How credit-card balance transfers work in 2026

A balance transfer moves debt from one card to another, usually at a lower introductory rate. You pay a fee on the amount you move — often 3 to 5 percent — and the clock starts on the promo window the day the transfer posts. Do the math before you apply. A 4 percent fee on $6,000 is $240. That is only worth it if the interest you would have paid on the old card during the promo period is higher than $240, and if you can clear the new balance before the regular rate returns. Stop using the old card once the transfer is approved. New purchases on either card can eat the promo if the issuer applies payments to the cheaper balance first. Pay more than the minimum every month and aim to finish one or two months early. Read the offer for a “go-to” rate and a penalty clause. A single late payment can cancel the intro APR. Set the due date to the day after payday and turn on autopay for at least the minimum so a missed click does not reset the deal.