Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards in Canada

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LOW RATE OFFERS Fact checked Rate details reviewed Updated August 2026 Debt-cost focus Terms may apply

A balance transfer works best when the repayment plan is clear

Balance transfer cards can help reduce interest, but the promotional period, transfer fee, regular purchase rate, and repayment timeline all matter. RateBuddy helps organize these details so you can compare options with a practical view of total cost and fit.

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Compare Top Balance Transfer Offers

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Annual fee $599
Purchase APR 21.99%
Cash advance 23.99%
BMO Bank of Montreal
Best for Travel Rewards Balance Transfer Premium
BMO eclipse Visa Infinite Privilege Card
Best for Travel Rewards Balance Transfer Premium
Welcome bonus: Up to $2,300 including up to 200,000 points and NEXUS Statement Credit
Balance transfer: 0% Balance Transfer for 12 months (2% transfer fee).

Card essentials

Rates, fees and requirements

The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.

Purchase APR 21.99% Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR 23.99% Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR When available
Foreign transaction fee Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee Supplementary cardholder

Before you apply

Eligibility snapshot

Recommended credit score
Minimum personal income $150,000
Minimum household income $200,000

Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.

Annual fee $150$0 First year waived
Purchase APR 21.99%
Cash advance 23.99%
BMO Bank of Montreal
Best for Travel Rewards Balance Transfer Premium
BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard
Best for Travel Rewards Balance Transfer Premium
First year free
Welcome bonus: Up to $1,600 in value
Balance transfer: 0% Balance Transfer for 12 months (2% transfer fee).

Card essentials

Rates, fees and requirements

The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.

Purchase APR 21.99% Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR 23.99% Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR When available
Foreign transaction fee Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee Supplementary cardholder

Before you apply

Eligibility snapshot

Recommended credit score
Minimum personal income $80,000
Minimum household income $150,000

Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.

Annual fee $120$0 First year waived
Purchase APR 21.99%
Cash advance 23.99%
BMO Bank of Montreal
Best for Cash Back Balance Transfer Premium
BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard
Best for Cash Back Balance Transfer Premium
First year free
Welcome bonus: Up to $650 in value
Balance transfer: 0% Balance Transfer for 12 months (2% transfer fee).

Card essentials

Rates, fees and requirements

The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.

Purchase APR 21.99% Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR 23.99% Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR When available
Foreign transaction fee Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee Supplementary cardholder

Before you apply

Eligibility snapshot

Recommended credit score
Minimum personal income $80,000
Minimum household income $150,000

Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.

Annual fee $0
Purchase APR 21.99%
Cash advance 23.99%
BMO Bank of Montreal
Best for Travel Rewards No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
BMO eclipse rise Visa Card
Best for Travel Rewards No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
Welcome bonus: 20,000 points + up to 5,000 bonus points every year
Balance transfer: 0.99% Balance Transfer for 9 months (2% transfer fee).

Card essentials

Rates, fees and requirements

The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.

Purchase APR 21.99% Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR 23.99% Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR When available
Foreign transaction fee Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee Supplementary cardholder

Before you apply

Eligibility snapshot

Recommended credit score
Minimum personal income
Minimum household income

Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.

Annual fee $0
Purchase APR 20.99%
Cash advance 22.99%
Scotiabank
Best for Cash Back No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card
Best for Cash Back No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
Rewards program Cash Back
Welcome bonus: Earn 10% cash back for the first 3 months + 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 6 months.
Balance transfer: 0% Balance Transfer for 6 months (2% transfer fee).

Card essentials

Rates, fees and requirements

The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.

Purchase APR 20.99% Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR 22.99% Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR When available
Foreign transaction fee Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee $0 Supplementary cardholder

Before you apply

Eligibility snapshot

Recommended credit score
Minimum personal income
Minimum household income

Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.

Annual fee $0
Purchase APR 20.99%
Cash advance 22.99%
Scotiabank
Best for Cash Back No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
Scotia Momentum No-Fee Visa Card for Students
Best for Cash Back No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
Rewards program Cash Back
Welcome bonus: Earn 10% cash back for the first 3 months + 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 6 months.
Balance transfer: 0% Balance Transfer for 6 months (2% transfer fee).

Card essentials

Rates, fees and requirements

The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.

Purchase APR 20.99% Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR 22.99% Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR When available
Foreign transaction fee Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee $0 Supplementary cardholder

Before you apply

Eligibility snapshot

Recommended credit score
Minimum personal income $0
Minimum household income

Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.

Annual fee $0
Purchase APR 21.99%
Cash advance 23.99%
BMO Bank of Montreal
Best for Cash Back No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
BMO CashBack Mastercard
Best for Cash Back No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
Welcome bonus: Up to 5% cash back in your first 3 months
Balance transfer: 0.99% Balance Transfer for 9 months (2% transfer fee).

Card essentials

Rates, fees and requirements

The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.

Purchase APR 21.99% Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR 23.99% Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR When available
Foreign transaction fee Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee Supplementary cardholder

Before you apply

Eligibility snapshot

Recommended credit score
Minimum personal income
Minimum household income

Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.

Annual fee $100
Purchase APR 20.90%
Cash advance 21.90%
Desjardins Group
Best for Cash Back Travel Rewards Balance Transfer
Cash Back World Elite® Mastercard®
Best for Cash Back Travel Rewards Balance Transfer

Card essentials

Rates, fees and requirements

The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.

Purchase APR 20.90% Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR 21.90% Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR When available
Foreign transaction fee Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee $30 Supplementary cardholder

Before you apply

Eligibility snapshot

Recommended credit score
Minimum personal income $80,000
Minimum household income $150,000

Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.

