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Is a Balance Transfer Right for You?

Ditch your credit card debt once and for all.

As you may know, if you carry balances on any of your credit cards, you’re accumulating interest every month. Not only does that add to your overall amount owed, but it also makes it harder to chip away at your debt. If that sounds accurate to your current situation, then a balance transfer may be a good choice.

How does a balance transfer work?

Balance transfers allow you to take the amount owed on your high interest credit card and move it to one with a lower interest rate for an introductory period, usually about 12 months. This lower interest rate allows you to save money on interest over time while putting more toward your principal amount. You can also benefit from consolidating several balances into one, leaving you with fewer due dates and payments to keep track of.

Is transferring worth it?

It’s important to be aware and consider a few details before you decide if a balance transfer is right for you:

  • When the promotional rate ends. Most offers have a low promotional rate to entice you to switch. Be sure you know when this rate ends and what it will change to when it does!
  • Whether or not there's a fee. Sometimes there can be fees associated with these types of promotions, which generally run between 3-5% of the transferred amount. Despite this fee, the long-term savings from your rate will usually outweigh the upfront cost of the fee.

It’s also important to understand the impact of constantly jumping from one offer to another, especially when it comes to your credit. If you're not devoted to paying off your debt, it may be easy to fall in to the cycle of redeeming a new balance transfer when the promotional rate ends. While you might continue saving on interest, opening new credit cards can negatively impact your credit score.

Ready to consolidate your debt?

First things first, are you a Clearview member? If not, you can apply to open a credit card with us using our online application. You can choose between our Platinum Mastercard® or our Premium World® Mastercard®.

Once you’re a Clearview member or if you’re an existing member and you’ve been approved for either of our Mastercards, it’s time to request a balance transfer! The actual process can take some time to complete, so be sure you stay on top of your current payment to avoid any potential late fees.

If you’re ready to take control of your finances, a balance transfer with Clearview may be a great financial move for you. Curious to know how much you could save? Use our calculator to find out how much.

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