You may think that a credit card is for life ? but with the level of hot competition among credit card providers these days it has never been easier for people switching credit cards to get a better deal than the one they currently have! So, if your credit card provider is not offering you the best current market conditions, the time may have come for you to consider a switch.

Essentially there are two ways in which you can move your current credit card balance to a new card provider:

* you get an offer (usually in the post) to move your current balance to a new provider offering better terms and conditions than what you currently have;

* you make an application to a new provider and in your application you inform the new provider that you intend to move a balance over from your previous provider.

Either way, once your new card has been approved, you simply switch over the balance of the old card to the new card and then cancel the old card. In fact it could not be made easier for you to move your balance as the new card application form will likely have a space for you to fill in your current details and your new card provider will then arrange for the balance to be transferred once your new card has been approved!

Keep in mind that card providers today like the idea of customers moving over existing balances that are earning them interest income and competition is fierce to get people to move over to their card, so make sure when your are considering switching your credit card provider that you get:

* a better APR deal than you currently have;

* a better rewards system than you currently have;

* if possible, no membership or annual fees.

Also, if you don't want to, you don't actually have to close an account just because you have moved the balance to a new card. Consequently, if you have two credit cards and one of these credit card provider is offering a lower APR than the other, but the other is offering a better rewards system, you can keep both cards active and every now and then you can arrange to have the balance of your more expensive APR-charging card switched to your less expensive APR card. That way you can enjoy the best of both worlds!