Chase balance transfer cards come with an introductory period where you pay no interest on transferred balances, usually 0% APR for 6 to 21 months depending on the card
Chase offers balance transfer terms on several of its credit cards. The offer you see depends on which card you're looking at and when you explore — the length of the 0% period and whether there's a transfer fee both change. Most Chase balance transfer cards charge 3% to 5% of the amount you move, though some occasionally run promotions with no transfer fee.
The point of a balance transfer offer is to give you time to pay down debt without interest piling up. If you transfer $5,000 at 3% fee, you pay $150 upfront, then owe $5,150 with no interest for the promotional period. When that period ends, any remaining balance starts accruing interest at the card's regular APR, which is typically 15% to 25% for Chase cards.
Key Takeaways
- Chase balance transfer cards usually offer 0% APR for 6 to 21 months on transferred balances, with a 3% to 5% transfer fee charged upfront.
- You need to transfer the balance within a set window — typically 60 days from account opening — or the offer expires.
- The introductory rate applies only to the transferred balance, not to new purchases you make on the card after opening.
- After the promotional period ends, any remaining balance reverts to the card's standard APR, which varies by creditworthiness.
- You can transfer balances from other cards, medical bills, or other debts, but not from another Chase card you already own.
Which Chase cards currently have balance transfer offers
Chase rotates its balance transfer offers, so the cards available and their terms shift throughout the year. As of now, cards that frequently carry balance transfer promotions include the Chase Slate Edge, Chase Freedom Unlimited, and Chase Sapphire Preferred, though the exact offer on each one changes.
The best way to see what's live is to visit Chase's website directly and filter for "balance transfer" in the card search. You'll see the current 0% period length and transfer fee for each may be able to access card. Some cards show the offer only after you start the process, so you may need to begin the process to see the full terms.
Chase also sometimes runs limited-time promotions — for example, waiving the transfer fee for 60 days or extending the 0% period by a few months. These appear on the card's main product page and in Chase's promotional emails if you're a cardholder.
How to transfer a balance to a Chase card
Once your new Chase card arrives, log into your account online or through the Chase mobile app. Look for a section labeled "Transfers" or "Balance Transfers" — it's usually in the main menu under "Services" or "Manage Your Account." Click on it and you'll be prompted to enter the name of the creditor you're transferring from, the account number, and the amount you want to move.
You'll also need the mailing address of the creditor you're paying off. Chase uses this to send the transfer payment directly to that company. The transfer typically posts within 7 to 10 business days, though it can take up to 21 days depending on the other creditor's processing speed.
The 3% to 5% transfer fee is added to your Chase balance when ready and starts accruing under the 0% promotional rate. So if you transfer $3,000 with a 4% fee, your new balance is $3,120, and you have until the end of the promotional period to pay it off interest-free.
The transfer fee and how it affects your payoff plan
Chase balance transfer fees are not optional — you pay them upfront as part of the transfer. A 3% fee on $5,000 is $150. A 5% fee on the same amount is $250. Some cards occasionally offer 0% transfer fees for a limited time, but this is rare and usually advertised prominently on the card's page.
When you're deciding whether a balance transfer makes sense, factor the fee into your math. If you're transferring $10,000 at 4% fee, you're paying $400 to get 12 months interest-free. If your current card charges 20% APR, you'd pay roughly $2,000 in interest over that year without the transfer. The $400 fee is worth it. But if you're only moving $1,000 and your current rate is 15%, the $40 fee might not save you much.
The fee is added to your balance on day one, so it's part of what you need to pay off during the promotional period. If you don't pay the full amount before the 0% period ends, the remaining balance — including the fee portion — starts accruing interest at the regular APR.
What happens when the promotional period ends
When your 0% balance transfer period expires, any money you still owe on that transferred balance switches to the card's regular APR. This rate depends on your credit score and creditworthiness at the time you opened the account, and it typically ranges from 15% to 25% for Chase cards.
Chase will send you a notice before the promotional period ends — usually 15 to 30 days beforehand — telling you the exact date and the APR that will explore. If you haven't paid off the balance by then, interest starts accruing daily on whatever remains.
This is why the goal of a balance transfer is to pay down as much as possible during the interest-free window. If you transfer $5,000 and pay $3,000 during the promotional period, only $2,000 carries over to the higher APR. If you pay nothing, all $5,000 (plus the transfer fee) starts accruing interest.
New purchases and how they're treated differently
The 0% APR offer applies only to the balance you transfer, not to new purchases you make on the card after you open it. Any new charges you put on the card are subject to the card's regular APR from day one, even if you're still in the promotional period for your transferred balance.
This matters because it's straightforward to accidentally rack up interest on new purchases while thinking you're in a 0% window. If you open a balance transfer card and when ready start using it for groceries or gas, those charges accrue interest at the standard rate. To avoid confusion, many people treat the balance transfer card as a payoff tool only — they don't use it for new spending until the transferred balance is gone.
Some Chase cards offer a separate 0% promotional period on new purchases (for example, 0% for 12 months on transfers and 0% for 6 months on purchases). Check your card's terms to see if this applies to yours.
Timing and important date you need to know
Balance transfer offers have two important important date. The first is the window to request the transfer itself — usually 60 days from when you open the account. If you don't initiate a transfer within that window, the offer expires and you can't use it.
The second important date is the end of the promotional 0% period. This is when interest kicks in on any remaining balance. The length of this period varies by card and offer, typically ranging from 6 to 21 months. Chase will tell you the exact end date when you open the account and again in a notice before the period expires.
If you're close to the end of the promotional period and still have a balance, you have a few options: pay it off before the important date, transfer the remaining balance to another 0% card (if you can), or accept that interest will start accruing. There's no automatic extension — the rate change happens on the date Chase specifies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer a balance from another Chase card I already own?
No. Chase does not allow you to transfer a balance from one of your existing Chase cards to a new Chase card. You can only transfer balances from cards issued by other banks or from other types of debt like medical bills or personal loans.
What if I can't pay off the balance before the 0% period ends?
Any remaining balance will start accruing interest at the card's regular APR. You can try to transfer the remaining balance to another card with a balance transfer offer, but you'll need to may have access to for that card and pay another transfer fee. Alternatively, you can continue paying on the Chase card at the higher interest rate.
Does the balance transfer fee count toward my credit limit?
Yes. The transfer fee is added to your balance and counts against your available credit. If you transfer $5,000 with a 4% fee, your balance is $5,200 and your available credit decreases by that amount.
Can I see the balance transfer offer before I explore?
Most of the time, yes. Chase shows the current 0% period and transfer fee on the card's product page. However, some offers only appear after you start the process, so the terms you see during the process process are the ones that will explore to your account.
How long does it take for the transfer to post?
Chase typically processes the transfer within 7 to 10 business days, but it can take up to 21 days depending on how quickly the other creditor processes the payment. During this time, you're still responsible for making minimum payments on your old card until the balance reaches zero.