Best Balance Transfer Rates – 0% Interest Credit Cards
Posted July 9th, 2008 and last modified May 7th, 20130% Balance Transfer Deals
Compare balance transfer credit card offers in Australia and save yourself hundreds of dollars in credit card interest repayments.
Smart shopping for 0% annual percentage rate (APR) credit cards can save consumers hundreds of dollars in interest charges. Many consumers do not think to shop around for credit cards. With half of Australian grocery store purchases being made with credit cards, the decision as to which card the consumer uses has a strong impact on how much is paid in interest.
One way you can save money in interest charges is to shop around for a 0% APR credit card to transfer existing balances to. The concept of shopping for the best interest rates is not new for homes and cars, yet so few consumers stop to think about shopping around for the best credit card deal.
You can’t really go much lower than paying 0% p.a. interest – which is very much possible if you undergo a balance transfer with your credit card(s).
0% Interest Balance Transfer Credit Cards
It is possible for you to save hundreds of dollars a year by transferring balances to a 0% interest credit card. Here is how it works: A consumer applies for a new credit card with a special introductory interest rate of 0% interest for balance transfers. After gaining approval, the consumer transfers the balance of his or her credit cards to the new card.
Accessing a balance transfer will require applying for a new credit card, which means you may need to pay either a balance transfer fee or an annual fee on the card itself. If you put this in to perspective, you’re paying $40-$100 for this, but the potential savings from a balance transfer can exceed this.
Low Rate Credit Card Offer
The ANZ Low Rate is a low interest rate credit card which features the combination of a low interest rate offer on balance transfers a low rate on purchases with a low annual fee.
- $58 p.a. annual fee
- 13.14% p.a. on purchases
- 0% p.a. for 9 months on balance transfers
- Cash Advance Rate of 21.49% p.a.
- 55 days interest free
- Minimum Income Requirement of $15,000 p.a.
Balance Transfer Offers for 6 to 9 months
If you are seeking a short term balance transfer option a 0% balance transfer is an attractive option, giving you relief from your credit card interest repayments.
Note that balance transfers require a good credit rating for most application approvals.
Low Rate Credit Card Offer
The ANZ Low Rate is a low interest rate credit card which features the combination of a low interest rate offer on balance transfer and purchases with a low annual fee.
- $58 p.a. annual fee
- 13.14% p.a. on purchases
- 2.5% p.a. for 15 months on balance transfers
- Cash Advance Rate of 21.49% p.a.
- 55 days interest free
- Minimum Income Requirement of $15,000 p.a.
Read the ANZ Low Rate – Exclusive Offer terms and conditions.
Long Term Balance Transfer Offers
For longer term balance transfer credit cards, consider the below offers. Note that to be approved for balance transfer offers, you need good credit and good proof of income.
Calculating and Comparing
Consumers receive the information they need to help them decide on the credit card balance transfer offer that works best for them. Objective side-by-side comparisons allow a more complete picture of available credit cards. When you find a card you like, it is also possible to apply for that card instantly from the web site. Credit Card Finder specializes in comparing credit cards available for online application.
A 0% APR credit card balance transfer is a financial tool that can greatly benefit consumers. However, as with all financial tools, it is important to use it wisely. Consumers should be aware that failure to pay at least the minimum payment on time could result in an immediate end to the introductory period. Many credit cards, however, provide an automatic debit system or an online bill pay option. This can help consumers set up automatic payments that ensure that there are no late payments.
Shopping around for the best bargain is a way of life for many. Applying that rule to credit card applications can mean that you get to keep more of your hard earned cash. So it is wiser to compare and contrast the interest rates on various credit cards to get the best mileage of your hard-earned money.
Find out what exactly a balance transfer is. More specific information about the balance transfer process and traps to avoid.
Australian Balance Transfer Calculator
Calculate how much you could potentially save by undertaking a credit card balance transfer.
When to utilise a balance transfer
A balance transfer isn’t suited to everyone, but if you have a substantial debt accumulated on your credit card then you might be able to save money with a balance transfer. By taking your existing debt at a higher interest rate and switching it to a 0% p.a. or 2.9% p.a. you could save hundreds of dollars in interest
Case Study: Julie’s school supplies
Julie is a stay at home mum with 2 growing kids in primary school. The kids have grown out of last years shoes and clothes and she needs to buy all new ones before school goes back. She puts this spend on her credit card which takes the balance to $3500. Paying 20.99% p.a. on this card. She is currently paying a high amount of interest with the old card and decides to carry out a balance transfer. She choose a card that offers 2.9% p.a. for 12 months on her balance. By transferring her balance she will save over $500 over the course of the first year, allowing her to put this money away for next years school clothes!
