Barclaycard launches three-year 0% balance transfer card

Record-breaking credit card with no interest to pay on debts for 36 months.

Barclaycard has once again launched the longest-ever 0% balance transfer credit card. This time it’s offering a whopping three years with no interest to pay on transfers from other cards.

You will have to pay a balance transfer fee of 2.99% of the balance you’re transferring. So, for example, if you’re transferring £2,000 of debt from another card you’ll pay a fee of £59.80.

If you don’t pay off your balance by the end of the 0% period, you’ll pay an APR (the annual combination of interest and charges) of at least 18.9%.

Here’s how this new card compares.

Barclaycard versus the rest

The new Platinum 36-month card can’t be beaten on interest-free period, as the table below shows.

Credit card	0% period on balance transfers	Balance transfer fee	Cost of transferring £2,000 balance	Representative APR after 0% period ends
Barclaycard 36-Month Platinum Visa	36 months	2.99%	£59.80	18.9%
Barclaycard 35-Month Platinum Visa	35 months	2.99%	£59.80	18.9%
Barclaycard 34-Month Platinum Visa	34 months	2.74%	£54.80	18.9%
Halifax 34-Month Balance Transfer MasterCard	34 months	2.80%	£56	18.9%
Tesco Bank Clubcard 34-Month Balance Transfer Credit Card	34 months	2.90%	£58	18.9%
Lloyds Bank Platinum 34-Month Balance Transfer MasterCard	34 months	3%	£60	18.9%
Bank of Scotland Platinum 34-Month Balance Transfer MasterCard	34 months	3%	£60	18.9%
HSBC Credit Card	34 months	3.3%	£66	18.9%

Compare the credit cards with the longest 0% period

Cheaper balance transfers

However, you could pay a smaller balance transfer fee and get up to 28 months interest free. Indeed, you can get up to 15 months at 0% with no fee of any kind to pay, as this table shows.

Credit card	0% period on balance transfers	Balance transfer fee	Fee paid on £2,000 transfer	Representative APR after 0% period ends
Santander 123 Credit Card*	23 months	None (£24 annual fee applies, free in first year to 123 current account holders)	£0	16.5%
Santander Credit Card	15 months	None	£0	18.9%
Halifax 0% Balance Transfer Fee Offer MasterCard	13 months	None	£0	18.9%
Tesco Clubcard with No Balance Transfer Fee	12 months	None	£0	18.9%
Nationwide Select Low Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card*	15 months	0.25%	£5	15.9%
Nationwide Low Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card	15 months	0.35%	£7	17.9%
Post Office Platinum Credit Card	18 months	0.79%	£15.80	17.8%
Halifax All in One Credit Card	19 months	1%	£20	18.9%
Barclaycard Platinum 25-Month Balance Transfer Credit Card	25 months	1.30%	£26	18.9%
Bank of Scotland Platinum Balance Transfer Credit Card	28 months	1.50%	£30	18.9%
Halifax Platinum Balance Transfer Credit Card	28 months	1.50%	£30	18.9%
Lloyds Bank Platinum Balance Transfer Credit Card	28 months	1.50%	£30	18.9%

*Nationwide current account customers only

Be honest with yourself

However, while you could pay a smaller balance transfer fee by opting for a shorter 0% period, that isn’t going to be much use if you still haven’t paid off your debt.

Do some honest maths and work out how much time you really need to get back in the black.

Whatever you do, make sure you make the minimum repayment each month or your 0% period could well be cancelled and you’ll get a black mark on your credit report.

Unfortunately the cards listed above will only be available to people with decent credit ratings. If yours isn't great, you might want to take a look at Best credit cards if you have a bad credit history.

If you have an overdraft you want to pay off, have a read of The best 0% money transfer credit cards.

Compare credit cards

More on borrowing:

Ways to get an interest-free loan

The cheapest personal loans

The best 0% money transfer credit cards

How to repair your credit rating