How to transfer a balance to a Chase credit card

The interest rate on your credit card is too high. And because you carry a balance each month, that rate is costing you serious dollars.

If you’re considering making a balance transfer to a Chase credit card, here’s everything you need to know before applying – including card options, restrictions, balance transfer fees, chances of approval and even potential pitfalls.

See related: Best balance transfer credit cards

Chase balance transfer offers

Chase currently doesn’t offer any introductory APR options for consumers who want to transfer an existing balance (unless you are individually targeted). It does, however, offer a few intro APR promotions on new purchases, including:

Chase Freedom Unlimited

• 0% promotional period: First 15 months on new purchases after you open your account – but not on balance transfers.
• Regular APR: 14.99% to 23.74% (variable).
• Worth noting: 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2022), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, 1.5% cash back on all purchases; no annual fee; $200-sign-up bonus if you spend $500 in first three months.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

• 0% promotional period: 15 months on new purchases, but not on balance transfers.
• Regular APR: 14.99% to 23.74% (variable).
• Worth noting: 5% cash back on rotating categories that you must activate each quarter (up to $1,500 per quarter); 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2022); 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3% cash back on dining; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases; 1% cash back on general purchases; no annual fee; $200-sign-up bonus if Best no annual fee credit cards

  What you should know about Chase balance transfers before applying

  There are limits to balance transfers with Chase credit cards, according to the company.

  • Customers can’t transfer more than $15,000 in credit card debt within any 30-day period.
  • You can’t transfer your balance from an existing Chase card to another card issued by Chase.
  • Balance transfer requests take time. While Chase says that your debt will be transferred to your new card within a week, it can take up to 21 days.
  • You need to continue making payments on your existing card until you are certain that the balance transfer has closed.
  • Balance transfers won’t earn you rewards points or cash back, if the card you are transferring a balance to offers them.
  • There is no guarantee Chase will approve your balance transfer request. It might turn you down if you are past due on your existing card or if it believes you won’t be able to repayFICO credit score.

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  How to initiate a balance transfer to a Chase credit card

  If you already own a Chase credit card:

  • Log into your account and select the “transfer a balance” option. This will bring up the offers available to you.
  • To start the process, provide some basic information about the card from which you want to transfer a balance.

  If you are applying for a new Chase credit card:

  • Start a credit card application for a Chase balance transfer card.
  • make a plan to pay it off before any 0% offer expires.

    Steps you can take to ensure you will able to pay off your debt include creating a budget, choosing a payoff strategy and stashing your card to avoid making any extra charges.

    “Zero percent offers are an amazing deal if you plan to pay it off by the end of a promotional period,” said Aris Jerahian, AVP of card services at Anaheim, California-based Orange County’s Credit Union. “Unfortunately, most consumers focus on short-term goals, taking advantage of such deals while never paying off their balance in time.”

    Source: creditcards.com