Can you transfer a store card balance to a credit card?

Store credit cards can be tempting for savings-minded shoppers, promising big discounts, loyalty rewards and a chance to finance large purchases over time. But since store cards tend to carry extremely high APRs, you can easily get into trouble if you run up a balance you can’t pay back.

If you’re struggling to pay off your store credit card, rest assured. The average store credit card is no different from a traditional credit card, and if you can qualify, a balance transfer credit card is a viable option.

Can you transfer a store card balance to a credit card?

Yes, you can transfer a balance on a store card to a credit card. In most cases, if you have a significant balance on a store card, it’s probably a good idea.

The process of transferring a store card balance should be similar to planning a balance transfer from a regular credit card. Assuming you can qualify, doing a balance transfer from your store card should help you save on interest, reel in frivolous spending and enjoy more flexibility in earning and redeeming rewards.

Pros of transferring a store card balance

Transferring your balance from a high-interest store card to a new, lower ongoing APR card or a 0 percent intro APR card is usually a wise decision. If you’re debating whether you should apply for a new card and transfer your store credit card balance, here are a few reasons why it might be a good idea.

Store card APRs tend to be very high

Store credit cards are notorious for their gargantuan APRs. What’s worse, many store cards charge all cardholders the same variable APR, regardless of their credit history.

A CreditCards.com retail store card survey found the average store card APR was over 28 percent for a store-only card and over 25 percent for a co-branded store card. So if you’re carrying a large balance, you’re likely facing a steep uphill battle in paying off debt.

By transferring your store card balance to a new card — especially one that offers a low or 0 percent intro APR on balance transfers — you can hit pause on mounting interest charges and work on paying off your debt. Check out our balance transfer calculator to see how much you could save on interest.

A new card may offer more long-term value

Store cards tend to be “closed loop” cards, which means they can only be used at a single store or family of stores. This could severely limit their long-term value, since you may only be eligible to earn rewards in a very narrow category of spending, like furniture or sporting goods purchases. Additionally, any rewards you do earn can only be used at the store itself.

While there are some “open loop” store-branded cards that have a much wider reach (they may be accepted anywhere Visa or Mastercard are accepted, for example), even these cards tend to fall short, since in most cases you’ll still have to redeem your rewards at the store.

If your current focus is on paying down debt and avoiding interest — not scoring credit card rewards — it’s important to keep long-term value in mind. Transferring your balance to a more general-purpose credit card will almost always lead to greater overall savings and more flexibility.

You can avoid the deferred interest trap

Many stores offer special financing on large purchases when you sign up for their store-branded credit card and being able to buy a big-ticket item and pay it off over time is one of the main attractions of store cards.

Unfortunately, most of these offers use a risky deferred interest model, which could end up costing you a ton on the back end if you’re not careful. With deferred interest, if you don’t manage to pay off the entire balance of your purchase by the end of the promotional period, you’ll be charged interest going all the way back to the date of purchase.

If you have a deferred interest deadline coming up and worry you may not be able to pay off your balance in time, a balance transfer could be exactly what you need to avoid accrued interest charges and a high ongoing interest rate. To ensure your balance transfer goes through before the end of a promotional period, it’s critical that you get the process started early since you won’t know in advance exactly how long your balance transfer will take.

Break the habit of overspending

The discounts and rewards offered by a store card may encourage you to shop at that store more frequently — maybe more than you should. Plus, since you’ll often have to continue shopping at a given store to make use of the rewards you’ve earned, you may end up buying things you don’t really need or paying extra on items not fully covered by rewards.

If you struggle with overspending, transferring your store card balance to a new card could be a smart way to break this cycle, pay down debt and get your financial habits back on track.

Cons of transferring a store card balance

Transferring your store card balance should be a fairly straightforward process and is likely to save you money in both the short and long-term, but there are a few caveats to keep in mind before you apply:

You may lose out on rewards and special perks

One of the major selling points of department store credit cards is the exclusive, store-specific discounts and perks they offer, ranging from birthday bonuses and one-time discounts to free shipping.

The Nordstrom Visa Signature card*, for example, gives cardholders free basic clothing alterations or reimbursements on alterations (depending on your loyalty program status).

The catch, of course, is you’ll have to use your store card to take advantage of these benefits. If you’re planning to transfer your balance and then stop using your store card, you’ll probably have to give up these perks.

In some cases, one of the only ways to earn consistent cash back bonuses or points at a given store is to use a store credit card. Superstores like Walmart, Target and Costco, though popular, are hard to classify. Are they grocery stores? Department stores?

As a result, they’re often not included in most rewards cards’ bonus categories. That said, you can always hang onto your store card and use it when needed (after you’ve gotten a handle on your spending habits, of course).

You may not qualify for a balance transfer card

Since store cards are generally easier to qualify for, many people sign up for them hoping to build or rebuild credit. But you’ll need good to excellent credit to take advantage of the best balance transfer offers. Instead of trying to do a balance transfer with bad credit, you may be better off focusing on improving your score through on-time payments and low credit utilization.

Even if you’re approved for a new balance transfer card, the balance you want to transfer may exceed your new card’s credit limit, especially if you’re carrying balances on multiple store cards. You’ll have to decide if you want to transfer a portion, apply for multiple balance transfers (and pay multiple balance transfer fees) or consider a debt consolidation loan or another payment plan.

It’s also worth noting that you won’t be able to transfer your balance to a new card from the same issuer. Most issuers do not allow you to transfer a balance between two of their cards.

Your new ongoing APR may not be much better

If you don’t manage to pay off your transferred balance during your new card’s 0 percent intro APR period, you may be left with an ongoing APR that’s just as high as the one on your store card, so be sure you have a payoff plan in place before you apply.

Your credit score may suffer if you close the store card

If you don’t have much available credit, closing your store card could increase your overall credit utilization and lower your credit score. Assuming your store card charges no annual fee (few do), you’re best off leaving the account open. You may also want to use the card to buy something small at least once every few months to keep it from being closed by the issuer due to inactivity.

Key factors to consider when choosing a balance transfer card

If you’re set on signing up for a balance transfer card, consider these factors before making a selection: 

• Length of intro period: Some balance transfer cards give you as many as 21 months to pay off your balance interest-free.
• Regular APR rate: Credit card interest rates are at an all-time high, and the average balance transfer card has an APR of 17.72 percent, according to CreditCards.com data.
• Fees: A balance transfer typically comes with a fee of 3 percent to 5 percent of the balance. This amount will be added to your transferred balance. 
• Intro APR on purchases: Many balance transfer cards also offer introductory 0 percent APRs on purchases, though the time period may be shorter in some cases. 
• Rewards and perks: While some balance transfer cards are geared only toward paying down debt, there are several that offer cash back and points for your purchases as well. 

Before applying, consider how much debt you have and decide if a balance transfer card or a personal loan is the right tool for the job. Personal loans tend to have lower interest rates than cards, but they don’t offer 0 percent introductory APRs.

Bottom line

While store credit cards can offer unique perks, rewards and discounts at your favorite stores, their sky-high APRs make it hard to justify ever carrying a balance. Luckily, a balance transfer is possible, and if you’re struggling to pay off a high-interest store credit card, it’s probably wise.

*All information about the Nordstrom Visa Signature card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.