

    When you do a credit card comparison, Australia cards have a world of savings to offer. Balance transfers are one of the few ways that you can actually save money with a credit card by moving your debt and lowering your interest fees. The cards listed in this article have the [...]


  • St.George Balance Transfer FAQs

    The St.George Vertigo balance transfer offer is extremely attractive for anyone paying high rates on credit cards or store cards. Before you submit your application to transfer your balances, it’s important to understand a little about how this account can benefit you.

    Best Balance Transfer Credit Card
    The St. George Vertigo MasterCard offer has re-launched, now featuring [...]


  • Balance Transfers with joint Primary Cardholder’s Guide

    There are a few little catches in terms of balance transferring from a single primary to a joint primary cardholders that you need to be careful of. Increase your chances of a successful balance transfer to a joint primary card with this guide.


  • St.George Vertigo MasterCard Special Offer – 2.99% On Balance Transfers & Purchases

    Awarded Australia’s Cheapest Balance Transfer Credit Card by Money Magazine 2009, the St.George Vertigo MasterCard is still a great credit card offer. It is the perfect card for those who love to shop with a low 2.99% p.a. on purchases for the first 6 months from when the account is opened and 2.99% p.a on balance transfers for the first 6 months . Once this promotional period is over, the Vertigo MasterCard then reverts back to the 11.74% p.a. variable rate.


  • St. George Vertigo MasterCard – 2.99% Balance Transfer Offer & 2.99% On Purchases

    For a limited time, the St.George Vertigo MasterCard comes with a low 2.99% p.a. on purchases and balance transfers for the first 6 months from when the account is opened. Once the promotional period is over, the Vertigo MasterCard then reverts back to the 11.74% p.a. variable rate.


  • Australia’s Top Rated Balance Transfer Card Wants Your Attention

    If you are searching for a good balance transfer credit card offer then checkout Australia’s top rated balance transfer card – St George Vertigo MasterCard. This card has a balance transfer credit card introductory deal as well as a low interest rate, not to mention a no interest for 55 days policy. No wonder why the St George Vertigo MasterCard was awarded within the Australian credit card market.


  • Balance Transfer Scenarios Compared

    It can sometimes be difficult to compare balance transfer credit cards as you can’t really predict what kind of result will occur after a few months or a couple of years. Therefore the best way to compare is to actually figure out how much money you will save based on real life scenarios and maths. The results for 3 payment scenarios are calculated and compared here.


  • How To Make Sure A Balance Transfer Doesn’t Cost You More Then You Save

    Balance transfers are a great way to save on interest repayments however it’s not always as simple as it looks on paper. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way when it comes to managing your balance transfers. Here is some simple and practical advice on how to save with a balance transfer.


  • 2 Questions To Ask Before Applying For Balance Transfer Credit Cards

    When it comes to comparing balance transfer credit cards you need to be able to ask the right questions in order to make the right choice of card. Provided in this article are those 2 questions you should ask in detail. By asking these 2 key questions you will save on your balance transfer credit card.


  • Balance Transfer Credit Card Pitfalls

    Balance transfer credit cards are a great way to pay off multiple credit card debts by saving with interest free periods or enjoying lower interest rates. However in order to pay off your debt as cheaply and easily as possible you need to be aware of some balance transfer credit card pitfalls to avoid. Many of these are not as obvious and you may not be aware of them.


  • Find Out If A Balance Transfer Card Is Right For You

    Balance transfer credit cards are a great way to give you some relief when it comes to paying off a lingering credit card debt. This is a must read for those considering applying for one.


  • Cure Your Debt Hangover With A Balance Transfer Offer

    Although many of us are motivated to achieve our new year’s resolutions for 2010, the reality is that a lot of us must of pay off our post Christmas shopping credit card debt. Here are some helpful tips to help you pay your debt on time by switching over to a balance transfer credit card.




  • Bankwest Balance Transfer Credit Card

    Editor's Choice: Our Top Credit Cards


    Credit Card Card Details Interest Rate (p.a.) Cash Advance Rate (p.a.) Balance Transfer Rate (p.a.)

    Annual fee

    Interest free days (up to)

    St George  
Vertigo MasterCard Application
    St George Vertigo
    Editor's Choice:
    Low Interest
    Low 2.99% for 6 months (reverts to 11.99%) p.a. interest rate and balance transfer rate, from one of Australia's most respected banks.
    2.99% for 6 months (reverts to 11.99%) 20.74% 2.99% for 6 months $55 55
    Coles Group Source MasterCard
    Coles Group Source MasterCard
    The Coles Group Source MasterCard has no annual fee, a 0% p.a. balance transfer offer for 6 months, with a rewards program including savings on fuel and FlyBuys Points19.74%21.99%0% for 6 months$062 Apply Now For The Coles Group Source MasterCard
    Read More About The Coles Group Source MasterCard
    BankWest More Platinum MasterCard
    Bankwest Zero Platinum MasterCard
    Editor's Choice:
    No Annual Fee
    Excellent introductory offer with a $0 annual fee for the life of the credit card and a 1.99% p.a. for 9 months on balance transfers
    16.99% 16.99% 1.99% for 9 months $0 55

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