Best Balance Transfer Cards For Fair Credit [2025]: Yes, They Exist

In general, there aren't many options for balance transfer cards if you have a fair credit score. 

Most balance transfer credit cards that provide 0% intro APR offers require a good or excellent credit score to qualify. However, there are a few cards available with less strict credit qualifications that also provide balance transfer offers. And fortunately, the available options are quite good.

Let's explore the best balance transfer cards for fair credit to see which one is best for you.

Compare balance transfer cards for fair credit

None of the cards we've chosen for this list has an annual fee, and all are possible to qualify for with fair credit. However, whether or not you qualify depends on your creditworthiness on the whole, and a fair credit score alone won't guarantee approval.

Card name	Recommended credit	Balance transfer period
Discover it® Student Cash Back 4.75 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Fair	10.99% intro APR for 6 months on balance transfers (then 17.24% - 26.24% Variable)
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® 4.1 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Excellent, Good, Fair	14.99% to 29.99% (variable) APR on balance transfers
Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Card 3.3 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Excellent, Good, Fair	0.99% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers (then 10.99% to 18.00% (variable))

Discover it^® Student Cash Back

If you're a student looking for a balance transfer credit card you can get with fair credit, the Discover it^® Student Cash Back is going to be one of your best options. It has a $0 annual fee, and you can apply with fair credit or even no credit score at all. Like other student cards, this one is generally much easier to qualify for than most unsecured credit cards, but you must be a student at an eligible college or university.

This card doesn't have a 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers, but it does give you a discount and a lower regular APR than many cards. It offers a 10.99% intro APR for 6 months (then 17.24% - 26.24% Variable). And while it isn't as common for students to need to do a balance transfer, there are some situations when this strategy could make sense for you.

For example, if you're a student with limited credit but you already have another credit card and want the chance to work on paying down that debt at a lower interest rate, the Discover it^® Student Cash Back could help you out. Or if you have a smaller private student loan you're going to start making payments on soon with a higher interest rate than the Discover it^® Student Cash Back's intro APR on balance transfers, this could be another way to save money.

Read our Discover it^® Student Cash Back review

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa^®

The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa^® stands out from other cards, including others on this list and credit cards in general, for a number of reasons. For one thing, it doesn't work like a typical credit card.

Normally, you'd spend on a credit card, up to your credit limit, and your balance would increase with each transaction. Then, you'd receive a statement each month with your total balance, and pay this off (or as much of it as possible) to reset your credit limit. If you carry a balance after the due date, you start getting charged interest at your card's regular APR. It's up to you to then repay your debt or, at the very least, make your minimum required payments. If you miss those, you can be charged a penalty APR. Many people end up carrying a balance from month to month on their cards if they overspend and can't afford to pay off the whole amount.

But this Upgrade card is like a cross between a typical credit card and a personal loan. Instead of paying off your balance each statement period or making minimum payments, you can carry a balance when your payment is due and make fixed monthly payments toward that balance at a fixed interest rate. Each balance becomes a loan with a set payoff term, so you can plan ahead with your repayment and avoid letting your debt snowball with regular installments. You'll chip away at your debt more quickly than if you were only making minimums.

We like the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa^® for fair-credit balance transfers because it promotes responsible borrowing habits and has a lower regular APR range than many credit cards. Plus, it earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases when you make a payment.

Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Card

The Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum makes sense if you're currently a Navy Federal Credit Union member or eligible to join and want a low intro APR offer.

The Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum provides 0.99% intro APR for 12 months on balance transfers (then 10.99% to 18.00% (variable)).

That's not as good as a 0% intro APR offer, but it's close. And if you consider this card doesn't charge a balance transfer fee (almost all balance transfer cards charge 3% to 5% balance transfer fees), this could be a better offer in some situations.

You have to be a member of Navy Federal Credit Union to qualify for this card. Active duty, retired, and veterans of all branches of the armed forces are eligible for membership, as are their family members, including grandchildren. Department of Defense civilians are eligible to join as well.

How to choose the best balance transfer card for fair credit

Credit requirements

If you have a fair credit score, you likely won't qualify for cards that require a FICO score of 670 or higher. Rather than trying to apply for those cards and potentially impacting your credit score with hard inquiries, only consider cards that are known to have less strict credit requirements.

