Balance transfer credit cards

The minimum amount for balance transfers is £100. You can transfer up to 93% of your credit limit, including your existing balance, just to allow for fees and any other in-flight transactions.

It’s important to keep track of your payments and balance. You could lose any promotional interest rates if you break the terms and conditions of your credit card account, for example, by missing a payment or going over your credit limit.

More on how balance transfers work

When introductory interest rates expire, the standard interest rates will apply to any balances you haven’t repaid, potentially increasing your borrowing costs.

It’s important to know that you could lose your introductory rate if you don’t make at least the minimum payment on time each month, or you go over your credit limit. Making the monthly minimum payment probably won’t be enough to clear your balance before any offers expire, especially if you’ve used your card for other things, so pay more whenever you can.

Things to look out for:

• The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is usually based on the card purchase interest rate, accounting for standard account costs, such as annual fees. As well as giving you an idea about the annual cost of borrowing, the APR is also a quick way to compare credit products.
• The lowest and longest lasting introductory interest rates are usually offered on one transaction type, e.g. card purchases, so think about the main reason you need a credit card.
• You can use a balance transfer credit card to make purchases and other types of transaction, but higher interest rates might apply. You could avoid paying interest by repaying your balance in full every month.
• Only borrow what you can realistically afford to repay. Will you be able to make payments, even if your circumstances changed?

When applying for a credit card, it’s important to make sure the one you choose suits your needs.

If you have existing credit or store cards, a balance transfer credit card could help you bring everything together, making your finances easier to manage month-to-month.

Transferring your balances to another provider could also reduce your borrowing costs, but remember that transfer fees may apply.

Balance transfer credit cards might offer introductory interest rates for a period of time, sometimes as low as 0%, but make sure you understand any associated terms and conditions.

If you have other debts, such as a personal loan or overdraft that you want to combine, a debt consolidation loan could be an alternative borrowing option.

There are also other types of credit cards available that may be more suitable for your needs. Do your homework about what each card offers to find the one that’s right for you.

How to choose a credit card

Rather than display all of the credit cards we offer, we’ll only show you the ones you’re eligible to apply for. 

Provide a few basic details and our eligibility checker will do the rest, giving you a clearer idea of the credit limit and interest rate you could get. It also means you’re less likely to be declined, or offered a different rate when you submit a full credit application.

This check takes about five minutes to complete, and won’t affect your credit score. 

Check your eligibility

You can apply for a credit card if:

• You’re a UK resident, aged 18 or over, with a regular annual income.
• You are free of County Court Judgements (CCJs), Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs) or bankruptcies.
• You’re not unemployed or a student.
• You’ve not been declined for a Halifax credit card within the last 30 days.

You’ll need to complete an eligibility check first, then we’ll show you the credit cards, interest rates and credit limit we could offer you.

This check takes about five minutes to complete, and won’t affect your credit score. We’ll just need some basic details from you, including your name, address, and some information about your income and outgoings.

Once you’ve found the card you want to apply for, simply follow the instructions to complete a full credit application.

Check your eligibility or find out more about how to apply for a credit card.