Comparing balance transfer credit cards online since 2002
What is a long balance transfer card? What is the longest balance transfer credit card currently available in the UK? These are both popular questions that we see often on the topic of long balance transfer credit cards.
Currently in the UK, there are around 60 UK credit cards, available online, that have 0% introductory offers on balance transfers. The length of these 0% balance transfer offers do vary from card to card.
The UK credit card companies frequently change their 0% deals and offers. As a result the longest balance transfer offer also changes on a regular basis.
Longest Balance Transfer Credit Card
0% introductory offers on UK long balance transfer cards have increased over the years. In 2002, for example, a long balance transfer card had an offer of just 0% for 6 months on balance transfers.
However, by January 2018 the longest balance transfer credit cards in the UK, were much longer. Then, the leading long balance transfer credit cards had offers of 0% for up to 43 months on balance transfers.
The longest balance transfer offer currently available in the UK, is however, now shorter than this. The recent Coronavirus pandemic and Bank of England warnings about the level of consumer credit, have seen the UK credit card issuers tighten their lending.
The following popular featured 0% balance transfer credit cards include some of the longest balance transfer credit cards available in the UK:-
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Card Offers
Card Details
- 0% for 28 months on balance transfers made within 90 days of account opening
- 2.99% 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
Application Criteria
- 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
Card Offers
Card Details
- 0% interest for up to 27 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
Application Criteria
- 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
Card Offers
Card Details
- 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
Application Criteria
- 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
Card Offers
Card Details
- 0% for 15 months on balance transfers made within 90 days of account opening
- 2.99% balance transfer fee, minimum £5
- 0% on purchases for 18 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
Application Criteria
- 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
Card Offers
Card Details
- 0% interest for 24 months for balance transfers made within 60 days
- 3% balance transfer fee, minimum £5
- 0% interest on purchases for 4 months from account opening
- All successful applicants will receive this exact rate and offer
- Online account management
- Annual Fee: None
Application Criteria
- Only available to customers who have held a Co-operative Bank or smile current account for 1 month or more
- You are a UK resident
- You have annual income of £10,000 or more
- You are aged 18 or over
Long Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Generally, a long balance transfer card will only be available to UK customers with a very good credit history. If you have had any recent late or missed payments on any loans or cards, then it is unlikely that you will be accepted for a new long balance transfer card.
Some of the UK credit card companies, but not all of them, now show their 0% balance transfer offers as “0% for up X months”. This means that only some customers will be accepted for the longest balance transfer offer. Other customers who apply, will be offered a card with a shorter 0% balance transfer offer.
The credit card company will look at your own financial circumstance such as your monthly income and expenses. They will also look at your credit history and how much credit you already have available to you. Your choice of a Visa or Mastercard credit card will not affect their decision.
Longest Balance Transfer
If you do get accepted for a new long balance transfer card, the M and S balance transfer card, for example, then you need to follow several rules.
To make the most of your longest balance transfer offer then you do need to make the balance transfer from your existing card quickly. In fact, some of the long 0% introductory offers are only available for 60, or 90 days, after you apply for your new card. After this period any balance transfer will be made at the standard interest rate. This is typically around 23.9% APR.
In order to protect your longest balance transfer you also need to make regular monthly payments. Many card companies will remove your 0% offers, if you miss, or make the required monthly repayment late.
For this reason we would always suggest that you set up a direct debit payment for at least the minimum monthly payment. This way you will never forget to make the monthly payment on your long balance transfer card. You can always make additional payments, over and above the minimum required, and we would recommend that you do.
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