Annual fee $0
Purchase APR 20.95%
Cash advance 22.95%
Tangerine Bank
Best for Cash Back No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard
Best for Cash Back No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
Rewards program Cash Back
Welcome bonus: Earn $120 Cash Back Expires Apr 30, 2026
Balance transfer: 1.95% Balance Transfer for 6 months (1% transfer fee).

Card essentials

Rates, fees and requirements

The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.

Purchase APR 20.95% Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR 22.95% Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR When available
Foreign transaction fee Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee $0 Supplementary cardholder

Before you apply

Eligibility snapshot

Recommended credit score
Minimum personal income $50,000
Minimum household income $80,000

Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.

Annual fee $0
Purchase APR 20.95%
Cash advance 22.95%
Tangerine Bank
Best for Cash Back No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Best for Cash Back No Annual Fee Balance Transfer
Rewards program Cash Back
Welcome bonus: Earn 10% cash back for 2 months (Up to $100) Expires Apr 30, 2026
Balance transfer: 1.95% Balance Transfer for 6 months (1% transfer fee).

Card essentials

Rates, fees and requirements

The important numbers, organized so they are easy to scan and compare.

Purchase APR 20.95% Regular purchase rate
Cash advance APR 22.95% Cash transaction rate
Balance transfer APR When available
Foreign transaction fee Foreign-currency purchases
Additional card fee $0 Supplementary cardholder

Before you apply

Eligibility snapshot

Recommended credit score
Minimum personal income $12,000
Minimum household income

Approval, rates and credit limits are determined by the card provider.

Showing 10 of 17 cards

Top Balance Transfer Alternatives

Explore other highly-rated options you might have missed.

MBNA True Line Mastercard
Welcome Bonus
0% for 12 months on balance transfers
Annual Fee: $0 Purchase Int: 12.99%
1st Yr Value $0
View Offer
Scotiabank Value Visa Card for Students
Welcome Bonus
0.99% promo interest rate on balance transfers for 9 months + First-year fee waived.
Annual Fee: $0 $29 Purchase Int: 13.99%
1st Yr Value $29
View Offer
BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard
BMO Preferred Rate Mastercard
BMO Bank of Montreal
Welcome Bonus
Waived $29 annual fee for the first year + 0% intro rate on Balance Transfers
Annual Fee: $0 $29 Purchase Int: 13.99%
1st Yr Value $29
View Offer
Scotiabank Value Visa Card
Welcome Bonus
0.99% promo interest rate on balance transfers for 9 months + First-year fee waived.
Annual Fee: $0 $29 Purchase Int: 13.99%
1st Yr Value $29
View Offer
CIBC Select Visa Card
Welcome Bonus
0% interest for up to 10 months on balance transfers (1% transfer fee) + First Year Annual Fee Rebate.
Annual Fee: $0 $29 Purchase Int: 13.99%
1st Yr Value $29
View Offer
Odyssey® World Elite® Mastercard®
Annual Fee: $130 Purchase Int: 20.90%
1st Yr Value $239
View Offer
Odyssey® Visa Infinite Privilege*
Annual Fee: $295 Purchase Int: 11.90%
1st Yr Value $160
View Offer
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Attack Your Principal Balance

High interest rates keep you trapped in a cycle of debt. These cards give you the strategic breathing room to pay off what you actually owe.

The Strategic "Interest Holiday"

A 0% balance transfer offer effectively pauses interest charges for a promotional period, often ranging from 6 to 12 months. This ensures that every single dollar you pay goes directly toward reducing your principal debt, rather than vanishing into interest payments. It stops the bleeding and allows your payments to actually make a dent. For anyone carrying a balance, this is one of the most powerful tools available to regain financial control.

Mathematical Savings

Even with a typical 1-3% balance transfer fee, the math is overwhelmingly in your favor. Moving high-interest debt (often 20%+) to a 0% or low-rate environment can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest charges over the course of a year. It converts "dead money" (interest) into debt reduction. Use our Balance Transfer Calculator to see exactly how much you could save based on your specific numbers.

Faster Path to Freedom

By drastically lowering your interest rate, you lower the "cost of carrying" your debt. This accelerates your payoff timeline, helping you become debt-free months or even years sooner than expected. It simplifies your finances by consolidating multiple high-interest debts into one single, manageable monthly payment. This psychological and financial relief can be the catalyst you need to eliminate credit card debt for good.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Compare Top Balance Transfer Offers Cards and financial strategy.

Disclaimer: Information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Terms subject to change by issuers.

You should contact your card issuer immediately to lock or cancel the card. Many issuers also offer a 'Lock Card' feature in their mobile app which can prevent new transactions instantly. Once reported, the issuer will typically send a replacement card with a new number.

Some loyalty programs (like Aeroplan or Scene+) allow for points pooling or transfers between family members, sometimes for free and sometimes for a fee. Check the specific terms and conditions of your loyalty program to see if transfers are permitted.

A balance transfer involves moving debt from one credit card to another, often to take advantage of a lower interest rate. Promotional offers may provide a low rate (e.g., 0%) for a set period (e.g., 6-10 months). Be aware that a transfer fee (often 1-3% of the amount) usually applies, and the standard interest rate will apply to any remaining balance after the promo period ends.

While you can, it is generally not recommended if you are carrying a transferred balance. Payments are typically applied to the balance with the lowest interest rate first (or proportionally), meaning your new purchases might accrue interest immediately at the standard rate. Check the card's allocation of payments policy.

It can be, depending on your usage. Premium cards with annual fees often come with higher reward earn rates, comprehensive insurance, and perks like lounge access. If the value of the rewards and benefits you utilize exceeds the cost of the fee, the card may offer a positive net value.