Balance Transfer Calculator
Compare the total interest cost of staying on your current high-APR credit card versus transferring the outstanding balance to a card with a promotional 0% (or lower) APR. See exactly how much you save, factoring in the processing fee.
Enter your balance details
If you STAY on current card
If you DO Balance Transfer
How Balance Transfer works in India
A balance transfer (BT) is a facility offered by most Indian banks — HDFC, ICICI, Axis, SBI Card, American Express, Kotak, IDFC FIRST — that lets you move outstanding balances from one credit card to another at a significantly lower interest rate for a limited promotional period. The idea is simple: most Indian credit cards charge 36-45% p.a. on unpaid balances, while BT offers typically run 0-12% p.a. for 3-12 months. If you have ₹1 lakh of outstanding debt, switching even for 6 months can save ₹15,000-20,000 in interest.
When a balance transfer makes sense
| Scenario | Verdict |
|---|---|
| You have ₹50,000+ of CC debt at 36-42% APR and can clear most of it during the promo period | Strong YES — savings typically 10-25% of balance |
| You expect a bonus / windfall in 3-6 months that will let you clear the transferred balance | YES — use promo period strategically |
| You have ₹20,000-₹50,000 and can only make minimum payments | Maybe — check if processing fee + post-promo APR still beats current rate |
| You have under ₹10,000 of debt | Probably skip — processing fees (often min ₹500) reduce savings materially |
| You tend to run up new charges on both cards | Don’t do it — BT only works with disciplined no-new-charge strategy |
Typical Indian BT offers in 2026
| Issuer | Promo APR | Promo Period | Processing Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDFC Bank | 0-0.99% | 3-6 months | 1-1.5% + GST |
| ICICI Bank | 0-1.5% | 3-9 months | 1-2% + GST |
| Axis Bank | 0.75-1.75% | 3-12 months | 1-2% + GST |
| SBI Card | 1.7% | 3 or 6 months | 2% + GST (₹199 min) |
| IDFC FIRST Bank | 0.99% | 3-12 months | 1% + GST (₹199 min) |
| American Express | 0.99-1.25% | 3-6 months | 1% + GST |
Common BT mistakes to avoid
- Continuing to use the old card: Transferring ₹1 lakh and then running up another ₹50,000 on the original card defeats the purpose — you end up paying interest on a larger total balance.
- Only making minimum payments: The promo period usually ends in 3-6 months. If you only pay the minimum, you’ll hit the post-promo APR with substantial balance remaining — often erasing the initial savings.
- Ignoring the processing fee: A 2% fee on ₹1 lakh is ₹2,000 (₹2,360 with GST). If you pay off the balance in 2 months, the fee alone could exceed the interest saved.
- Not checking post-promo APR: If the post-promo rate is higher than your current card’s rate, you must finish paying off within the promo period or the math inverts.
- Missing the minimum payment: Missing even one minimum payment during the promo period usually terminates the 0% offer immediately and reverts to standard APR.