Best No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Cards

A balance transfer credit card can save you money by moving debt from a high-interest card to a new card with a lower promotional interest rate — ideally 0% for a year or more — so you can pay off that debt more easily. The transaction isn't without a cost, though. Most cards charge a balance transfer fee, typically 3% to 5% of the amount transferred. Put another way, every $1,000 in debt you transfer could cost you $30 to $50.

When you’re paying down debt, every cent counts. So the ideal balance transfer credit card would have a $0 balance transfer fee, as well as a $0 annual fee and a long 0% intro APR period. At one point in the mid-2010s, such "triple-zero" cards weren't too difficult to find, and several major issuers made such offers available, including Chase, Bank of America® and American Express.

But times have changed. Today, no major credit card issuer has an option with both a $0 transfer fee and a 0% APR period. If you're hoping to transfer debt without paying a fee, you'll have to look to a smaller bank or a credit union — and even then, your options are sharply limited.

Below, we've identified a handful of cards that don't charge a balance transfer fee. If you can't find one that's a feasible option for you, consider a regular balance transfer card that does have a fee. You can still save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest. We've also collected some good options with a fee (jump ahead to those).

» MORE: What is a balance transfer, and should I do one?

Credit cards with no balance transfer fees

Frankly, the number of cards that offer balance transfers without a balance transfer fee has always been small, and it's even smaller now. The number that are available nationwide is even smaller still. These cards tend to come from credit unions, which require membership, or regional banks that don’t operate in every state.

For example, the ESL Visa Credit Card from ESL Federal Credit Union has no balance transfer fee, charges no annual fee and has a 0% APR on transfers for 12 months. But to qualify for the card, you must be a member of the credit union — and membership is limited to residents in 10 counties around Rochester, New York. Similarly, the TDECU Onyx Mastercard has a $0 annual fee, a $0 transfer fee and a yearlong 0% period — but you have to live in Texas to get it.

Here are some options that may be available beyond a small regional footprint, although restrictions may still apply.

Navy Federal Credit Union® Platinum Credit Card

The offer: The Navy Federal Credit Union® Platinum Credit Card has no balance transfer fee and charges 0.99% intro APR on qualifying balance transfers for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 11.49%-18.00%, Variable APR, as of April 2024. This offer applies to transfers in the first 60 days of account opening.

The fine print: You must be eligible for Navy Federal Credit Union membership, which is generally open to military members and veterans, Department of Defense civilian personnel, and the families of such people.

Kinecta MyPower

The offer: The MyPower card from Kinecta Federal Credit Union has no balance transfer fee and charges an introductory APR of 4.99% on balance transfers for 18 months, as of April 2024. After the intro period ends, the ongoing APR is 13.24% to 18% (variable). Obviously, a 4.99% interest rate is more expensive than 0%, but it is significantly lower than the typical credit card rate.

The fine print: You must be a member of Kinecta Federal Credit Union to apply for the card. There are multiple ways to qualify directly — such as based on where you live, work or go to school, or through a relationship to a current member. Anyone else can join by becoming a member of the affiliated Innovision Society.

Bethpage Federal Credit Union cards

The offer: This issuer's Low Rate, Cash Back and Rewards-Points cards charge no balance transfer fee and offer an introductory APR of 2.99% to 4.99% (based on your creditworthiness) for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers. After the intro period, the ongoing APR as of April 2024 was 13.4% to 18% (variable), depending on your creditworthiness and which card you get.

The fine print: You must be a member of Bethpage Federal Credit Union, although anyone can join by opening a savings account with at least $5.

Greylock Federal Credit Union cards

The offer: Members of this Massachusetts-based credit union can get a card that charges no balance transfer fee and has a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, followed by an ongoing APR of 12.5% to 18% (variable), as of April 2024. The offer is available on the credit union's Low Rate, Rewards and Signature Rewards cards.

The fine print: You must be a member of Greylock Federal Credit Union. Those who can't qualify based on where they live, work, attend school or volunteer can still join by becoming a member (for free) of an "affiliated membership group" such as the American Consumer Council or the Berkshire Humane Society. Also, in April 2024, a notice posted on the Greylock website said that in order to deter fraud, new credit union members applying for a new loan or credit card would have to appear in person at a branch.

CorPlatinum Visa Credit Card

The offer: This card from CorTrust Bank usually charges a balance transfer fee of 3%, with a $10 minimum and $100 maximum. But the fee is waived for transfers performed at the time you open the card. There's a 0% intro APR period for six months on purchases and balance transfers. As of April 2024, the ongoing APR is 14.49% to 21.49% (variable).

The fine print: According to the CorTrust website, you can apply for the card only if you have a CorTrust checking or savings account, have a CorTrust loan, or live in a "CorTrust Bank community." The bank has about three dozen branches in South Dakota and Minnesota.

» MORE: What is a balance transfer, and should I do one?

Cards to consider despite their balance transfer fee

Sometimes, the best feature of a credit card is that it actually exists. If you're open to the idea of a balance transfer fee, your options expand considerably. Look for a 3% fee, which is on the low end of the typical range. A $0 annual fee and a long no-interest period make these cards even more valuable. Here are some examples of what’s available:

» MORE: How to choose a balance transfer credit card

How important is it to pay no balance transfer fee?

If you intend to pay down your balance in three months or less, the balance transfer fee could exceed what you’d save on interest. If that’s the case, you may be better off sticking with the card you already have.

But the longer you need to get out of debt, and the higher your current interest rate, the more beneficial a balance transfer becomes, even if you have to pay a fee.