Compare 0% money transfer credit cards

Not on their own.

But there are two things that might affect your credit worthiness about the process if you're not careful.

Firstly, applying for a new credit card is always recorded on your credit history and applying for a lot of cards in a short space of time can make you look desperate for cash.

Card finder and eligibility checker tools don't show up to other lenders on your credit record, however, so it's wise to use one before applying to limit the number of applications you'll have to make.

Secondly, lenders look at something called your "total available credit" before making a decision. This is worked out by adding up all your credit card and overdraft limits.

A new card adds to this total, but unless you've already got a large number of cards with high credit limits - for example equal to your annual salary - it probably won't be a problem.

Money transfer cards and balance transfer cards are similar because they both involve shifting debt from one place to another.

With a balance transfer card, you can move debt from a card charging you interest, to one with lower or no interest. It can be a good way to pay off existing credit card debt or to consolidate your debts.

A money transfer card lets you transfer money (credit) from the card to your bank account, where it’s considered cash. Many people use these cards to pay off an overdraft.

It’s like releasing a cash sum to clear debts or provide a quick cash boost.

Credit card transfers can be an effective way of borrowing small amounts of money over a short term without paying interest. But they may not be the best way for you to borrow cash.

Typically, you need a good credit rating to get one. If you have a bad rating and apply anyway, you risk being rejected by the card provider. A rejection will damage your score even further.

To avoid paying interest on the credit card debt, you need to be sure you can at least meet the minimum repayments.

If you don't repay the card before the interest free period expires, you’ll be charged interest on the remaining debt. This is the card's APR, or annual percentage rate.

To transfer money from a credit card to your bank account, you need a card designed for that purpose. You can apply online, over the phone or in branch.

To be sure you get the best one for you, it is good practice to compare money transfer cards first. You can do this using comparison tables like the one above.

After your application has been approved, the card provider will send you the physical card in the post. This may take around 5 working days.

Once you have your card, you can transfer credit into your bank account. When the cash arrives in your current account you can spend it in the same way as you normally would with your debit card or by withdrawing cash. You can do this without incurring any fees or charge (as long as it is an ATM that provides free cash withdrawals).

This is a much better option than trying to withdraw cash using a credit card. Technically, you can take out money using your credit card. But it's best avoided because it shows up in your credit file and damages your credit score. You’ll also be charged fees and interest from the date of the transaction.

Yes, you can transfer money from a credit card to a bank account. But your money transfer card application must be approved first.

One advantage is that by transferring a sum of money to your current account, you can avoid paying any interest on your debt.

Not all credit cards are designed to let you switch money from your credit card to your current account. Those that are, will charge you a small fee.

The transfer fee is usually around 1% to 4% of the money transferred. You need to factor this into your calculations when working out whether it’s worth making the transfer.

Compare the cost of the transfer fee with the cost of continuing to pay the charges on your overdraft. Although overdraft fees are no longer allowed, banks can charge a fixed interest rate. Some previously introduced rates of up to 40%, which the FCA looked into.

So, moving money from your money transfer credit card into your bank account may help you sort out your finances in the short term.

Remember to think about how you're going to pay off the debt on your money transfer credit card. For example, you could set up a monthly payment from your current account to gradually clear the debt.

The best money transfer cards have 0% interest periods lasting over 2 years. If you pay back your balance in full during this interest free period, you will not pay any interest.