(Article updated on 2 July 2020.)
Even during regular days, credit card balance transfer programmes are a good strategy to fall back on if you’re swamped with credit card debts that you can’t repay on time. At interest charges of up to 18% p.a., outstanding balances for credit cards can quickly go out of control. This is even more so now that many of us face increased difficulty in our repayments following the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and movement control order (MCO).
Balance transfer plans as an alternative
On 25 March 2020, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) announced a few monetary measures to provide some relief for those facing financial constraints due to the current economic climate. As part of this initiative, credit cardholders who are unable to meet the minimum monthly repayment for three consecutive months will have their outstanding credit card balances automatically converted into three-year term loans or financing. However, you’ll be charged an effective interest of 13% p.a. during the tenure of your loan.
While the 13% p.a. interest rate for BNM’s auto balance conversion is lower than the usual 15% to 18% p.a. usually charged on your unpaid credit balances, most balance transfer plans can offer you a much better rate. Like, much better – it is not uncommon for balance transfer packages in the market to entice newcomers with 0%-interest periods and promotional interest rates. That said, you do need at least two credit cards to be able to do balance transfers.
Best balance transfer promotions in Malaysia
Affin Bank
Campaign period: 15 Feb to 31 Dec 2020
|
Interest Rate |
Minimum Transfer | Maximum Transfer | Tenure |
Eligibility |
| – 0% (upfront interest, RM5,000)
– 3% (upfront interest, RM3,000) |
– RM5,000 (0% interest) – RM3,000 (3% interest) |
80% of available approved credit limit | 12 months | All principal cardmembers |
Alliance Bank
Campaign period: 15 May 2020 to 15 Sept 2020
|
Interest Rate |
Minimum Transfer | Maximum Transfer | Tenure |
Eligibility |
| 2.99% p.a. | RM1,000 | 40% of total available credit limit | 6 months | New and existing principal credit cardholders. |
AmBank
(Balance Transfer & QuickCash Promotion)
Campaign period: 2 Mar 2020 to 28 Feb 2021
|
Interest Rate |
Minimum Transfer | Maximum Transfer | Tenure |
Eligibility |
| 4.88% p.a. | RM1,000 | RM50,000 or subject to available credit limit | – 12 months
– 24 months – 36 months |
Existing AmBank principal credit cardholders who apply through AmOnline. |
Public Bank
Campaign period: 15 Apr to 31 Dec 2020
| Interest Rate | Minimum Transfer | Maximum Transfer | Tenure | Eligibility |
| 0% p.a. | RM1,000
|
80% of available approved credit limit | 6 months
|
Only for new-to-bank principal credit card /-i card member (card approved from 1 March 2020 onwards) |
Public Bank
Campaign period: 1 Jul to 31 Dec 2020
| Interest Rate | Minimum Transfer | Maximum Transfer | Tenure | Eligibility |
| 6 months
– 1.5% upfront interest (offline and online application) 12 months – 3.5% upfront interest (offline application) – 3% upfront interest (online application) 24 months – 6% upfront interest (offline application) – 5.5% upfront interest (online application) 36 months – 7% upfront interest (offline and online application) 48 months – 9.5% upfront interest (offline and online application) |
6 months
– RM1,000 12 months – RM2,000 24 months – RM3,000 36 months – RM6,000 48 months – RM8,000
|
80% of available approved credit limit | – 6 months
– 12 months – 24 months – 36 months – 48 months
|
For principal credit card/credit card-i members |
RHB Bank
Campaign period: 1 Jul to 31 Dec 2020
| Interest Rate | Minimum Transfer | Maximum Transfer | Tenure | Eligibility |
| 0.00% p.a. | RM1,000 | RM15,000 or 80% of available approved credit limit | – 12 months | All principal credit card/-i card members |
Non-promotional balance transfer programmes by banks in Malaysia
Aside from the promotions provided by the banks above, here is also a list of some of the better balance transfer plans that are currently available in the market:
| Bank | Interest Rate | Minimum Transfer | Maximum Transfer | Tenure |
| Alliance Bank | – 2.99% p.a. (6 months)
– 9.88% p.a. (12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 months) |
RM1,000 | N/A | – 6 months
– 12 to 48 months |
| CIMB
|
Plan A
– 5.99% p.a. Plan B – 7.99% p.a.
