When a 0% Offer Ends: What Rate You Move To

When the 0% period on a balance transfer ends, the balance you have not cleared starts costing interest at your card's standard rate. Nothing is added to the debt for reaching the end date itself, and the balance does not become due in full. What changes is the price of carrying it: from the day after the offer ends, interest is charged on whatever is left. Santander puts it plainly: "If you haven't paid off the balance transfer amount when the 0% period ends, you'll have to pay interest on any remaining balance."¹

The interest applies only to the unpaid transferred debt, not to the original amount you moved. In an FCA survey, 78% of respondents correctly said that after the introductory period interest is charged on the debt that is transferred and has not yet been paid off, while 8% thought it was charged on the whole original balance and 14% were unsure.²

Two things usually change at the same time. The rate on the existing balance rises to the standard rate, and any new balance you transfer onto the card afterwards attracts a fee. On the Santander Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer card, for example, a 3% balance transfer fee applies to any new balance transfers once the 0% period has ended.³

The remaining balance moves to the standard balance transfer rate

At the end of any promotional period, your outstanding balance is charged at your standard rate.⁶ That standard rate is the card's ordinary rate for balance transfers, and it is not the same thing as the headline 0% figure you applied for. HSBC states that at the end of any promotional period, balance transfers and purchases revert to the standard variable rate.⁷

A card can carry different standard rates for different kinds of debt, so the rate your transferred balance moves to is not automatically the same as the rate on purchases.⁷ The 0% rate usually will not apply to new purchases during the offer either, so spending on the card can be charged interest from the day it appears, even while the transferred balance is still interest-free.⁸

The size of the jump depends on the card and on the rate you were given when you applied. Which? reported in May 2026 that the longest 0% deals often come with a balance transfer fee, typically around 3% to 3.5%, and are usually reserved for applicants with stronger credit records.⁹ The rate you move to is set out in your card's terms and in the summary box you were given before you applied.

If you transferred a balance during a 0% offer, you will be charged interest at your standard rate on any balance remaining after the offer ends.¹⁰ Interest is calculated on the daily balance, so the sooner the balance falls, the less it costs.

How to find the date your 0% period ends

The end date is not always the same as the date you opened the card. Two clocks usually run: the length of the 0% offer, and a window in which you had to make the transfer to qualify for it.

The offer length is a set number of months from account opening. Deals vary widely. The longest 0% balance transfer deals currently on the market run for 38 months.⁴ At the other end, a balance transfer card from RBS could give a 0% offer on balance transfers of between 9 and 11 months, depending on the credit assessment.¹¹ The Longer Balance Transfer card from Ulster Bank gives 0% on balance transfers for up to 36 months from account opening, provided the balance is transferred in the first 3 months.¹² The Purchase & Balance Transfer card from RBS gives a 0% offer on balance transfers of between 12 and 21 months, again depending on the credit assessment.¹³

The transfer window is separate and shorter. There tends to be a time limit for transferring balances at 0%, typically between 60 and 90 days.¹⁴ Barclaycard Forward requires transfers to be made within 60 days to benefit from the 0% offer.¹⁵ Tesco Bank's Low Fee Balance Transfer card requires transfers within 90 days of opening the account to get the 0% interest rate.¹⁶ The FCA has described the market pattern as offering 0% interest on balances transferred, typically within the first 90 days of account opening.¹⁷

Your statement is the reliable place to check. It shows the promotional period and the date it ends, and providers must give notice before changing terms. If you are unsure, the card's app or a call to the number on the back of the card will confirm the exact date.

How repayments are allocated once interest starts

Once the promotional rate has gone, the order in which your payments are applied matters more, because part of the balance is now accruing interest and part may not be.

Since 1 October 2021, FCA rules have required firms to allocate repayments to the debt with the highest interest rate first, and to meet best interest requirements when offering fixed instalment plans on credit cards and store cards.¹⁸ In practice, that means your monthly payment goes to the most expensive debt on the card before cheaper debt. If your transferred balance has moved to the standard rate while a purchase balance sits on a lower promotional rate, the payment attacks the transferred balance first.

