We verify balance transfer terms against each bank’s own disclosures rather than copying them from comparison sites. Below are the cards we have checked directly, what each one costs on a real balance, and the timing rule at each bank that quietly raises the fee, or removes the offer entirely, if you miss it.
Terms verified October 30, 2026. Card terms change without notice. Verify current rates and fees on the issuer’s application page before making a credit decision.
Balance transfer cards by bank
Sorted by how long the 0% period runs. The deadline column is how long you have to request the transfer after opening the account.
| Card | Bank | 0% on transfers | Transfer fee | Request deadline | APR after | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Diamond Preferred | Citi | 21 months | 3%, then 5% | 4 months | 16.74% to 27.49% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo Reflect | Wells Fargo | 21 months | 5% | 120 days | 17.74%, 24.24% or 28.49% | $0 |
| U.S. Bank Shield | U.S. Bank | 21 billing cycles | 5% | 60 days | 17.24% to 28.24% | $0 |
| Chase Slate | Chase | 21 months | 5% | None stated | 18.49% to 28.49% | $0 |
| Citi Simplicity | Citi | 18 months | 3%, then 5% | 4 months | 17.74% to 28.49% | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase | 15 months | 3%, then 5% | 60 days | 18.49% to 27.99% | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Flex | Chase | 15 months | 3%, then 5% | 60 days | 18.49% to 27.99% | $0 |
| Amex Blue Cash Everyday | American Express | 6 to 18 months, set at approval | 3% | 60 days, or no offer | 19.74% to 28.74% | $0 |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash | Wells Fargo | 12 months | 3%, then up to 5% | 120 days | 18.74%, 24.74% or 28.74% | $0 |
| Amex Blue Cash Preferred | American Express | 6 to 18 months, set at approval | 3% | 60 days, or no offer | 19.74% to 28.74% | $0, then $95 |
Four cards give you 21 months, and one of them is $120 cheaper
Citi Diamond Preferred, Wells Fargo Reflect, U.S. Bank Shield and Chase Slate all hold 0% for 21 months or billing cycles. Three of them charge 5% to move the balance. Citi Diamond Preferred charges 3%, provided you complete the transfer within four months of opening the account.
On a $6,000 balance that is $180 against $300. Same interest-free window, same $0 annual fee, $120 difference on day one.
That makes Diamond Preferred the cheapest long transfer we have verified. The other three earn their place on other terms: Reflect gives you 120 days to request the transfer instead of 60, Shield adds 0% on purchases across the same 21 billing cycles, and Slate sets no transfer deadline at all.
What each card costs on a $6,000 transfer
Assumes the transfer is completed inside the card’s window and the balance is cleared before the 0% period ends. The monthly figure is what it takes to finish on time, fee included.
| Card | Fee | Total owed | Months at 0% | Monthly payment to clear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Diamond Preferred | $180 | $6,180 | 21 | $295 |
| Wells Fargo Reflect | $300 | $6,300 | 21 | $300 |
| U.S. Bank Shield | $300 | $6,300 | 21 | $300 |
| Chase Slate | $300 | $6,300 | 21 | $300 |
| Citi Simplicity | $180 | $6,180 | 18 | $344 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $180 | $6,180 | 15 | $412 |
| Amex Blue Cash Everyday | $180 | $6,180 | 6 to 18, set at approval | $344 to $1,030 |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash | $180 | $6,180 | 12 | $515 |
| Amex Blue Cash Preferred | $180 | $6,180 | 6 to 18, set at approval | $344 to $1,030 |
The spread between the cheapest and most expensive monthly payment here is $220, and almost all of it comes from the length of the 0% window rather than the fee. A 3% fee on a 12-month card costs less up front than a 5% fee on a 21-month card and still leaves you paying $215 more every month.
Work out the monthly payment you can actually sustain first. Then compare fees among the cards that clear the balance inside their window at that payment. Choosing on fee alone is how people end up back at 25% APR with a balance still on the card.
Every bank sets a deadline, and they are not the same deadline
This is the detail that costs people the most, because the deadline is on the transfer request rather than on the 0% period, and it is shorter than most people expect.
- Wells Fargo, 120 days. The most forgiving window of the five. Miss it and the transfer does not get the introductory APR.
- Citi, four months at 3%. After that the fee on the same card rises to 5%.
- Chase, 60 days at 3% on the Freedom cards. After that it is 5%. Slate has no lower introductory fee and no stated deadline.
- U.S. Bank, 60 days. Missing it does not change the fee, which is 5% either way. It costs you the 0% rate.
- American Express, 60 days, and the strictest of the group. Amex states that only transfers requested within 60 days of account opening will be approved for the offer, so a late request lands at 19.74% to 28.74% rather than 0%.