FREE BONUS: Download a copy of our just released e-book: The Ultimate Guide to Balance Transfers
Balance Transfer Offer with Rewards Credit Card
The Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card offers a low interest rate on balance transfers with a low ongoing annual fee.
- $64 p.a. annual fee for the first year ($129 p.a. thereafter) annual fee
- 20.99% p.a. on purchases
- 0% p.a. for 8 months on balance transfers
- Cash Advance Rate of 20.99% p.a.
- 44 days interest free
- Minimum Income Requirement of $35,000 p.a.
Read the Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card – Balance Transfer Offer terms and conditions.
* The credit card offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of credit cards CreditCardFinder.com.au has access to track details from. ‘Best’ and ‘Top’ are ratings which are subject to our consideration and are not rated against all Australian credit cards. You should consider seeking independent financial advice and your own personal financial circumstances when comparing cards.
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Credit Cards Comparison
* The credit card offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of credit cards CreditCardFinder.com.au has access to track details from and is not representative of all the products available in the market. Products are displayed in no particular order or ranking. The use of terms 'Best' and 'Top' are not product ratings and are subject to our disclaimer. You should consider seeking independent financial advice and consider your own personal financial circumstances when comparing cards.
I am looking for a credit card that offers a very low interest balance transfer for the life of the amount transferred.
Thanks.
Hi Lionel
Unfortunately balance transfer for life products are no longer in market. It is possible to do multiple balance transfers to another credit card when a balance transfer period ends.
Cheers
Jeremy
Hi, I was wondering if you can role the balances of two credit cards into the one balance transfer card such as the Citibank card?
Thanks
Hi Steven,
Thanks for the question. There shouldn’t be any issue transferring the balance from two external accounts over to the Citibank Clear Platinum Credit Card, provided that the amount does not exceed your agreed credit limit. A balance transfer can be performed at the time of application. It is also worth a mention that a cards you do a transfer from, cannot be issued by the same bank you are doing the transfer to. Cheers.
Jeremy
Hi
Do i need to disclose amount of balance transfer at the time of credit card application?
I am planning to make purchase and then transfer balance, but currently don’t have any debt on credit card.
Thanks
Hi,
You have the option of choosing to apply for a balance transfer at the time of application or after the application is complete, this varies between institutions. It’s also worth nothing that the amount you are able to transfer will be between 90-95% of your agreed credit limit. Thanks.
Cheers
Jeremy
I recently applied for a Citibank Clear Platinum Credit Card to do a balance transfer. I was informed my application was declined due to an inconsistent payments with a current account I hold with citibank. They informed me I could reapply with them in 6 months. Could I apply for another credit card with a low interest rate on balance transfer with another bank in a months time?
Hi,
Thanks for the question. As a rule, lending institutions will not let you perform a balance transfer between their own cards, you will have to take your outstanding balance from Citibank and transfer it to another institution in order to be eligible for the low rate of interest. You will have to consider a non-Citibank lender if you want to perform a balance transfer. Cheers.
Jeremy
Hi. I recently applied a credit card and its was declined. Does this effect my credit history. Please let me know.
Thanks & Regards
Hi Raj. Thanks for your question. Please refer to our guide on this topic. Cheers.
Are there any cards available to temporary residents?
Hi Nick. Please refer to our guide on this topic for further information. Thanks for your question.
I looked there and it says HSBC offer credit cards to temporary Residents but when I click on the link to the HSBC card for balance transfers it says not available to temporary residents. Is it that you arent allowed the 0% interest on balance transfers if you are a temporary resident?
Hello Nick,
thanks for the question.
According to HSBC this card and balance transfer is still available to temporary residents such as 457 visa holders, although there are a few conditions. Firstly the visa needs to be valid for more than a year, secondly they need to have a work contract valid for longer than a year, and finally need to earn over $50,000, or $60,000 for the platinum. Those on a student visa are unfortunately not valid for this card.
I hope this helps,
Marc.
Hi, could you explain what 30% monthly repayment is please.
Cheers Graeme
If you meet the T & C’s what would be the reasons why one would be declined a Balance tranfer.
Hi. Thanks for your question. Please check out an article we wrote on why credit card applications get declined for some information on this topic. Hope this helps.