That rule works in your favour, but it does not change the arithmetic of a large balance. A balance transfer freezes interest for a set period, giving you time to clear the debt without worrying about interest.¹⁹ Once the freeze lifts, the same payment clears less each month because part of it now covers interest.

There is a second trap. Interest on any new purchases that you make will quickly add up during the introductory period.²⁰ If you spend on a card that is carrying a transferred balance, the new spending can attract interest immediately, and the repayment allocation rules then decide which pot your money reduces first. The cleanest approach is to keep new spending off a card that is holding a transferred balance.

Options for clearing a balance before the offer ends

The cheapest outcome is to have the balance at zero before the end date. Whether that is realistic depends on the size of the debt and the length of the offer, and there are several routes.

Pay more than the minimum. A 0% card would see you pay no interest for a set period, often a number of months.²¹ Working out what monthly payment clears the balance by the end date, rather than paying the minimum, is the difference between finishing free and finishing with interest. Which? has a repayment calculator that shows how long a balance takes to clear at a given payment.¹⁹

Move the balance again. Some cards offer 0% interest deals for a limited period, but there may be a charge for doing this.²² Most cards charge a fee to transfer the balance, typically around 3%.⁴ If you move more debt onto the card after the offer has finished, the transfer fee could be as high as 18%.⁵ Moving the debt to a card with low or 0% interest could help you pay off the debt faster, but only if the fee and the new end date are both accounted for.²³

Use a personal loan or consolidation. Consolidating card debt into a loan replaces a revolving balance with a fixed repayment schedule. StepChange notes that many credit card companies offer 0% transfer fees as a way to encourage applications, and that a 0% offer might only last for 12 months.⁵ Check for any hidden fees, including on 0% balance transfers, before committing.²⁴

Free debt advice. If the balance cannot be cleared and the interest is unaffordable, free and impartial help is available from StepChange, Citizens Advice and other debt advice charities.²⁴ In Northern Ireland, nidirect sets out the options for credit card debt.²⁰

What happens if you miss a payment during the 0% period

Missing a payment can end the offer early, which is a bigger risk than the fee itself. If you miss a payment during the 0% interest period, you may be charged a fee and lose your interest-free status.²⁶ Miss a payment and your 0% deal could be voided, with higher interest rates to pay instead.²⁷

The FCA has confirmed that some firms withdraw a consumer's promotional offer, such as their 0% balance transfer offer, if the consumer fails to make a minimum payment by the due date or exceeds their credit limit.¹⁷ Late or missed payments could mean forfeiting a 0% deal and having to pay higher interest rates.²⁸

Going over your limit carries similar consequences. It may result in your card being cancelled, having to pay a fee, losing your interest-free status and an impact on your credit rating.²⁶ If you are struggling to make the minimum payment, tell the provider before you miss one. There are rules on forbearance and on persistent debt that may apply, and free advice services can help you set out the options.

Can the provider reduce your credit limit when the offer ends?

A provider can review a credit limit at any time, and the end of a promotional period is one of the points at which it may look again. A lower credit score means you will not qualify for the most competitive deals such as introductory offers and 0% balance transfers, and it can mean you are given a smaller credit limit or simply rejected.²⁹

If you applied with a Poor or Very Poor Experian credit score, you may get a smaller 0% length, a smaller credit limit and a higher APR.¹⁴ The maximum amount you can normally transfer is up to 90% of your credit limit, so a limit cut also reduces how much you can move to another card.¹⁴

A limit cut does not make the existing balance due. It does mean the balance takes up a larger share of your available credit, which can affect your credit file. If a limit is reduced and you disagree, you can ask the provider to explain its reasoning and complain if you are unhappy with the response.

Where to get help

If the balance is not going to clear before the 0% period ends and the interest is unaffordable, free help is available. StepChange offers free debt advice and free debt consolidation guidance.²⁴ Citizens Advice sets out the costs and charges of credit cards.³⁰ Macmillan Cancer Support provides guidance on managing money during cancer treatment, including debt.³¹

For problems with the card itself, the provider's complaints process comes first, and the Financial Ombudsman Service can look at a complaint if it is not resolved. If you are in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the debt advice routes differ, and the options are set out separately for each nation.