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Instant Balance Transfer

Instant Balance Transfer

An instant balance transfer credit card is a credit card with an introductory balance transfer offer, that provides the customer with an instant decision on approval.

Why do UK card customers look for an instant balance transfer credit card?

With these immediate balance transfer credit cards the customer receives a faster decision. As a result, you can know the outcome within a couple of minutes of applying for the card. You then know whether or not, you will be able to make the balance transfer, you have requested.

Instant Balance Transfer Credit Card

More and more of the interest free balance transfer credit cards available online in the UK, in 2024, do now offer an online balance transfer decision.

An increasing number of the credit card companies are now able to offer an instant decision balance transfer credit card. These cards are able to provide an online decision at the end of the customer’s application process.

However, some UK credit card companies, including MBNA for example, do still restrict online balance transfer approvals to daytime hours, during the working week. These companies generally do not approve customers for new credit cards late at night, during weekends, or on bank holidays.

Immediate Balance Transfer Credit Cards

0% balance transfer credit cards with an instant decision, can allow you to save money by making a balance transfer to a new 0% card. During the introductory 0% balance transfer offer period, you will pay no interest.

All of your monthly repayments, during the 0% introductory offer period, will go towards reducing your outstanding debt. As a result, you can also repay your overall debt faster, as all of your payments will reduce your outstanding debt.

The following popular featured 0% cards are suitable for customers looking for balance transfer credit cards and an instant decision :-


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Balance Transfers:
0% for up to 24 months
Balance Transfer Fee:
3.49%
Purchases:
0% for 3 months
Representative APR:
24.9% APR (variable)
HSBC Balance Transfer*
  • 0% interest for up to 24 months on balance transfers made within first 60 days of account opening
  • 3.49% balance transfer fee applies (minimum £5)
  • 0% interest on purchases for 3 months from account opening
  • At end of promotional period, balance transfers and purchases will revert to standard variable rate
  • Worldwide offers and discounts with HSBC home&Away
  • Manage your card online
  • Annual Fee: None
HSBC Balance Transfer*
  • You have an annual income or pension before tax of £6,800 or more
  • You are a UK resident
  • You are aged 18 or over
  • You do not hold an HSBC Basic bank account
Representative Example: 24.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 24.9% p.a. (variable)
Credit is subject to status, affordability and applicable terms and conditions. You might get different interest rates and promotional periods to those shown here, because these depend on your circumstances.
No balance transfers allowed to this card from first direct, HSBC or M&S credit cards
Balance Transfers:
0% for up to 26 months
Balance Transfer Fee:
3.49%
Purchases:
0% for 3 months
Representative APR:
24.9% APR (variable)
M&S Transfer Plus*
  • 0% for up to 26 months on balance transfers made within 90 days of account opening
  • 3.49% balance transfer fee, minimum £5
  • 0% on purchases for 3 months from account opening
  • Collect M&S points every time you shop anywhere in the world with your card
  • One point for every £1 you spend in M&S and one point for every £5 you spend elsewhere
  • Manage account online
  • Annual Fee: None
M&S Transfer Plus*
  • You are a UK resident
  • You have an annual income or pension of at least £6,800
  • You are aged 18 or over
  • You have not held a credit card with M&S Bank within the previous 12 months
Representative Example: 24.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 24.9% p.a. (variable)
No balance transfers allowed to this card from first direct, HSBC or M&S credit cards
Balance Transfers:
0% for up to 16 months
Balance Transfer Fee:
3.49%
Purchases:
0% for up to 18 months
Representative APR:
24.9% APR (variable)
HSBC Purchase Plus*
  • 0% interest for up to 16 months on balance transfers made within first 60 days of account opening
  • 3.49% balance transfer fee applies (minimum £5)
  • 0% interest on purchases for up to 18 months from account opening
  • At end of promotional period, balance transfers and purchases will revert to standard variable rate
  • Worldwide offers and discounts with HSBC home&Away
  • Manage your card online
  • Annual Fee: None
HSBC Purchase Plus*
  • You have an annual income or pension before tax of £6,800 or more
  • You are a UK resident
  • You are aged 18 or over
  • You do not hold an HSBC Basic bank account
Representative Example: 24.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 24.9% p.a. (variable)
Credit is subject to status, affordability and applicable terms and conditions. You might get different interest rates and promotional periods to those shown here, because these depend on your circumstances.
No balance transfers allowed to this card from first direct, HSBC or M&S credit cards
Balance Transfers:
0% for up to 12 months
Balance Transfer Fee:
3.49%
Purchases:
0% for up to 20 months
Representative APR:
24.9% APR (variable)
M&S Purchase Plus*
  • 0% for up to 12 months on balance transfers made within 90 days of account opening
  • 3.49% balance transfer fee, minimum £5
  • 0% on purchases for up to 20 months from account opening
  • Collect M&S points every time you shop anywhere in the world with your card
  • One point for every £1 you spend in M&S and one point for every £5 you spend elsewhere
  • Manage account online
  • Annual Fee: None
M&S Purchase Plus*
  • You are a UK resident
  • You have an annual income or pension of at least £6,800
  • You are aged 18 or over
  • You have not held a credit card with M&S Bank within the previous 12 months
Representative Example: 24.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 24.9% p.a. (variable)
No balance transfers allowed to this card from first direct, HSBC or M&S credit cards
Balance Transfers:
0% for 20 months
Balance Transfer Fee:
4.24%
Purchases:
0% for 3 months
Representative APR:
26.9% APR (variable)
Sainsbury’s Balance Transfer
  • 0% interest on balance transfers for 20 months
  • 3.24% or 4.24% balance transfer fee on transfers made within first 90 days (minimum £4)
  • 0% interest on purchases for your first 3 months
  • Collect up to 3 Nectar points per £2 in Sainsbury’s, Argos, and Habitat
  • Collect 1 Nectar point for every £5 spent on your card elsewhere
  • Online account management
  • Annual Fee: None
Sainsbury’s Balance Transfer
  • You have a permanent UK address
  • You have not been declined for credit in the last month
  • You do not have a history of bad credit
  • You are aged 18 or over
Representative Example: 26.9% APR representative (variable). Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and a purchase rate of 26.95% p.a. (variable)
No balance transfers allowed to this card from Sainsbury’s credit cards

Balance Transfer Credit Cards Instant Decision

Where a credit card company can not make an instant decision online, then they are most likely to refer the application. This referral process will often require further manual checks by a credit analyst employed by the bank, or credit card company.

These manual checks can often delay the approval decision for the balance transfer credit card, by a number of days. If the customer needs to provide further information to the bank, or card company, then this can further slow down the approval process.

With the introduction of the faster payments regulations for banks, UK balance transfers themselves now take much less time to process. In the past a balance transfer could take weeks, but most transfers are now done within days. Our page on how long a balance transfer takes, has more information on this topic.

An instant decision balance transfer credit card is available from a range of different UK card companies. These immediate balance transfer credit cards are available using both the Visa, and the MasterCard, payment networks.

Both of these payment networks mean that any 0% balance transfer credit card issued by a bank, or a credit card company in the UK, will also be accepted at millions of hotels, restaurants and retailers all around the world.


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Published: March 6, 2024, Updated: March 6, 2024 by Balance Transfer Expert

All 0% balance transfer credit card offers on this website are updated daily