The Daily Insight

Bringing clear, reliable news and in-depth information to keep you informed with context and clarity.

science

How can I pay one credit card with another?

Writer Aria Murphy

If you’re looking to pay off one credit balance using another card, this generally isn’t possible. Banks don’t allow you to pay your credit card balance using another credit card. Typically, payments via check, electronic bank transfer or money order are the only acceptable methods of payment.

What happens if you close a credit card account?

For starters, when you close a credit card account, you lose the available credit limit on that account. This makes your credit utilization ratio, or the percentage of your available credit you’re using, jump up—and that’s a sign of risk to lenders because it shows you’re using a higher amount of your available credit.

What happens when you pay off multiple credit cards?

After paying off multiple cards, the credit limits on my other cards were lowered. Why? Paying off or closing multiple cards can prompt a common company card practice “account review.” In some cases, the results are positive, leading to higher credit limits or 0-percent promotional offers.

What’s the best way to pay off credit cards?

Your debt-to-credit ratio is an important factor in determining your credit score. 1 It’s best to keep your debt-to-credit ratio low; you should aim to have the sum of your balances equal 30% or less of available credit. Pay the minimum payment on all credit cards each month to avoid penalties.

Is it better to make credit card payments twice a month?

By making multiple credit card payments, it becomes easier to budget for larger payments. If you simply split your minimum payment in two and pay it twice a month, it won’t have a big impact on your balance. But if you make the minimum payment twice a month, you will pay down your debt much more quickly.

Is it better to pay off one card or another?

The sooner you are out from under a card with a high rate, the better it is for your bottom line. However, it could be that the card with the highest rate may also have a balance that you cannot pay off all at once.