Credit Card Balance Transfers: Pros, Cons, and Strategies

Credit card balance transfer means transferring balance amounts to a new card with improved conditions. By doing this, you can save money and handle your payments more efficiently. It streamlines the process and decreases credit card debt. Also, this process helps in improving your credit score. You can check your credit score using the CIBIL Score App. In this article, we’ll examine the pros and cons and strategies of credit card balance transfers and assist you in making well-informed decisions regarding your financial situation.

Pros of Credit Card Balance Transfer

Let’s discuss the pros of credit card balance transfer.

Consolidate your payments: 

You can merge multiple debts into one by transferring your credit card balances to a balance transfer card. It means you’ll have a single payment each month. It streamlines your financial management and helps you monitor your payments more easily. 

Save money on interest: 

One of the main benefits of balance transfers is the potential to decrease or eliminate interest charges. Many balance transfer cards offer a 0% introductory Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for a specific period. It lets you focus on paying the principal balance without accruing additional interest. It can help you save substantial money and pay off your debt quicker. By paying your debt quicker, you can also maintain a good credit score.

Improve your credit score:

A balance transfer can enhance your credit score by decreasing your debt and credit usage rate. When you transfer a balance to a fresh card, you boost your accessible credit, demonstrating that you use a smaller percentage of your total credit limit. It can positively affect your credit score. Moreover, taking advantage of a 0% or low introductory APR offer can assist you in repaying your debt more quickly, further improving your creditworthiness.

Switch to a better credit card:

If you’re unsatisfied with the terms and conditions of your current credit cards, a balance transfer can be an opportunity to transition to a card that offers more favorable terms. It may include a lower interest rate, a longer promotional period, or additional benefits like rewards or cashback. It’s important to assess the terms of the new card and ensure it aligns with your financial objectives.

Cons of Credit Card Balance Transfer

Following are the cons of credit card balance transfer.

Balance transfer fee:

Most balance transfer cards impose a fee, usually around 3% to 5% of the transferred amount. This fee can accumulate, so it’s essential to calculate whether the savings from the lower interest rate outweigh the cost of the fee. 

Limited promotional duration:

The temporary low or 0% introductory APR offered on balance transfer cards usually lasts for a specific period, like six months to 21 months. Once the promotional period ends, the interest rate may increase significantly, so planning your repayments is crucial. 

Risk of accumulating more debt:

It’s better to address the underlying cause of your debt and build a solid plan to pay it off. Doing this can prevent accumulating more debt if you get another credit card through a balance transfer. Having a budget and financial discipline is vital to avoid additional debt. 

Strategies for Credit Card Balance Transfer

You should follow these strategies when transferring your balance from one credit card to another. 

• Calculate the numbers to ascertain if a balance transfer will result in sufficient savings to justify the effort. 
• Develop a strategy to reduce your outstanding amounts as expeditiously as feasible. 
• Refrain from carrying out multiple balance transfers. 
• Consider merging your debts into a single card.
• Consider the balance transfer charge and ongoing APR. 
• Only apply for a balance transfer card if your credit is outstanding.
• Refrain from utilizing the balance transfer to downplay the actuality of your debt by making smaller payments for a few months.

Conclusion

In conclusion, balance transfer is a positive approach to reducing charges on your debt and paves the way to repay your debts quicker. However, you should have a healthy credit score to qualify for a balance transfer card with favorable terms, such as a low APR. You can check your credit score using the CIBIL score app. Your creditworthiness will impact both your approval chances and the interest rate you receive. Therefore, know the pros and cons of credit card balance transfers and develop a wise strategy before transferring your balance to another credit card.