NatWest and RBS launch 24-month 0% balance transfer credit cards


Updated on 05 February 2013 | 0 Comments

NatWest and RBS make their balance transfer cards better with a longer 0% period.

NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland have made their balance transfer cards more appealing by increasing the 0% period by one month to 24 months.

This means customers opening one of the cards will have two years free from interest payments on any existing debts.

There is a fee of 2.9% for moving over debts, which is about average for these cards.

The balance transfer market has seen a lot of action recently as providers seek to remain at the top of the tables and lure in new customers.

This can be seen in the way Barclaycard has reacted to the change in the NatWest and RBS cards by lowering the fee on its 24-month card from 2.9% to 2.8%. This means you’ll be paying £2 less when moving over a debt of £2,000 for example.

NatWest and RBS balance transfer deals

Both NatWest and RBS offer identical balance transfer cards which give customers 0% for 24 months and a 0% interest rate on new purchases for the first six months.

These are both available to new customers but you can’t transfer over a balance from an existing card provided by a member of the RBS group.

These cards are another good option if you’re looking to transfer over an expensive debt or if you’re unable to get the market-leading deal from Barclaycard.

Our comparison tables give a full view of the market but here are the top five leading cards with long balance transfer windows

Card

Balance transfer fee

0% balance transfer period

Fee to pay on £2,000 transfer

Fee to pay on £4,000 transfer

Barclaycard 25-Month Platinum

3.2%

25 months

£64

£128

Barclaycard 24-Month Platinum

2.8%

24 months

£56

£112

NatWest Platinum MasterCard

2.9%

24 months

£58

£116

RBS Platinum MasterCard

2.9%

24 months

£58

£116

Halifax BT 24-Month MasterCard

3%

24 months

£60

£120

Balance transfer cards

These cards are a good tool ifyou are currently forking out on interest on existing credit card debt. Move that debt to a balance transfer card and you know that for the 0% term every penny of your repayments will go directly towards reducing your debt, rather than interest.

But they come with a warning attached. This is because they will only work if you use them effectively and pay off your debts in the 0% period.

If you don’t the interest rate will sky rocket at the end of the 0% period.  At this point you do have the option of moving the balance over to a new card, but there is no guarantee you’ll be approved for a new card.

On top of this if you don’t follow the rules and miss a payment during the interest-free term, it can be removed or reduced.

More on credit cards:

Get the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card fee free for a year

Banks turning unsecured loans into secured ones

How credit card cloning works

Barclaycard launches the first 25-month 0% balance transfer card

The best 0% balance transfer credit cards

Comments


Be the first to comment

Do you want to comment on this article? You need to be signed in for this feature

Copyright © lovemoney.com All rights reserved.

 

loveMONEY.com Financial Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with Firm Reference Number (FRN): 479153.

loveMONEY.com is a company registered in England & Wales (Company Number: 7406028) with its registered address at First Floor Ridgeland House, 15 Carfax, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1DY, United Kingdom. loveMONEY.com Limited operates under the trading name of loveMONEY.com Financial Services Limited. We operate as a credit broker for consumer credit and do not lend directly. Our company maintains relationships with various affiliates and lenders, which we may promote within our editorial content in emails and on featured partner pages through affiliate links. Please note, that we may receive commission payments from some of the product and service providers featured on our website. In line with Consumer Duty regulations, we assess our partners to ensure they offer fair value, are transparent, and cater to the needs of all customers, including vulnerable groups. We continuously review our practices to ensure compliance with these standards. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy and currency of our editorial content, users should independently verify information with their chosen product or service provider. This can be done by reviewing the product landing page information and the terms and conditions associated with the product. If you are uncertain whether a product is suitable, we strongly recommend seeking advice from a regulated independent financial advisor before applying for the products.