You’ll typically need a good to excellent credit score to qualify for a balance transfer credit card, especially one with a long 0% introductory APR period. A FICO score of 670 or higher generally puts you in the good-credit range, while borrowers with fair or poor credit will have fewer balance transfer options.
That doesn’t mean a 670 score guarantees approval. Credit card issuers consider other factors when reviewing your application, including your income, existing debt and overall credit profile.
Balance transfer cards can be especially valuable when credit card interest rates are high. The average APR on credit card accounts assessed interest was 22.15%, according to Federal Reserve data. Moving high-interest debt to a card with a 0% introductory APR can give you time to pay down your balance without additional interest charges during the promotional period.
Key takeaways
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A FICO score of 670 or higher will generally give you more balance transfer credit card options.
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In our review of 20 balance transfer cards from 10 issuers, 19 required good to excellent credit, while just one accepted applicants with fair credit.
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Having a qualifying credit score doesn’t guarantee approval; issuers may consider your income, debt and other factors.
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If you can’t qualify for a balance transfer card, alternatives include a debt consolidation loan, debt management plan or do-it-yourself debt payoff strategy.
What credit score is needed for a balance transfer credit card?
Most balance transfer credit cards are designed for borrowers with good to excellent credit, particularly cards offering a 0% introductory APR for 12 months or longer.
To get a better idea of what credit score you may need, we researched 20 top balance transfer cards from 10 different issuers. Of those cards, 19 required good to excellent credit. Only one accepted applicants with fair credit.
Here’s how FICO categorizes credit scores:
Your credit score is only one part of a credit card application. Even with good or excellent credit, approval isn’t guaranteed.
Can you get a balance transfer card with a 600 credit score?
It’s possible, but your options will likely be limited. A 600 FICO score falls within the fair credit range of 580 to 669. In our review of 20 balance transfer cards, only one accepted applicants with fair credit. None were designed for applicants with poor credit.
If your score is below 670, improving your credit before applying could give you more options. Making payments on time and paying down existing credit card balances can help strengthen your credit profile over time.
Why do balance transfer cards usually require good credit?
Balance transfer cards with long 0% introductory APR periods are often available to borrowers with stronger credit profiles because credit scores help lenders assess the risk that a borrower won’t repay their debt as agreed.
A higher credit score generally indicates a history of responsible credit management, while a lower score can indicate greater lending risk.
That distinction can be particularly important with a [balance transfer credit card], which allows you to move debt from another credit card and potentially pay no interest on that transferred balance during a promotional period.
Depending on the card, a [0% introductory APR] may last for several months or longer. You’ll typically need to pay a balance transfer fee, and any balance remaining after the introductory period ends will begin accruing interest at the card’s regular APR.
Can you get a balance transfer credit card with fair or poor credit?
Getting a balance transfer credit card with fair credit is possible, but choices are limited. Qualifying with poor credit can be significantly more difficult.
Our review illustrates the difference: Only one of the 20 balance transfer cards we researched accepted applicants with fair credit, while none accepted applicants with poor credit.
If your credit isn’t strong enough to qualify now, you may have more options once you improve it. Paying every bill on time and reducing your credit card balances can help improve your credit profile, although rebuilding credit can take time.
You can also consider other ways to manage your credit card debt rather than waiting to qualify for a balance transfer offer.
What can you do if you don’t qualify for a balance transfer card?
If your credit score is too low to qualify for a balance transfer credit card, you still have several options for paying down credit card debt.
Debt management plan
A debt management plan, or DMP, is a structured repayment plan typically arranged through a nonprofit credit counseling agency. A credit counselor may work with your creditors to reduce interest rates or fees and establish a repayment schedule.
Instead of making separate payments to each creditor, you make one payment to the counseling agency, which distributes the money to your creditors according to the plan.
Debt management plans are primarily used for unsecured debts, such as credit cards, and can be useful if you want additional structure and professional help managing your repayment plan.
Debt consolidation loan
A debt consolidation loan allows you to use a personal loan to pay off multiple credit card balances, leaving you with one installment loan and one monthly payment.
If you qualify for a loan with a lower APR than you’re currently paying on your credit cards, [consolidating your debt] could reduce the amount of interest you pay.
Borrowers with fair credit may have fewer options or receive higher rates. Having a creditworthy co-signer, when permitted by the lender, may improve your chances of qualifying for more favorable terms.
Debt avalanche or debt snowball
You can also pay down your credit cards without opening another account. Two common strategies are the debt avalanche and debt snowball methods:
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Debt avalanche: Make extra payments toward the debt with the highest interest rate first while continuing to make the required payments on your other accounts. Once that debt is paid off, put the extra money toward the balance with the next-highest rate.
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Debt snowball: Make extra payments toward your smallest balance first. After paying it off, roll that payment into the next-smallest balance. This approach prioritizes making visible progress rather than minimizing interest costs.
FAQs
What is the minimum credit score for a balance transfer credit card?
There isn’t one minimum credit score required for all balance transfer credit cards. Requirements vary by issuer and card. However, most of the cards we reviewed required good to excellent credit, which generally means a FICO score of at least 670.
Is a 600 credit score good enough for a balance transfer credit card?
You may be able to qualify for a balance transfer card with a 600 credit score, but your options will be limited. A 600 FICO score is considered fair credit, and only one of the 20 balance transfer cards we reviewed accepted applicants with fair credit.
Can I get a balance transfer card with a 650 credit score?
Possibly. A 650 FICO score falls within the fair credit range, so you may have fewer options than someone with good or excellent credit. Approval also depends on the issuer’s requirements and other information in your application.
Does applying for a balance transfer credit card hurt your credit score?
Applying for a balance transfer credit card can temporarily affect your credit score because the issuer will typically perform a hard inquiry on your credit report.
Opening a new card can also affect other factors used to calculate your score, including the average age of your accounts and credit utilization. How your score changes will depend on your overall credit profile.
How can I improve my chances of qualifying for a balance transfer card?
Before applying, check your credit score so you have an idea of which cards you’re likely to qualify for. Paying your bills on time and reducing your existing credit card balances can help improve your credit over time.
You can also review a card’s credit requirements before applying and use prequalification tools when available. Prequalification doesn’t guarantee approval, but it may help you gauge your chances without immediately submitting a full application.
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.