Transferring your existing balances to a card with a lower interest rate can help you get on top of existing credit card balances. Check out how balance transfer offers work and what to consider.
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Manage credit card debt with a balance transfer offer
What is a balance transfer?
When you transfer the balance you owe on your existing cards to another credit card with a different provider, this is known as a balance transfer.
Balance transfer offers
In some situations, you'll be offered a lower interest rate on balance transfers for a set period of time – like 0% p.a. for 12 months. This can be useful for consolidating debt into one place, which can make working out monthly repayments and budgeting easier.
Just make sure you know what interest rate you'll be rolling on to once the offer period ends.
How to make the most of your balance transfer
Work out a repayment plan
Understand what you can do to reduce your credit card debt in the most efficient way. If you have a transfer offer – and assuming you make no other purchases – you can divide the amount you've transferred by the number of months remaining on your offer and pay off as much of that as possible each month.
Streamline your cards
Consider closing your old credit card – this can help avoid unnecessary fees and will stop you from accruing more debt on that card.
Take advantage of interest free days on purchases
Benefit from interest free days on your purchases when you have a balance transfer.
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The information contained in this article is of a general nature and is not intended to be nor should it be considered as professional advice. You should not act on the basis of anything contained in this article without first obtaining specific professional advice. Also to the extent permitted by law, Bankwest, a division of Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL / Australian credit licence 234945, its related bodies corporate, employees and contractors accept no liability or responsibility to any persons for any loss which may be incurred or suffered as a result of acting on or refraining from acting as a result of anything contained in this article.