|
RM1,000 | Subject to available credit limit and the bank’s discretion | Plan A
– 6 months Plan B – 12 months |
| Citibank
|
8.99% p.a. | RM1,000 | Subject to available credit limit and the bank’s discretion | 12 months |
| Hong Leong Bank
(One-Time Fee Balance Transfer) For both new and existing HLB credit cardholders) |
6 months
– 3% (one-time fee for 6 months, offline rate) – 0% (online rates) 12 months – 5% (one-time fee for 12 months, offline rate) – 0% (online rates) |
RM1,000 | 90% of available approved credit limit | – 6 months
– 12 months |
| Hong Leong Bank
For existing HLB credit cardholders only
|
6 months
– 7.99% p.a. (offline rate) – 6.99% p.a. (online rate) 12 months – 8.99% p.a. (offline rate) – 6.99% p.a. (online rate) |
RM1,000 | Subject to available credit limit and the bank’s discretion | – 6 months
– 12 months |
| Hong Leong Bank
(Lifetime Balance Transfer Programme/Balance Transfer Birthday Offer)
|
4.99% p.a. (online and offline rate)
|
RM1,000 | Subject to available credit limit and the bank’s discretion | No fixed repayment period |
| HSBC | Plan A
– 3% (upfront interest) – 0% (6 months) Plan B – 0.58% per month Plan C – 0.42% per month New sign up for HSBC credit card – 1.99% per month |
RM1,000 (for all plans) |
95% of available approved credit limit | Plan A
– 6 months Plan B – 12 months Plan C – 6 months New sign up for HSBC credit card – 6 months |
| Maybank
(Balance Transfer/Balance Transfer-i Plan)
|
6 months
– 1.88% (upfront interest) + 0% p.a. (via Maybank2u only) 9 months – 9% p.a. 12 months – 3% (upfront interest) + 0% p.a. (if maximum transfer is RM50,000) – 12% p.a. (if maximum transfer is 90% of available credit limit) 24 months – 4.5% p.a. 36 months – 4.95% p.a. |
6 months
– RM1,000 9 months – RM1,000 12 months – RM1,000 24 months – RM1,000 36 months – RM2,000
|
6 months
– RM50,000 9 months – 90% of available credit limit 12 months – RM50,000 – 90% of available credit limit 24 months – 90% of available credit limit 36 months – 90% of available credit limit
|
– 6 months
– 9 months – 12 months – 24 months – 36 months
|
| OCBC | – 2.88% (upfront interest for 6 months)
– 4.88% (upfront interest for 12 months)
|
RM1,000 | 80% of available approved credit limit | – 6 months
– 12 months |
| Standard Chartered
|
5.99% p.a. | RM1,000 | N/A | – 12 months
– 18 months – 24 months – 36 months
|
| UOB | Plan 25
– 3% (upfront interest) Plan 26 – 4% (upfront interest) Plan 27 – 5% (upfront interest) |
RM1,000 | Subject to available credit limit and the bank’s discretion | Plan 25
– 6 months Plan 26 – 12 months Plan 27 – 18 months
|
| UOB (Balance Transfer Fixed-Pay Programme) |
Plan i6
– 3.3% p.a. Plan i12b – 6% p.a.
|
RM1,000 | Subject to available credit limit and the bank’s discretion | Plan i6
– 6 months Plan i12b – 12 months
|
***
As you tap into the benefits of balance transfer programmes to help you repay your credit card debts, make sure to always exercise some financial responsibility. It is crucial that you remain prompt with your monthly repayments, or you will still be hit with the standard credit card interest charge. Remember that balance transfers are not free money, but helps you repay outstanding credit card debt.