Hi, if I transfer 20k from one card to another , do I need to pay minimum payments each month and is the charge of say, 1.9% added monthly to the balance or a straight 1.9% on the transferred amount for the 9/12 months ?
Thanks.
Hi Michael. Thanks for your question. You will need to make the minimum repayment each month. It can get complicated trying to figure out how card issuers apply their interest charges, but a general rule is that interest is calculated daily, charged annually, but payments are made every month.
So if you were to bring a balance over to a new credit card and the balance transfer introductory interest rate was 2%. You would have 2% interest charged against the balance you transferred with a minimum monthly repayment applied to the transaction that is attracting the highest interest charge first (purchases or cash advances) if you have any of those charges on your card. If you have bought a balance over to your card and have not used your card to make any other purchases or to withdraw money, then any money you pay on to the card will be subtracted from the amount owing on the balance transfer, but be aware that by only making the minimum repayments, your credit card debt will take years to pay off, if at all. Hope this has helped.
im looking to balance transfer a personal loan of near $35000 and wonder what company would be able to help with a low balance transfer interest rate for more and 9-12 months
Hi Nathan. For a comparison of the market’s balance transfer credit cards, check our balance transfer comparison page. Alternatively you may be interested in a Citibank credit card – Citibank allow customers to transfer the balance from a personal loan to one of their cards through a balance transfer, but they’re not the only institution that do this, so check the comparison page for further information on available offers. Thanks for your question.
If I choose a card with a 0% interest rate for 6 mths and know that my balance won’t be paid off in this time is it possible to then apply with a different provider for another 6 mths interest fee and how likely is it that with a good credit history this will be approved?
Hi Tara. Very difficult questions with lots of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. In theory what you’re suggesting can be done and anecdotal evidence has shown us that people have been successful with this before. Some things to be remember: if you’re not approved for a new credit card to balance transfer to, you will be stuck with a balance accruing a extremely high rate of interest, if you’re approved, the credit limit that assigned to your new card must be greater than the amount you wish to transfer. For some information on the credit card application process, check this article on why credit card applications get declined. Thanks.
would like to Balance transfer from 2 different credit cards , value of $3.7k. I can only afford $200 repayments. Which will be my best option. Please advice
Hi Mary. The best option for you will depend on your personal circumstances. You will want to check out our balance transfer credit card comparison page and check the offers available there, and then go and work out what your repayments will be using the minimum repayment information and our credit card interest calculator. You will be able to consolidate the debt from multiple credit cards through a balance transfer, but be aware, your new credit limit must be more than the total amount you wish to transfer from the other cards – generally card issuers allow approx. 95% of a cardholders approved credit limit to be used for a balance transfer. Thanks for your question.
What would monthly repayments be for a balance transfer of $11,000 on an ANZ Low Rate credit card Master Card?
Hi Adrienne. Thanks for your question. The minimum monthly repayment for the ANZ Low Rate credit card is 2.00% of the total balance. Cheers.
will i get charged a fee for paying the full amount owing (on a 0% balance tranfer citibank platinum visa) within 6 months?
Hi Nancy. There is no charge for paying out a balance transfer within the promotional period. Cheers.
Hi,
THanks for your article! I am curious though, is it possible to do a personal loan balance transfer to a low interest rate credit card? Have you heard of any banks that offer this?
Best regards,
Sam
Hi Sam. Thanks for your question.
There are few institutions that offer this; however, Citibank do say they allow balance transfers from personal loan to credit cards. Their website states:
‘What account balances can be included in a Balance Transfer?
Any account balances from other financial institutions/stores, such as:
Visa and MasterCard (all banks)
Most store cards (e.g. David Jones and Myer)
Personal Loans
Lines of credit
The balance must be in the name of the primary account holder.’
Hope this helps and happy new year.
Jacob.
Hi, I am wondering if there are some low rate credit card balance transfer options that have good customer service?
I applied for Citibank and had a terrible service with their phillipines call centre who don’t listen to anything I try to say. My accountant was on xmas leave so they leave the application sitting there and I can’t be bothered wasting more hours in their call centre.
Surely other banks can offer better?
Hi Karyn. Thanks for your question. The National Australia Bank have the highest customer satisfaction rating according to Canstar Blue research. The NAB Low Fee Credit Card is NAB’s low fee product.
Can I transfer the balance from a virgin money uk card to an Australian credit card?
Hello Graeme,
thanks for the question!
