Compare keeping your current credit card, using a promotional balance transfer, or consolidating with a personal loan by payoff time, monthly payment, interest, and fees.
Lowest-cost feasible payoff
Balance transfer
2 yr 10 mo payoff within the payment limit
Borrowing cost
$1,272
Interest plus lender fees
Potential savings
$5,751
Compared with keeping the current card
Recommendation
Balance transfer has the lowest modeled interest and fee cost at $1,272, with a payment of $400 per month.
The personal loan requires $404 per month, above your $400 limit, so it is not eligible for the recommendation.
The balance-transfer option still has $5,160 remaining when the promotional period ends, so the 24.99% reset APR affects its result.
Payoff comparison
| Option | Payment | Payoff | Interest | Fees | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keep current card | $400 | 4 yr | $7,023 | $0 | $7,023 |
| Balance transfer | $400 | 2 yr 10 mo | $912 | $360 | $1,272 |
| Personal loan | $404 (over limit) | 3 yr | $2,291 | $240 | $2,531 |
Remaining balance by month
- Current card
- Balance transfer
- Personal loan
How this calculator works
Credit-card interest is calculated monthly from the entered APR. The balance-transfer fee is added at the start, the promotional APR applies through the selected month, and the reset APR applies afterward. The same planned payment is used for both revolving options.
The personal-loan origination fee is modeled as financed with the balance. Its payment uses standard fixed-payment amortization. Results exclude late fees, new purchases, variable-rate changes, and tax effects. Confirm whether a real lender deducts its fee from proceeds or adds it to the loan.
Review offer disclosures and consumer guidance from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau before applying. This comparison is educational and does not account for credit-score effects or approval odds.
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