Credit card balance shifting to hit £7bn

UK credit card holders will transfer over £7 billion between cards in the New Year to take advantage of introductory interest rate offers.

Research by Abbey found that 3 million Brits will take part in the great credit card shuffle, with a higher proportion of Scots and Northerners taking part.

According to Abbey, ’shifting the Christmas pounds’ has become a yearly tradition for many Brits seeking to put their finances in order for the New Year.

Card shufflers will transfer an average balance of £2,000 in the first three months of 2009, with many choosing to make the switch as part of their New Year’s resolution to get finances in shape.

Abbey’s head of credit cards, Callum Gibson, said after Christmas is an ‘ideal time’ for conducting a financial review.

Gibson added that by transferring their credit card balance to a card with a zero percent introductory offer, consumers can make sure they are not wasting money unnecessarily.

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