Intro APR offers

The best balance transfer offers tend to provide 0% intro APR for at least a 12-month period. However, it's possible to find intro APR periods that last up to 15, 18, or even 21 months. Keep in mind that the longer the intro APR period, the longer you have to avoid interest charges and pay off your transferred balance.

Annual fees

Most balance transfer cards don't charge an annual fee, so you shouldn't have to worry about this factor too much. But it's always a good idea to check credit card annual fees whenever you compare credit cards. If a card has an annual fee, you need to weigh the benefits of the card versus the cost to see if the fee would be worth paying for you.

Earning potential

A secondary benefit of many balance transfer credit cards is that they also earn points, miles, or cash back. Having any sort of rewards rate could be a long-term benefit for you well after you've taken advantage of a balance transfer offer.

Perks and benefits

While the intro APR offer is the primary benefit on balance transfer cards, it's worth looking into other built-in perks and benefits you might receive as a cardholder. For example, if two cards are generally similar but one provides purchase protection or travel insurance, it might make sense to apply for the card with more benefits.

How to boost your credit

Follow these steps to improve your credit score over time.

1. Make on-time payments: Paying your bills on time and not making late payments is a huge factor in determining your credit score. If you often forget payment dates, use automated alerts or set up automatic payments.
2. Use multiple credit products: Having a good mix of open credit, such as both credit cards and loans, can help boost your credit score.
3. Check your credit report: It's possible to have errors on your credit report, which could negatively impact your credit score. Make sure to frequently check your credit report for errors. If you find errors, dispute them with the applicable credit companies and bureaus.
4. Keep low balances: It's best to have a low credit utilization, which is how much credit you're using of your available credit. That means not carrying high balances.
5. Increase your credit limit: Having more available credit can make it easier to have a better credit utilization ratio. Some card issuers allow you to request credit limit increases without affecting your credit score.
6. Keep old accounts active: Your average credit history is a factor used to determine your credit score. That means it's beneficial to keep old credit cards active even if you don't use them much.
7. Space out your new credit accounts: New credit inquiries could have a small impact on your credit score, and too many inquiries in a short period of time might look risky to a lender. Even applying for a new balance transfer card could affect your credit score by a small amount.

Balance transfer card alternatives

Doing a balance transfer might not make sense if you don't qualify for a balance transfer credit card, don't have much debt, or you don't think it will help you pay off debt. In these cases, consider other alternatives.

• Personal loan: A personal loan might make sense if you have a substantial amount of debt that a balance transfer card wouldn't be able to cover. For example, if you want to do a balance transfer for $10,000, but your balance transfer card only has a $5,000 limit, you would need to consider other options.
• Credit counseling: A credit counseling company or agency could help you create a debt management or debt payoff plan if you're not sure how to do it yourself or you've become overwhelmed with trying to get out of debt.
• Budgeting: You can create your own budget plan and pay off your credit card debt a little at a time. This requires a lot of self-motivation and persistence. If you want some extra help and direction, consider using a budgeting app.

FAQs

Bottom line

The best balance transfer cards often have long 0% intro APR periods, but these are usually reserved for borrowers with at least good credit. If you have fair credit, the best balance transfer card you can qualify for may have short intro APR periods with discounted rates and/or a lower regular APR than other cards. Some of the best, including options we've featured here, also earn rewards on your purchases.

Remember: If working on repaying high-interest debt helps you to improve your credit, you can qualify for more appealing credit cards in the future.

2025 award winner Best 0% Intro APR Credit Card

Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card

Benefits

Card Details

• 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, then 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR
• Up to $600 Cell phone protection when you pay for the cell phone with your card (subject to a $25 deductible)
• $0 annual fee
• Apply Now

• Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
• $0 annual fee.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.

4.9

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Apply Now

on Wells Fargo’s secure website

Rates and fees

Read Card Review

Intro Offer

Benefit from a long introductory APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Annual Fee

$0

+ -

Why we like it

• The Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card is a straightforward credit card that has a long introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers. If approved, you get the intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. Following the intro period, your balance will be subject to the regular APR.

• With this card, you can also get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with it.

• Apply Now