Best Credit Card Balance Transfer Deals UK - Longest 0%, Life of Balance Rates

Credit Card Balance Transfers

Balance transfer is a transfer of a debt from one credit card onto another. Many credit card issuers offer introductory interest rates (introductory APRs) that are much lower than the standard interest rates. Consumers may take advantage of these lower rates to transfer balances from their higher interest credit cards to the new, lower interest credit cards to save money on interest charges.

Introductory 0% Offers
A number of UK credit card companies offer new customers 0% for balance transfers for an introductory period. You could save hundreds of pounds by switching your balance to a card offering 0% APR introductory rates.

The introductory period can be anything from 6 to 12 months after the card was issued although some of best 0% balance transfers can last as long as 15 months or more. The introductory APR serves as an incentive for transferring balances from existing cards onto a new card. After the introductory period the interest reverts to the standard rate.

Credit cards with the longest intro 0% APR period for balance transfers

Permanent Low Rates
If you are looking for a cheap way to pay off your balance, remember that zero rates for transfers tend to be for a fixed period. If you think your debts will take a while to clear it might be better to choose a card which offers a permanently low balance transfer rate.

Credit cards low life time balance transfer rates

Credit cards offering the longest introductory period for balance transfers are listed first.

Card	Intro Rate Balance Transfers	Intro Rate Purchases	Representative APR (variable)
Barclaycard Platinum Balance Transfer	0% for 24 months (Fee: 3.2%)	0% for 3 months	17.9%	Details / Apply
	Freeze your interest at 0% until 2014!
	Representative Example 17.9% representative APR variable 17.9% p.a.variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

HSBC Bank	0% for 23 months (Fee: 3.3% - min £5)	0% for 3 months	17.9%	Details / Apply
	This product is only available to existing HSBC customers
	Representative Example 17.9% representative APR variable 17.9% p.a.variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

Barclaycard Platinum Barclays Bank PLC 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP	0% for 22 months (Fee: 3.2%)	0% for 3 months	17.5%	Details / Apply
	Refund offer which reduces the handling fee to equivalent of 2.9% for everyone
	Representative Example 17.5% APR representative variable 17.5% p.a. variable on purchases £1,200 assumed credit limit

Halifax Balance Transfer	0% for 22 months on balance transfers up to £3,000 (Fee: 3.5% - min £3.50)	0% for 3 months	17.9%	Details / Apply
	You must have an annual income of £20,000 or more to apply
	Representative Example 17.9% APR representative variable 17.95% p.a. variable on purchases £1,200 assumed credit limit

Virgin	0% for 20 months (Fee: 2.99%)	0% for 3 months	16.8%	Details / Apply
	Suitable for homeowners with a good credit history, aged at least 25 and in full time employment Rewards: Cardholders can take advantage of exclusive instant savings across the Virgin group with discounted holidays, wine, gym membership, experience days and more.
	Representative Example 16.8% representative APR variable 16.8% p.a.variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

RBS Platinum The Royal Bank of Scotland plc. 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EN2 2YB	0% for 20 months (Fee: 2.9% - min £5)	0% for 6 months	17.9%	Details / Apply
	1% off the APR for Royalties Gold customers
	Representative Example Representative 17.9% APR (variable) based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200. Standard interest rate for purchases: 17.95% p.a. (variable) In the Representative Example above we have used an assumed credit limit of £1,200. The actual credit limit assigned to individual accounts will vary depending on our credit assessment of you. Pay 0% on balance transfers for 20 months (2.9% fee, min £5). This offer is only available online. Over 18s only. Minimum income to apply: £10k p.a.

NatWest Platinum	0% for 20 months (Fee: 2.9% - min £5)	0% for 6 months	17.9%	Details / Apply
	1% off the APR for Advantage Gold customers
	Representative Example Representative 17.9% APR (variable) based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200. Standard interest rate for purchases: 17.95% p.a. (variable) In the Representative Example above we have used an assumed credit limit of £1,200. The actual credit limit assigned to individual accounts will vary depending on our credit assessment of you. Pay 0% on balance transfers for 20 months (2.9% fee, min £5). This offer is only available online. Over 18s only. Minimum income to apply: £10k p.a.

