How to do a Discover balance transfer

Are you struggling with high-interest credit card debt? You’re not alone. The average credit card interest rate currently sits at 20.71 percent, but not everyone is fortunate enough to have an average interest rate. If you have bad credit, your credit card interest rates could be hovering around 30 percent. This can be overwhelming.

Fortunately, there may be a way to pay off this debt without worrying about high interest rates: you can transfer it to a new credit card that offers a 0 percent introductory annual percentage rate (APR) on balance transfers for a limited time. Many credit cards offer a 0 percent APR on transferred debt for 12 to 21 months, making it easier to pay off debt quicker.

After the introductory period ends, though, your new card’s interest rate will revert to its standard APR. If you fail to pay off this debt before the 0 percent offer ends, the amount you still owe will accrue interest at this regular APR.

Many credit card issuers offer balance transfer cards, including Discover. So how do you make a balance transfer with a Discover credit card? It only takes a few quick steps to complete, whether you prefer to handle the process online, with your mobile app or over the phone. Here’s what you need to know:

3 ways to do a Discover balance transfer

If you don’t have a Discover credit card, you’ll first need to select one. Once approved, you’ll have to wait: Discover states that a new account must be open for 14 days before it will process a balance transfer request.

Once you’re ready, you can complete the following kinds of balance transfers with your Discover card:

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1. Online balance transfer

This type of balance transfer is simple and can be done with the following steps:

• Log in to your Discover account. Look for the drop-down menu under “Card Services” and select the “Balance Transfers” option.
• Find out which type of balance transfer you want to complete. Depending on which Discover credit card you have and what special offers are currently associated with that card, you might be taken to a page that asks you to choose between two options for a balance transfer. Discover will try to estimate how much money you’ll save with each option, but make sure you use the “Customize savings calculations” button to determine which option would be better for the balance you plan to transfer to the card.
• Tell Discover your balance transfer details. These include where you’re transferring the balance from and how much you plan to transfer to your new card. You’ll want to have your credit card or loan account number ready.
• Complete the balance transfer. You’ll have to accept the terms and conditions to complete the balance transfer process. You’ll also be charged a balance transfer fee once the balance transfer is processed, if applicable.

2. Mobile app balance transfer

If you’re using the Discover mobile app, the process is nearly identical to how you’d perform the balance transfer online. Keeping those same steps in mind, you just have to:

• Log into your mobile app
• Select “Services” at the bottom of your screen to locate the balance transfer link
• Follow that link to review any special balance transfer offers
• Complete your balance transfer following the same prompts as you would for an online transfer

3. Phone call balance transfer

You can also complete a Discover balance transfer over the phone. Call the number on the back of your card or the customer service line at 1-800-347-2683. Then, just follow the steps provided by Discover customer service. To help make the process smoother, you should have your balance transfer details ready, such as the number for the account that you’re transferring the balance from and the account you’re transferring.

How long does it take to process a Discover balance transfer?

According to Discover, most balance transfers are processed within four days. If you have the mobile app, you can check by going to the balance transfer link located under the “Services” tab and then clicking on “Status.”

Discover suggests checking back on the accounts you transferred balances from to ensure you don’t owe any additional interest that may have accrued between when you started the balance transfer process and when it was completed. It could take up to 30 days for that interest to appear in your credit card accounts, so keep track of those accounts and make sure you pay off any interest charges.

Is a Discover balance transfer worth it?

If you have a large credit card balance that you’re hoping to pay down, a balance transfer is a worthwhile way to make payments on that balance without paying interest. You can also transfer multiple balances from different cards to your Discover credit card. As long as you don’t go over your Discover card’s credit limit, you can keep transferring balances to it — but you’ll want to keep any balance transfer fees in mind as you do so.

By consolidating your debt and getting that debt paid off within the 0 percent introductory APR period, you’ll be able to not only save money on interest charges, but also raise your credit score at the same time. With less debt and a new credit card added to your wallet, you’ll have a lower credit utilization ratio, which is good for your credit score. By completing on-time payments each month, you’ll also build good credit history, which can raise your score even further.

However, balance transfer credit cards aren’t for everyone, and you should consider the pros and cons before deciding to get one. If you have a relatively small amount of debt, or if a balance transfer card will just enable you to sink further into debt, you might be better off not applying for one.

The bottom line

Completing a Discover balance transfer is a simple process that can be done online, through the Discover mobile app or over the phone. No matter which way you choose to do your balance transfer, however, you’ll need to be prepared with details like where you’re transferring the balance from and how much you want to transfer.

But figuring out how to do a Discover balance transfer is the easy part of the process — the hard part is coming up with a plan to pay off your transferred debt and sticking to it. You’ll also likely have to factor in a balance transfer fee when making those calculations. Using Bankrate’s balance transfer calculator can help you get started on a debt payoff plan that pairs well with your specific Discover credit card.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• Can you transfer balances between Discover cards?

  No. If you carry a balance on a Discover credit card, you can’t transfer it to another Discover card. Instead, if you’re looking to do a balance transfer, you must transfer this debt to a credit card offered by another issuer.
  

• Can a Discover balance transfer hurt your credit score?

  All balance transfers can hurt your credit score if you’re not careful. If you open up a balance transfer credit card and max out its credit limit, your credit utilization ratio for that card will spike, which could lower your score — especially if you close out your old card at the same time.
  
  However, balance transfers will typically help your credit score more than hurt it — so long as you prioritize paying down your debt. By opening a new balance transfer card and keeping your old card open, you can increase the amount of credit available to you, which would lower your credit utilization ratio and could therefore raise your credit score. Your credit utilization ratio will continue to increase as you pay down your balance — and if you pay everything off and get out of credit card debt, your credit score may end up being higher than it’s ever been.