A balance transfer typically takes about 5 to 7 days to complete after your request, but it can vary widely depending on the credit card issuer. Some issuers may take up to 14, 21 days, or even as long as six weeks in certain cases
. Here is a general timeline for some major credit card issuers:
- American Express: 5 to 7 business days, possibly up to 6 weeks
- Bank of America: Up to 2 weeks
- Capital One: 3 to 15 business days
- Chase: 7 to 21 days
- Citi: 2 to 21 days, possibly longer with some banks
- Discover: About 4 days for existing accounts, but new accounts may require a 14-day waiting period before starting the transfer
- Wells Fargo: Up to 14 days
- U.S. Bank: Up to 14 days
Because the process involves coordination between the two credit card accounts (the one you are transferring from and the one you are transferring to), timing can vary based on the issuers involved and their processing methods
. While waiting for the transfer to complete, it is important to continue making payments on your original card to avoid late fees or negative credit impacts
. In summary, expect a balance transfer to take anywhere from a few days up to several weeks, with most completing within about one to two weeks. Always check with your specific card issuer for more precise timing.
