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Could this be the last big Janua...
Could this be the last big January balance transfer bonanza as lenders slash interest-free terms by up to 35%?
** For Immediate Release**
- £6 billion switched in month of January alone in the last 4 years (Jan 2015 to Jan 2018 inc)
- Total of 2.64 million balance transfer transactions in January in the last four years
- Two years ago, the longest 0% balance transfer (BT) deals were 43 months now only two lenders offer more than 30 months
- Customers urged to apply with caution and check their credit score first
Alastair Douglas, CEO of TotallyMoney, the credit experts, comments on the dwindling choice of long-term balance transfers as we approach the biggest month of the year for credit card debt switching. “January has always been the bumper month for balance transfers, with many consumers re-jigging their finances as part of their New Year resolutions – but the best 0% terms are disappearing fast.” “Last January was the busiest in 12 years with £1.63 billion switched in 31 days – it will be interesting to see if the trend continues next month. “At the start of 2017 there were 10 major credit card providers offering 0% interest terms of 40 months or more, now the market has slumped and there are just two lenders with deals over 30 months (MBNA and Post Office). “It seems that providers are falling out of love with ultra-long zero per cent cards and if the trend continues over the next 12 months, some consumers will become increasingly anxious if there’s no longer a healthy stream of 0% offers to help them plug the hole in their finances. “TotallyMoney urges customers not to rush in and make panic applications and risk damaging their credit score. By signing up for a Free Credit Report users will be able to check their Borrowing Power and eligibility to find out which cards they have the most choice of being accepted for.”
Credit card balance transfer activity for the month of January
Month
Value of balance transfers £ billion
Number of balance transfers
January 2015
£1.34bn
592,000
January 2016
£1.43bn
631,000
January 2017
£1.60bn
711,000
January 2018
£1.63bn
705,000
Total
£6.00bn
2,639,000
Source: UK Finance
Alastair added: “Interest-free credit deals won’t be around for ever, so we encourage people to make the most of them while they are still around – if you can clear your debt within the promotional term it’s a smart and cost-effective way of managing your money.”
Card Provider
Longest 0% BT deal at 1st Feb 2017
Longest 0% BT deal at 17th Dec 2018
MBNA
43 months
33 months – down 23%
Halifax
43 months
28 months – down 35%
Nuba (MBNA)
42 months
Brand scrapped for new customers
Barclaycard
42 months
29 months – down 31%
Sainsbury’s Bank
42 months
30 months – down 28%
Lloyds Bank
42 months
28 months – down 33%
Virgin Money
41 months
29 months – down 29%
Santander
41 months
30 months – down 27%
AA Cards
41 months
Cards not available for new customers
Tesco Bank
40 months
28 months – down 30%
Research Moneycomms.co.uk 17.12.2018
Andrew Hagger, Personal Finance Expert from Moneycomms said: “Some card customers use interest-free balance transfers as a smart way to save money, but for others it’s a way to keep their heads above water as they try to juggle increasing levels of personal debt and to stop their bank account going into the red”. If you’re serious about shifting debt and getting your finances back on track, getting a copy of your Free Credit Report is essential as it’s the foundation to all your borrowing, whether it’s your plastic or a mortgage application.”
For more information, please contact the press team
About TotallyMoney
With a focus on the one in three UK adults financially under-served by the financial services industry, TotallyMoney is the credit app on a mission to help everyone move their finances forward.
TotallyMoney believes people’s financial data should work for them, and not against them and with more than four million customers, they provide the UK’s only free, live credit score and report.
Its service helps customers understand their financial position and provides personalised recommendations so they can start creating financial momentum. TotallyMoney also works closely with leading lenders, to ensure eligible customers are matched with the right products, underpinned by its robust data, product and tech capabilities.
TotallyMoney is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).