You cannot pay a credit card balance with another credit card directly
Most credit card issuers will not accept a payment from another credit card account. When you log into your card's payment portal or call the issuer, the payment methods available are almost always a bank account (checking or savings), a debit card, or a wire transfer. Attempting to enter another credit card number as a payment method will be rejected at the processing stage.
The reason is structural: credit card networks (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) treat card-to-card transfers as cash advances or balance transfers, not as standard payments. These transactions carry different fees, different interest rates, and different regulatory treatment than a regular payment. Issuers deliberately block direct card-to-card payments to control how these transactions are classified and priced.
If you are trying to move money from one card to another, there are specific paths that do work — but they involve intermediate steps and costs that you should understand before you use them.
Key Takeaways
- Direct card-to-card payments are blocked by most issuers; the payment portal will not accept another credit card number.
- A balance transfer moves debt from one card to another and typically charges a fee (usually 3 to 5 percent of the amount transferred), though some offers waive this fee for a limited time.
- A cash advance uses your credit card to withdraw cash, which you can then deposit and use to pay another card, but carries a higher interest rate and an upfront fee (typically 3 to 5 percent).
- Using a debit card, bank account, or third-party payment service (PayPal, Venmo, Square Cash) to move money between cards avoids the fees and interest penalties of balance transfers and cash advances.
- Paying one card with another is usually a sign that debt is growing faster than your income; addressing the underlying spending or income problem is more important than the mechanics of moving the debt around.
Balance transfers: moving debt between cards
A balance transfer is the most direct way to move a balance from one credit card to another. You contact the card you want to pay off (the old card) or initiate the transfer through the new card's issuer. The new issuer sends a check or electronic payment directly to the old card's balance, reducing what you owe there.
Balance transfers charge a fee, usually 3 to 5 percent of the amount transferred. On a $5,000 transfer, that is $150 to $250 added to your new card's balance immediately. Some issuers offer a 0 percent balance transfer fee for a limited time (often 60 days after account opening), but this is a promotional offer and not the standard.
The advantage of a balance transfer is that many cards offer a 0 percent introductory interest rate on transferred balances for 6 to 21 months, depending on the card and the offer. If you can pay down the balance during that period, you avoid interest charges. If you cannot, the regular interest rate kicks in after the promotional period ends, and you are back to paying interest on a balance you moved.
Balance transfers do not reduce the total amount you owe — they move it. If you transfer $5,000 from Card A to Card B and pay a $150 fee, you now owe $5,150 on Card B and $0 on Card A. The debt is larger, not smaller.
Cash advances: withdrawing money to pay another card
A cash advance uses your credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM or bank teller. You can then deposit that cash into your bank account and use it to pay another card. This method works, but it is expensive.
Cash advances charge an upfront fee (typically 3 to 5 percent of the amount withdrawn) and a higher interest rate than regular purchases — often 25 to 30 percent, even if your card's regular APR is lower. Interest on a cash advance also starts accruing immediately; there is no grace period like there is for purchases. A $2,000 cash advance costs $60 to $100 in fees alone, plus interest from day one.
The only scenario where a cash advance makes sense is if you are facing an immediate payment deadline on another card and have no other way to move money. Even then, the cost is high enough that you should explore other options first.
Using a debit card or bank account to move money
The cheapest way to pay one card with money from another source is to use a debit card or bank account. If you have a debit card linked to a checking account, you can use it to make a payment to any credit card. The money comes from your bank account, not from a credit card, so no balance transfer fee or cash advance fee applies.
This method assumes you have money in a bank account to draw from. If you do not, this route is not available. But if you do, it is the most direct and least expensive way to move money between cards.
Some people use third-party payment services like PayPal, Venmo, or Square Cash to move money between cards. These services typically charge a fee (1 to 3 percent) if you fund the transfer with a credit card, but the fee is lower than a balance transfer or cash advance. However, you still need money in the receiving account or a linked bank account to complete the payment to the second card.
What happens to your credit score when you move balances
A balance transfer or cash advance affects your credit score in two ways: it increases your credit utilization (the percentage of your available credit you are using) on the new card, and it may lower your score temporarily because the transfer is a new inquiry and a new account or transaction.
If you transfer $5,000 to a new card with a $10,000 limit, your utilization on that card jumps to 50 percent. Utilization makes up about 30 percent of your credit score, so a sudden jump can lower your score by 10 to 50 points, depending on your overall profile. The impact is temporary; as you pay down the balance, your utilization drops and your score recovers.
Paying off the old card (the one you transferred from) lowers utilization on that card, which helps your score. The net effect depends on whether the new card's higher utilization outweighs the old card's improvement. In most cases, moving a balance hurts your score slightly in the short term but helps it in the long term if you pay down the debt.
When moving balances makes sense and when it does not
A balance transfer makes sense if you have a large balance on a high-interest card and you can move it to a card with a 0 percent introductory rate and a lower regular APR. The math is simple: if you owe $5,000 at 22 percent APR and you can move it to 0 percent for 12 months, you save roughly $1,100 in interest (minus the transfer fee). That is worth doing if you can pay down the balance during the promotional period.
A balance transfer does not make sense if you are moving debt from one high-interest card to another high-interest card with no promotional rate. You are paying a fee to move debt that will cost you the same amount in interest. You are also not addressing the reason the balance grew in the first place.
Moving balances repeatedly — transferring from Card A to Card B to Card C — is a sign that you are managing debt, not paying it down. Each transfer costs money and temporarily hurts your credit score. If you find yourself doing this more than once, the problem is not the mechanics of moving money; it is that you are spending more than you earn.
The real issue: spending versus income
If you are trying to pay one credit card with another, you are likely in a situation where your debt is growing. Moving balances around can buy time, but it does not solve the underlying problem. Every balance transfer, cash advance, and payment from another card costs money in fees and interest.
The first step is to stop adding to the debt. If you are carrying balances on multiple cards, look at your spending and income. Are you spending more than you earn each month? Are you using credit cards to cover expenses that should come from your paycheck? Are there expenses you can cut or income you can increase?
Once you stop the bleeding, you can focus on paying down the debt you have. This is slower and less dramatic than moving balances around, but it actually works. If you are not sure where to start, a non-profit credit counselor (through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling) can review your situation for free and help you build a plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card to pay another credit card online?
No. Most payment portals will reject a credit card number as a payment method. They accept bank accounts, debit cards, and wire transfers. If you want to move money from one card to another, you need to use a balance transfer (which the issuer initiates) or move cash through a bank account.
What is the difference between a balance transfer and a cash advance?
A balance transfer moves your debt directly from one card to another and typically charges 3 to 5 percent. A cash advance withdraws cash from your card and charges a higher fee (3 to 5 percent) plus a higher interest rate (25 to 30 percent) that starts accruing immediately. Balance transfers are cheaper if you need to move debt; cash advances are more expensive.
Will paying one card with another hurt my credit score?
Yes, temporarily. A balance transfer increases utilization on the new card and counts as a new inquiry, which can lower your score by 10 to 50 points in the short term. As you pay down the balance, your score recovers. The long-term effect is positive if you actually pay down the debt.
Is there a fee for a balance transfer?
Usually yes — typically 3 to 5 percent of the amount transferred. Some promotional offers waive the fee for a limited time (often 60 days after opening the account), but this is not standard. Always check the terms before you initiate a transfer.
What should I do if I cannot pay my credit card bills?
Contact your card issuer and explain your situation. Many issuers offer hardship programs that lower your interest rate or pause payments temporarily. You can also reach out to a non-profit credit counselor through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, which offers free guidance on managing debt and building a repayment plan.