Balance transfers are usually only available when transferring a balance from an Australian credit or store card. This page here talks about the various options out there which may be available to pay off an overseas credit card.
I hope this helps,
Marc.
Hi,
Could you let me know which cards will allow a transfer for a bank (credit union) personal loan?
Thanks
Hi Andy. Citibank are one institution that allow the consolidation of other bank’s personal loans. Thanks for your question.
can i transfer a personal loan balance to another bank card for lower interest rates
Hi William. Citibank accept personal loans through a balance transfer. Other institutions only accept store cards and credit cards. Thanks.
Can I get a balance transfer credit card in Australia to pay off a high interest credit card that I have from nz. I am paying 22 percent int on a nz credit card but I live in oz and would like to pay off and destroy that card.
Hi Deeana. Thanks for the question. Balance transfers to Australian credit cards are only accepted from Australian credit cards. Jacob.
hi, i have used balance transfers more than once transferring it again once the limited offer has`expired…i have never been late or defaulted or refused credit, however does me taking advantage of these offers affect my credit rating at all in a bad way?
Hi Karen. Thanks for your question. Although the answer is no, it’s a little more complicated. A lender can see each time you apply for credit, it’s registered on your credit file as a ‘credit enquiry’. It’s fine to have an enquiry on your credit file, it’s a sign that your an active participant in the market and that you have a credit history. There are problems start to when you have too many of these in a short space of time. Think about it from a lender’s perspective. If they can see that you have tried to apply for credit, say five times in the past month, it’s a sign that your first attempt at getting credit has been unsuccessful. This will reflect negatively on you. Use your best judgement and common sense and if you have any issues speak to a lender’s representative directly. Hope this helps. Jacob.
I currently have a CBA low rate mastercard. My repayment rate is 55 days interest fee on all purchases and 12.99% there after. Cash advances are at $21.24%.
I mainly want to ensure I am getting the best value when it comes to credit cards and looking to transfer my balance if not…..
Hi Michelle. Great question. You’ll find that cash advance rates are consistent across providers. Please check our 0% purchase cards page for cards with interest free promotions when you make a purchase and our low interest rate page for credit cards with low purchase rates. It’s also worth comparing your card against cards that do not charge an annual fee. Awesome stuff for keeping on top of your card situation and searching for the best value for money. Jacob.
On a ANZ platinum card, you can balance transfer for 0% for 9 months. Is there an additional balance tranfer cost with this bank?
If so, are there other banks that do not charge this additional cost?
Hi Milly. Thanks for your question. Some banks do charge a fee for processing a balance transfer from time to time; however, there are currently no cards that charge a balance transfer fee for new customers. So when you carry out a balance transfer, these are the only charges you will incur: the balance transfer promotional rate of interest and the cards annual fee (if applicable) – this is assuming you don’t spend on the card – the minimum monthly repayment is calculated from this. There are no fees for paying a balance transfer balance out early, nor are there any fees for closing the account. Hope this helps, let us know if you have any more questions. Jacob.
i have card to transfer balance amount is 20000
Hi Zahld. Thanks for your question. If you would like to transfer a balance, you will need to apply for a credit card with a balance transfer promotion. Please watch this video to understand how the process works. And watch this video to find out what you need to do after a balance transfer has been carried out. You can elect to carry out a balance transfer when you apply for a new credit card, and the amount you can transfer up to a percentage of your approved credit limit. Let me know if you have any further questions. Jacob.
Just wondering, I have a credit card with ANZ Low rate, however I want to transfer my balance, so that I get some months 0% interest.
Hi Mary. Thanks for the question. The page you’re on, 0% balance transfer offers, compares the current 0% balance transfer offers available to apply for. If you’re wondering how the process works, you may want to watch these videos.
For information on balance transfers, check this video on balance transfer basics.
This video explains what you need to do after a balance transfer.
And this video shows how the online application process works.
You apply for a balance transfer when you apply for a credit card. A bank or lender will let you transfer up to a percentage of your approved credit limit. Check this page for balance transfer limits.
Let us know if you have any further questions. Jacob.
Is the St.George Vertigo MasterCard included in 0% balance transfer?
Hi Umesh. Thanks for your question. Check the St.George Vertigo Review and Application page for the most up to date information about this card. Jacob.
Hi guys just a quick one
Thank you for the reply
and you input I notice we all come for advice and rarely do we say thanks for you time and valuable knowledge in this area
Cheers
Bernie