Lloyds Bank Platinum Credit Cards: The Balance Transfer Offer for You?
Lloyds Bank Platinum Credit Cards: The Balance Transfer Offer for You?
Good for
- Reducing interest charges on existing credit card debt
- Reducing interest charges on purchases
Bad for
- Those wanting to move debt from another Lloyds credit card
- Anyone wanting to check eligibility before they apply
The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement. Read our full disclosure here.
If you're paying interest on existing credit card balances, the Lloyds Bank Platinum Credit Card is a suite of balance transfer offers to help you reduce interest payments and eliminate debt sooner. The suite of cards ranges from a no-fee, shorter 0% interest period up to a larger-fee, longer 0% interest period on balances transfers. How does the card compare?
- Lloyds Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers
- Lloyds Balance Transfer Features
- How Much Can I Save with a Balance Transfer Credit Card?
Lloyds Bank Platinum Credit Card Balance Transfer Review
The Lloyds Bank Platinum Credit Card is a group of cards whose primary function is balance transfers. If you're paying interest on an existing balance on another card, moving that balance to one of Lloyds' balance transfer cards may save you hundreds or even thousands of pounds by reducing your interest payments.
The Lloyds Bank Platinum Credit Card offers a selection of balance transfer offers that differ primarily in the length of time a cardholder pays 0% interest on balance transfers. Generally speaking, a longer 0% intro period means a higher balance transfer fee. This is not surprising, since the bank has to charge for the additional risk of taking on your debt for a longer time.
Over time, the balance transfer durations (the time you get a 0% grace period) have come down significantly, along with the market. In 2018, the no-fee offering was 25 months; in 2020 it was down to 15 months. And the longest balance transfer on offer dropped from 35 months in 2018 to 28 months in 2020. By the end of 2023, it appeared that there was no 'no-fee' offer at all, and the longest balance transfer offer available was 22 months. The balance transfer market has certainly tightened in the current economic environment, making it harder for people to find a great deal. These are subject to change at any time.
Offers change regularly, so it's best to check their website (you can use the "Apply Now" button above) to see the latest offers right from the horse's mouth.
Note: Lloyds may offer up to 49% of applicants a shorter 0% duration.
Bottom Line: Lloyds Bank Platinum credit card balance transfer offers are generally competitive, but be aware that you may get a shorter-than-advertised 0% period. Be sure to pay your minimum payment on time, or you'll lose the 0% intro rate.
Lloyds Balance Transfer Card: No Fee 0% Balance Transfer
Not currently available. Lloyds' No Fee 0% Balance Transfer offer is generally one of the best No Fee deals available in the UK market, ideal for those who can manage their outstanding debt within a shorter period of time (a year or so). Consumers who can pay back their debt within this length of time benefit from paying NO FEE to transfer balances in the first 90 days. With no transfer fee, more of your hard-earned money can be put towards reducing your debts instead of paying interest payments—potentially saving hundreds of pounds. If you want longer 0% APR period, one of the cards below might be a better option—but you'll pay a higher transfer fee.
Lloyds Balance Transfer Card: Low Fee and Longer 0% Period
If you need a bit more time to bring your credit card balances down without incurring interest charges, you can consider the Lloyds' Low Fee 0% offer. This slightly longer promotional period will cost you a bit more in terms of the transfer fee charged on all initial transferred balances than the "no fee" card. New purchases made on the Low Fee card also benefit from no interest period on purchases.
For consumers needing a longer 0% period, we think this Low Fee deal is Halifax's best offer (it ends up being cheaper than the Longest 0% deal, discussed below, due to the balance transfer fees).
Lloyds Balance Transfer Card: Longest 0% Period
Lloyds' Longest 0% Period offer gives more time to pay back balances, but the higher fee on initially transferred balances may not be worth it if you don't need the time. If you can manage with a slightly shorter time at 0% APR then we recommend considering the Low Fee offer, above, because you might pay a lot less in fees.
Top Tip
We want to reiterate how important it is for all balance transfer cardholders to pay off their outstanding balance within the 0% APR promotional period. Also, it is crucial to stay within your credit limit and to make your minimum monthly payments on time in order to keep the promotional offers. Be late on a payment and your 0% interest rate on balance transfers can shoot up from 0% to between 18.9% and 27.9% or more.
Can I Hold More than One Lloyds Bank Credit Card?
Like most other credit card companies, Lloyds doesn’t let you transfer a balance from one of their own credit cards. This doesn’t preclude current Lloyds customers from opening a new Lloyds balance transfer card. Lloyds does permit consumes to hold a second Lloyds Bank credit card (subject to the conditions, below, from their website):
- You don’t already have a Classic or Student credit card with Lloyds Bank.
- You can only have one Rewards credit card account, even if the second Rewards card you want to choose is different to your existing Rewards card. The Rewards credit cards we currently offer are Avios Rewards, Premier Avios Rewards and Choice Rewards.
- You can only have a maximum of two credit cards with Lloyds Bank, and a maximum of five with the Lloyds Banking Group (which also includes Halifax and Bank of Scotland).
- You’re not applying within 60 days of having opened your first credit card with Lloyds Bank.
- Your application is subject to a full credit check.
What is a Balance Transfer Credit Card Good For?
A balance transfer credit card is meant to help consumers manage their credit card debt, by placing the debt onto a special credit card that doesn’t charge interest for a time. This no-interest situation not only can save consumers money, but consequently allows them to pay off their debt sooner—if used properly.
Imagine you have a balance of £3,500 on a credit card that is charging you 18.9%. Assuming you don’t purchase anything else with the card, and can make monthly payments of £100, it will take you 51 months to pay off this debt. Along the way you will have paid over £1,500 in interest. Moving this debt to a 0% APR balance transfer card of suitable duration, you can save this £1,500 in interest and be debt free sooner.
Even choosing a balance transfer with a too-short duration can still be beneficial. The following chart shows how much interest you would pay in total on 5 different credit cards, assuming you can manage to pay £100 a month towards a balance of £3,500. Even if the 0% period ends up being too short for you, a balance transfer can still be beneficial relative to a card charging 18.9%.