Whichever bank you choose, have the old account numbers and payoff balances in hand before you apply, not afterward.
The 0% period itself is measured from account opening as well, not from the date the transfer posts. Waiting three weeks to request the transfer does not push the end date back. It spends three weeks of your interest-free window.
Processing takes weeks, and the old card is still due
Every issuer warns about this and almost nobody plans for it. American Express says a transfer can take up to six weeks, and will not start one until at least ten days after it has provided your Card Member Agreement. Wells Fargo says about two weeks.
Until the balance actually appears as credited on the old account, that account is live and its payment is due. A missed payment there is a late mark you inflicted on yourself, and on the new card a missed payment can cost you the promotional rate outright.
You cannot move a balance within the same bank
None of the five banks will accept a transfer from one of its own accounts. A Chase balance cannot move to a Chase card, a Citi balance cannot move to a Citi card, and Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank and American Express each exclude their own accounts and affiliates.
Check which bank issued your current card before you apply. This is the most common reason an approved application turns out to be useless.
Carrying a balance can cost you the grace period on purchases
Wells Fargo states it plainly, and the principle applies across issuers: “Balance transfers have no grace period. If you transfer amounts owed to another creditor and maintain a balance on this credit card account, you will not qualify for future grace periods on new purchases as long as a balance remains on this account.”
Some cards soften this by running 0% on purchases alongside the transfer. Wells Fargo Reflect, U.S. Bank Shield and both American Express Blue Cash cards do. Citi Diamond Preferred and Chase Slate do not.
The practical rule either way: put the transfer on the new card and nothing else.
Which issuers we have verified
We publish terms only after checking them against the bank’s own disclosure, so this list is shorter than what you will find on larger comparison sites. It is also current.
- Chase balance transfer cards, verified October 30, 2026
- Citi balance transfer cards, verified October 30, 2026
- American Express balance transfer cards, verified October 30, 2026
- Wells Fargo balance transfer cards, verified October 30, 2026
- U.S. Bank balance transfer cards, verified October 30, 2026
Common questions
Which bank has the longest 0% balance transfer period?
Four cards tie at 21 months: Citi Diamond Preferred, Wells Fargo Reflect, U.S. Bank Shield and Chase Slate. Diamond Preferred is the cheapest of the four because its introductory transfer fee is 3% rather than 5%, provided you complete the transfer within four months of opening the account.
Is a 3% fee always better than a 5% fee?
No. The fee is a one-time charge and the 0% period is what determines whether you finish in time. A 5% fee on a 21-month card is a better outcome than a 3% fee on a 12-month card if the shorter window would force a monthly payment you cannot sustain. On $6,000 the difference is $120 in fees against $215 a month.
How long do I have to make the transfer after opening the account?
It varies by bank: 120 days at Wells Fargo, four months at Citi, 60 days at Chase, U.S. Bank and American Express. Chase Slate states no deadline. Missing the window raises the fee at Chase and Citi, and costs you the 0% rate entirely at U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and American Express.
Does applying for a balance transfer card hurt my credit?
A new application produces a hard inquiry, which typically has a small and short-lived effect. Opening a new account also lowers your average account age. Working against that, moving a balance onto a new card raises your total available credit and lowers your utilization ratio, which is usually the larger factor. Keeping the old account open after the transfer preserves that available credit.
How much can I transfer?
Never more than the credit limit you are approved for, and the fee counts against that limit. Caps vary: Chase limits transfers to $15,000 within any 30-day period, American Express caps the eligible amount at $15,000, set after approval, and Wells Fargo sets no dollar figure but states that requests including fees cannot exceed your available credit. If your balance is larger than the approved limit, transfer part of it and keep paying down the rest on the original card.
What happens when the 0% period ends?
Any remaining balance starts accruing interest at the card’s regular APR, which ranges from roughly 16% to 29% variable on the cards above depending on the card and your credit. The promotional rate is not retroactive, so you are not charged interest for the months it was in effect, but there is no grace on what is left afterward.
Sources
- Chase card application and pricing disclosures, chase.com
- Citi card application and pricing disclosures, citi.com
- American Express rates and fees disclosures for Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred, americanexpress.com
- Wells Fargo credit terms and conditions for Reflect and Active Cash, wellsfargo.com
- U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card offer disclosures, usbank.com
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guidance on balance transfer fees and promotional rates
Related reading: how to calculate a balance transfer fee, what you need to qualify, and the mistakes that cost people the promotional rate.
All of the terms above, plus verification dates and a log of what has changed, are maintained in our Balance Transfer Terms Tracker.