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If you're paying interest on an existing credit card balance, a 0% balance transfer card allows you to move that debt to a new card where no interest is charged for a set promotional period. This means your monthly repayments go toward reducing the balance itself, rather than servicing interest — as long as you keep up with at least the minimum payment each month and transfer within the specified window.

NatWest offers three cards with balance transfer features, covering a range of needs from short fee-free periods to longer deals with a transfer fee. This article explains how each works and where they sit in the broader market.

Always make sure you can afford repayments.

What is a balance transfer and how does it work?

A balance transfer moves existing credit card debt from one or more cards onto a new card, typically one offering a 0% interest period. Once the debt is transferred, you owe the new card provider rather than the original one.

The key things to understand:

• The 0% period starts from the date the account is opened, not from when the transfer is made. Transfers must usually be completed within the first 60 to 90 days to qualify for the promotional rate.

• 0% interest doesn't mean £0 monthly payments. On a balance transfer card charging 0% interest, there is still a required minimum payment due each month. But that payment goes entirely towards paying down the balance (not towards interest charges).

• To keep the 0% rate, at least the minimum monthly payment must be made on time. Missing a payment could result in losing the promotional rate entirely and interest being charged from that point.

• Many cards with longer 0% periods charge a one-off transfer fee — a percentage of the balance moved. This is paid upfront and is worth factoring into any decision about which card to use.

• Once the 0% period ends, any remaining balance reverts to the card's standard APR. It's worth clearing the balance, or transferring it again, before that point.

The 0% lengths on balance transfer cards can vary widely between providers. People with lower credit scores might not get accepted for the longest deals either.

Balance transfer example

If you're paying interest on credit card debt and you shift it to a 0% balance transfer credit card, you won't have to service interest for the duration of the 0% period. That's as long as you play by the rules and ensure you repay at least the minimum each month; but preferably you'll be able to repay a lot more.

To clear your debt without having to pay a penny in interest, work out how much you need to repay each month to clear your balance by the end of the 0% period.

For example, say you transfer £3,000 of credit card debt to a 0% balance transfer card offering 12 interest-free months. In this scenario, monthly payments of £250 would fully clear the balance within the 12-month 0% period.

Note: it's usually more economical to clear your most expensive debt first before paying down debt on a 0% card.

NatWest's balance transfer cards

In July 2026, NatWest currently offers three cards with balance transfer features, all requiring applicants to be UK residents aged 18 or over earning at least £10,000 per year. Transfers must be at least £100, up to 95% of the available credit limit, and cannot be from other NatWest Group cards.

NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card (no fee)

This card offers 0% on balance transfers for up to 11 months, with no balance transfer fee and no annual fee. The representative APR after the promotional period is 24.9% variable. This is an "up to" card, and the actual 0% period offered may be shorter depending on individual credit assessment, ranging between 9 and 11 months.

Representative example: Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and borrowing of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee, the representative APR is 24.9% variable.

NatWest Longer Balance Transfer Credit Card

This card offers 0% on balance transfers for up to 36 months, with a 3.10% transfer fee and no annual fee. The representative APR is 24.9% variable. The actual 0% period offered may be between 16 and 36 months depending on individual credit assessment. The card also offers 0% on purchases for the first 3 months.

Representative example: Based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200 and borrowing of £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% p.a. (variable) with no annual fee, the representative APR is 24.9% variable.

To illustrate the cost of the transfer fee: on a £5,000 balance, a 3.10% fee amounts to £155. Whether this is outweighed by the interest saved depends on the existing card's rate and how long the balance would otherwise take to clear.

NatWest also offers a Purchase & Balance Transfer card, with 0% promotional periods for both purchases and balance transfers.

How NatWest's cards sit in the broader market

As of July 2026, the longest 0% balance transfer period available in the UK is up to 38 months (TSB), with other providers including Virgin Money and Barclaycard offering up to 36 months. NatWest's Longer Balance Transfer card sits at the same 36-month level as some of those alternatives, though with a slightly lower fee of 3.10% compared to the 3.15% to 3.49% charged by some others at that length.

For those who can clear their balance more quickly, the no-fee NatWest card's 11-month period avoids the transfer fee entirely. The trade-off is a shorter window to repay.

NatWest no longer requires applicants to be existing customers to apply for its balance transfer cards.

Deals across the market can change at any time. It's worth comparing the full picture including transfer fee, 0% length, and post-promotional APR before applying.

Key things to watch out for

The 0% rate does not usually apply to cash withdrawals, which typically attract interest immediately at the standard rate, even during the promotional period.

Applying for a credit card results in a hard search on your credit file. Using an eligibility checker beforehand shows your likelihood of acceptance without affecting your score.

If your balance is not cleared by the end of the 0% period, the remaining amount reverts to the standard purchase APR. Setting up a direct debit for at least the minimum payment from the outset helps protect the promotional rate.

If you are struggling with existing debt, free impartial advice is available from StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Card features, rates and eligibility criteria are correct as of July 2026 and subject to change — always check current terms at natwest.com before applying.

To learn more about the market check out our best 0% balance transfer credit cards guide.