Virgin All Round	0% for 16 months (Fee: 1.99% - min £3)	0% for 6 months	15.8%	Details / Apply
	Rewards: Cardholders can take advantage of exclusive instant savings across the Virgin group with discounted holidays, wine, gym membership, experience days and more
	Representative Example 15.8% representative APR variable 15.8% p.a.variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

AA Balance Transfer	0% for 16 months (Fee: 2.9%)	0% for 3 months	17.9%	Details / Apply
	Earn AA Rewards Points on all purchases plus double points on fuel and motoring spend Rewards: Collect AA Rewards Points and exchange them for a range of motoring products and services. Earn AA Reward Points every time you spend. Collect 1 AA point for every £1 you spend with double points on fuel and motoring purchases. Use your points to purchase from a range of motoring products and services
	Representative Example 17.9% representative APR variable 17.9% p.a.variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

Lloyds TSB Platinum	0% for 15 months (Fee: 3%)	0% for 3 months	17.9%	Details / Apply

	Representative Example 17.9% representative APR variable 17.95% p.a. variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

Halifax All In One	0% for 15 months (Fee: 3% - min £3)	0% for 15 months	17.9%	Details / Apply
	The APR and length of the promotional offer are dependent on your personal circumstances
	Representative Example 17.9% representative APR variable 17.95% p.a. variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

Bank of Scotland Advantage	0% for 13 months (Fee: 3% - min £3)	0% for 13 months	17.9%	Details / Apply
	To qualify you will need to have a Bank of Scotland Current Account which you pay £1,000 or more into each month or hold an Ultimate Reward Current Account.
	Representative Example 17.9% representative APR variable 17.95% p.a. variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

RBS YourPoints World	0% for 13 months (Fee: 2.9% - min £5)	0% for 13 months	17.9%	Details / Apply
	Introductory 2,500 bonus points to all new customers Rewards: The card gives you one reward point for every £1 you spend. Bonus points are also gifted on a yearly basis thereafter. Points can be redeemed against flights, holidays, shopping vouchers and experiences and at retail outlets including Marks & Spencer, Boots, easyJet, Harvey Nichols and Amazon
	Representative Example Representative 17.9% APR (variable) based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200. Standard interest rate for purchases: 17.95% p.a. (variable).

NatWest YourPoints World	0% for 13 months (Fee: 2.9% - min £5)	0% for 13 months	17.9%	Details / Apply
	Introductory 2,500 bonus points to all new customers Rewards: The card gives you one reward point for every £1 you spend. Bonus points are also gifted on a yearly basis thereafter. Points can be redeemed against flights, holidays, shopping vouchers and experiences and at retail outlets including Marks & Spencer, Boots, easyJet, Harvey Nichols and Amazon
	Representative Example Representative 17.9% APR (variable) based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200. Standard interest rate for purchases: 17.95% p.a. (variable).

Virgin Retail	0% for 13 months (Fee: 2.89%)	0% for 13 months	18.9%	Details / Apply

	Representative Example 18.9% representative APR variable 18.9% p.a.variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

Lloyds TSB Advance	4.9% for 12 months (Fee: 3%)	0% for 6 months	11.9%	Details / Apply

	Representative Example 11.9% representative APR variable 11.95% p.a. variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

AA Credit Card	0% for 12 months (Fee: 3% - min £3)	0% for 10 months	16.9%	Details / Apply
	Rewards: Earn AA Reward Points every time you spend. Collect 1 AA point for every £1 you spend with double points on fuel and motoring purchases. Use your points to purchase from a range of motoring products and services
	Representative Example 16.9% representative APR variable 16.9% p.a.variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

Play.com MBNA Europe Bank Limited Stansfield House, Chester Business Park, Wrexham Road, Chester, CH4 9QQ	0% for 6 months (Fee: 1.5% - min £3)	0% for 9 months	16.9%	Details / Apply
	Receive 1,500 bonus Play Points if you spend £150 on your card within the first 90 days Suitable for homeowners with a good credit history, aged at least 23 and in full time employment Rewards: Collect Play Points and redeem them for Play.com gift vouchers. Earn 2 points for every £1 you spend at Play.com and 1 point for every £1 you spend elsewhere.
	Representative Example 16.9% APR representative variable 16.9% p.a.variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

Barclaycard Simplicity Barclays Bank PLC 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP	7.9% (Fee: no fee)	7.9%	7.9%	Details / Apply
	Suitable for people with an income of £20,000 or more who have a good credit rating and have always made payments on time
	Representative Example 7.9% representative APR variable 7.9% p.a.variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit

Credit cards offering permanently low balance transfer rates

Card	Intro Rate Balance Transfers	Intro Rate Purchases	Representative APR (variable)
Barclaycard Simplicity Barclays Bank PLC 1 Churchill Place, London, E14 5HP	7.9% (Fee: no fee)	7.9%	7.9%	Details / Apply
	Suitable for people with an income of £20,000 or more who have a good credit rating and have always made payments on time
	Representative Example 7.9% representative APR variable 7.9% p.a.variable on purchase £1,200 credit limit