Compare long term balance transfer credit cards

Need more time to repay your debt? See which interest free balance transfer card is best for you.

Best for no-fee balance transfers
NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card logo
NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card
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24.9% APR representative variable
3.5 ★★★★★
Balance transfers are interest-free for 13 months
No balance transfer fee
No annual fee
Best for no account fee
Santander Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer Credit Card logo
Santander Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer Credit Card
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23.9% APR representative variable
4 ★★★★★
No annual fee
3 months to spread the cost of purchases
Over 2 years to reduce existing card debt
Best for 0% balance transfers
Barclaycard Platinum 28 Month Balance Transfer Visa logo
Barclaycard Platinum 28 Month Balance Transfer Visa
24.9% APR representative variable
4 ★★★★★
No annual fee
0% interest on transferred balances for over 2 years to reduce card debt
Access ticket pre-sales with Barclaycard Entertainment

Compare long term balance transfer credit cards

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Name Product Rating Finder score Balance transfers Balance transfer fee Purchases Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Incentive Link
Santander Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 26 months reverting to 23.9%
3% (min. £5)
0% for 3 months reverting to 23.9%
£0
23.9% APR (variable)
Sign up for Santander Boosts to receive cashback, vouchers, offers and prize draws from selected retailers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 23.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Royal Bank of Scotland Longer Balance Transfer Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 23 months reverting to 24.9%
3.49%
0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
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Royal Bank of Scotland Purchase & Balance Transfer Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 19 months reverting to 24.9%
2.99%
0% for 19 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
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NatWest Longer Balance Transfer Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 23 months reverting to 24.9%
3.49%
0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
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HSBC Purchase Plus Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 16 months reverting to 24.9%
3.49%, min £5
0% for 18 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable). You might get different interest rates and promotional periods to those shown here, because these depend on your circumstances.
Check eligibility
NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 13 months reverting to 24.9%
0%
0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
Go to site
Royal Bank of Scotland Balance Transfer Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 13 months reverting to 24.9%
0%
0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
Go to site
HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 24 months reverting to 24.9%
3.49% fee, min £5
0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable). You might get different interest rates and promotional periods to those shown here, because these depend on your circumstances.
Check eligibility
M&S Bank Credit Card Transfer Plus Offer Mastercard
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 26 months reverting to 24.9%
3.49%, min £5
0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
1 point per £1 spent with M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. Enjoy 55 days interest free, preferential rates plus no cash advance fee when buying M&S travel money with the card.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
NatWest Purchase & Balance Transfer Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 19 months reverting to 24.9%
2.99%
0% for 19 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
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What is a balance transfer credit card?

If you’re struggling to pay off an existing credit card debt, you could move your debt to a card with a long-term balance transfer offer. Then you can repay your credit card with no interest for up to 28 months.

Before you get started, you can use this guide to compare credit cards with a long interest-free balance transfer and discover the features you should consider before you apply.

What is a long term balance transfer card?

A long term balance transfer credit card offers a 0% interest rate on balance transfers for up to 28 months. Some other cards may charge no interest for only 6 to 18 months.

Cards with a long interest-free balance transfer deal are designed to help cardholders who have a high outstanding balance or want more time to repay their debt without interest. At the end of the promotional period, any remaining debt will incur a higher rate, so you’ll need to pay off the balance before then to avoid it.

Be aware that making a long term balance transfer doesn’t mean you can take a break from payments. Ensure you make the minimum monthly payment by the due date on your statement.

How to compare long term 0% balance transfer offers

Before you apply for a card with a long balance transfer deal, there are some factors to consider – we’ve set them out below.

  1. How long is the interest-free period? These cards generally offer 0% on balance transfers for up to 28 months, but the exact promotion will vary between cards. To decide how long you’ll need, consider the size of your debt and divide it by the number of months in the promotional period. This is how much you’ll have to pay each month to clear the debt before the standard interest rate applies. If you don’t think you can afford this each month, consider a card with a longer interest-free period to reduce and spread out your monthly repayments.
  2. Is there a balance transfer fee? You might be charged a balance transfer fee when you first move your debt. This one-time fee can range between 0% and 4% of the transfer amount. This can eat into your overall savings, so it’s important to compare. For example, if you had a £3,000 debt, a 2.5% transfer fee would cost you £75. This £75 fee would be added to the balance and would also be included under the 0% interest-free period if offered.
  3. What is the standard interest rate? At the end of the promotional period, any remaining balance will attract the standard interest rate. Annual percentage rates (APRs) on these types of credit cards usually range between 10% and 34.9% a year. Always aim to repay your entire balance before this interest rate applies, but it’s still worth knowing the rate so you’re not hit with a nasty surprise when the introductory period ends.
  4. Does the card charge an annual fee? Some cards with a long term balance transfer don’t charge an annual fee for life or at least for the first year. Others charge annual fees that can range from tens to hundreds of pounds. Before you apply, you should make sure that the annual fee doesn’t offset the savings you’ll get from the interest-free period. When you use the balance transfer calculator in this guide, the amount saved column considers both the annual fee and balance transfer fee.

Bottom line: Are long term balance transfer credit cards worth it?

A long term balance transfer credit card can help you get your debt under control without the additional cost of interest. However, it’s important that you plan ahead to ensure you can pay off your debt in full before the standard APR applies to get the most out of your 0% balance transfer card.

Want to know more? Check out our guide to 0% balance transfer credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.

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