Is a Balance Transfer Card Harder to Get Right Now?
- Balance transfer cards have low promotional interest rates that can help with paying off debt.
- If you have good credit, you might qualify for a balance transfer card.
- For truly serious debt, consider a debt relief program to get back on your feet.
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You’re ready to pay off your debt, and you want to do it as quickly and cheaply as possible. A balance transfer card could help. This type of credit card lets you refinance your debt at a lower rate for a limited period, and rates can be as low as 0%.
But how hard is it to get a balance transfer card right now? Maybe easier than you’d think, as there are quite a few options available, from dozens of credit card issuers.
How Does a Balance Transfer Card Work?
A balance transfer credit card usually offers a low introductory interest rate. The most popular balance transfer cards often have a 0% intro rate that generally lasts anywhere from six to 24 months.
During the intro period, also called the promotional period, these cards don’t charge interest on balance transfers. A balance transfer is when you move debt from one card to another. These cards do typically charge a balance transfer fee of around 3% to 5% of the amount you transfer.
So you pay a small fee upfront in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you have high-interest debt, that tradeoff could be well worth it. The average interest rate on credit cards is over 21%. With a balance transfer card, you could take that down to 0% during the promotional period.
Is It Hard to Get a Balance Transfer Card?
Every credit card issuer has its own qualification criteria. You normally need a good credit score—at least about 670 to 700—to qualify for a balance transfer card. Card issuers also look at your income compared to the amount of debt you have.
Balance transfer cards are widely available, so if you don’t quite qualify for one, you could apply for another. A 2025 LendingTree report found that there were 109 balance transfer cards available from 31 card issuers. The same number of balance transfer cards were available in 2024.
Credit card issuers sometimes change the cards they offer, depending on economic conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many card issuers stopped offering balance transfer cards. But balance transfer cards have been available for a few years since then.
How to Make the Most of a Balance Transfer Card
The low rate you get from a balance transfer card only lasts a limited time. After the promotional period ends, the interest rate goes up to a more typical credit card rate—often 20% or more. You usually save the most with a balance transfer card if you pay as much as you can during the promotional period. That way, you’ll have less debt or no debt at all once the interest rate increases.
As you pay down your debt, try to avoid taking on any new debt. Adding new debt while you’re trying to pay down debt is like running on a hamster wheel. You’ll get nowhere fast.
Plus, if you use your balance transfer card or your old credit cards for more purchases, you’ll have more to pay back, probably at a high interest rate. Many balance transfer cards only have a low interest rate on balance transfers, but not purchases.
You may want to stick to cash or your debit card to pay your bills. This is a simple way to avoid adding more debt to the mix.
Alternatives for Managing Debt
If a balance transfer doesn’t make sense in your situation or you don’t qualify for one, you have other options. You could:
Apply for a debt consolidation loan. You could get a lower interest rate and a fixed payment schedule on your debt with a consolidation loan.
Ask your creditors about forbearance. Forbearance is an agreement to temporarily put payments on hold due to financial hardship.
Get credit counseling. A credit counselor can help you start a debt management plan and coach you on better money management skills while you’re in the plan.
See if you can negotiate a debt settlement for a lower amount. You could also work with a professional debt settlement company that can negotiate for you.
File bankruptcy. If you have more debt than you can pay back, bankruptcy could be a way out.
A debt consolidation loan is the most similar to a balance transfer. With both of these options, you refinance your debt to get a lower interest rate. You could also possibly get a lower monthly payment amount.
If you’re having a hard time keeping up with your payments, forbearance, credit counseling, or debt settlement could be good options. Forbearance makes sense if you don’t have a job at the moment, since it puts a pause on your payments. Credit counseling is a way to get personalized advice for your situation. If you can pay some of your debt, just not all of it, then debt settlement may be the best fit.
Finding the Best Repayment Strategy for Your Debt
Balance transfer cards are one of several tools that can help with debt. This type of card could work for you if you have good credit, and you think you can make a serious dent in your debt during the promotional period.
If you have a substantial amount of debt or if your credit score is on the low side, a balance transfer might not be the best option. In that case, try one of the alternatives mentioned above. You can always find a way out of debt. You just need to figure out which solution is right for you.
Learn More:
A look into the world of debt relief seekers
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking the best debt relief company for them during June 2025. This data highlights the wide range of individuals turning to debt relief.
FICO scores and enrolled debt
Curious about the credit scores of those in debt relief? In June 2025, the average FICO score for people enrolling in a debt settlement program was 594, with an average enrolled debt of $26,445. For different age groups, the FICO scores varied. For instance, those aged 51-65 had an average FICO score of 591 and an enrolled debt of $28,619. The 18-25 age group had an average FICO score of 556 and an enrolled debt of $15,107. No matter your age or debt level, it's reassuring to know you're not alone. Taking the step to seek help can lead you towards a brighter financial future.
Credit card debt - average debt by selected states.
According to the 2023 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) the average credit card debt for those with a balance was $6,021. The percentage of families with credit card debt was 45%. (Note: It used 2022 data).
Unsurprisingly, the level of credit card debt among those seeking debt relief was much higher. According to June 2025 data, 88% of the debt relief seekers had a credit card balance. The average credit card balance was $16,425.
Here's a quick look at the top five states based on average credit card balance.
| State | Average credit card balance | Average # of open credit card tradelines | Average credit limit | Average Credit Utilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $15,683 | 7 | $24,102 | 84% |
| District of Columbia | $17,396 | 9 | $28,791 | 82% |
| Alaska | $20,496 | 9 | $27,261 | 80% |
| Oklahoma | $15,035 | 8 | $25,731 | 78% |
| Indiana | $14,039 | 8 | $26,156 | 78% |
The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a credit card balance over $0.
Are you starting to navigate your finances? Or planning for your retirement? These insights can help you make informed choices. They can help you work toward financial stability and security.
Tackle Financial Challenges
Don’t let debt overwhelm you. Learn more about debt relief options. They can help you tackle your financial challenges. This is true whether you have high credit card balances or many tradelines. Start your path to recovery with the first step.
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Author Information
Written by
Lyle Daly
Lyle is a financial writer for Freedom Debt Relief. He also covers investing research and analysis for The Motley Fool and has contributed to Evergreen Wealth and Monarch Money.
Reviewed by
Kimberly Rotter
Kimberly Rotter is a financial counselor and consumer credit expert who helps people with average or low incomes discover how to create wealth and opportunities. She’s a veteran writer and editor who has spent more than 30 years creating thousands of hours of educational content in every possible format.
Do balance transfers hurt your credit?
A balance transfer on its own doesn’t hurt your credit. When you apply for a balance transfer card, the application puts a hard inquiry on your credit file. A hard inquiry can cause a minor drop in your credit score. But if you’re approved for the card, you’ll have more total credit available, which could lower your credit utilization. Lower credit utilization can help raise your credit score.
What happens to an old credit card after a balance transfer?
After you complete a balance transfer, the transferred balance is removed from the old credit card. Nothing else happens to the card. You can continue to use it, but if you get into new debt, you could end up in the same position again. You may want to stop using the card or even close it so you can focus on getting debt free.
Can I have two balance transfer cards with the same bank?
Yes, you can have two balance transfer cards with the same bank. Most banks won’t let you transfer balances between two of their cards, though. For example, you could transfer a balance from a Chase card to a Citi card, but not from one Chase card to another Chase card.
Debt Solutions
