Can You Transfer Credit Limits Between Credit Cards?

What Does It Mean to Transfer Credit Limits?

Transferring or shifting credit limits means that you're moving a portion of your available credit from one card to another with the same financial institution. This is possible because card issuers allocate a certain amount of borrowing power to cardholders, which may or may not be split among several cards. Moving around your credit limits doesn't increase or decrease your overall available credit.

However, that also means you can't transfer a credit limit from a card with one credit card company to a card with another.

Transferring credit limits is different from requesting a credit limit increase or decrease on a card because you're not gaining or losing any available credit. While your limit will go down on the card from which you're transferring available credit, the limit on the other card will increase in equal measure.

As a result, you'll maintain the same total amount of credit with the same bank.

How to Transfer Credit Limits Between Credit Cards

Requesting to shift your available credit from one card to another is a relatively simple process, but details can vary from bank to bank.

With many banks, for instance, you'll need to call the customer service team to request a transfer.

With others, you may be able to transfer your credit limits yourself using the card issuer's website or mobile app. For example, Chase and Capital One allow eligible cardholders to complete the process online or in their apps without needing to contact customer service directly.

It's important to keep in mind, though, that there may be limitations with certain banks, and some banks don't allow you to reallocate available credit at all.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact your credit card issuer to get the answers you need.

Why You May Want to Transfer Credit Limits

There are several reasons to consider moving some of your available credit from one card to another. Here are some situations where you may want to request a transfer.

You Use One Card More Often

There are a lot of factors that go into determining your credit limit. If you use one card more often than another but have a lower limit, moving available credit from the card you use less frequently can help in several ways:

• It gives you more spending power. You don't have to worry about constantly bumping up against your credit limit if your limit has increased significantly.
• It allows you to earn more rewards. If you're using one card more because you prefer its rewards program, having more spending power with the card gives you the opportunity to better maximize your rewards-earning potential.
• It can improve your credit utilization ratio. Your credit utilization ratio, or the percentage of your credit limit that you're using at a given time, is an important factor in determining your credit score. If you use one card more than the other, increasing its limit can help drive down your utilization rate and potentially increase your credit score.

You're Closing a Credit Card

One of the drawbacks of closing a credit card is that you lose the available credit on that card. Depending on the situation, losing that available credit could increase your utilization ratio to the point that it decreases your credit score.

To help alleviate this potential problem, you can move available credit from the card you're planning to close, so you can still enjoy the benefits that come with it.

You're Opening a New Credit Card

One of the factors that card issuers consider when you apply for a new credit card is how much available credit you already have with them. If you've reached your maximum, you'll have a hard time getting approved for the new card unless you can move some of your available credit from an existing account to the new one.

This isn't always an option, but it can be a good way to get the card you want without having to cancel another card with the bank.

Learn more: How Many Credit Cards Should I Have?

Best credit cards of 2026

Compare cards from our partners with intro bonuses, cash back or points offers, and annual fees as low as $0.

Offers from our partners

Advertiser Disclosure

(222)Rated 4.66 out of 5 stars, 222 reviews

91%

would recommend

American Express Platinum Card^®

Intro bonus:

As High As 175,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Ongoing APR:See Pay Over Time APR

Rewards:

1x - 5x (Points per dollar)

Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.

Annual Fee:$895

ApplyView detailsRates and fees

Terms Apply

(61)Rated 3.08 out of 5 stars, 61 reviews

52%

would recommend

First Latitude Secured Mastercard^® Cash Back Rewards

Ongoing APR:27.74% Variable

Rewards:

1% - 10% (cash back)

Earn up to 10% Cash Back on purchases at participating merchants that fit your lifestyle—from dining and grocery to retail and more—plus 1% Cash Back on payments made to your First Latitude Card.^^

Annual Fee:$0

ApplyView detailsRates and fees

(24)Rated 4.75 out of 5 stars, 24 reviews

96%

would recommend

Citi^® / AAdvantage^® Globe™ Mastercard^®

Ongoing APR:19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)

Rewards:

1x - 6x (Miles per dollar)

Earn 6 AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked through aadvantagehotels.com. Earn 3 AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. Earn 2 AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery. Earn 1 AAdvantage^® miles for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Annual Fee:$350

ApplyView detailsRates and fees

(224)Rated 3.95 out of 5 stars, 224 reviews

76%

would recommend

Credit One Bank^® Wander^® American Express^® Metal Card

Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable

Rewards:

1% - 10% (cash back)

Earn 5% cash back rewards on eligible dining, gas, & travel purchases, 1% cash back rewards on all other purchases, and 10% cash back rewards on eligible hotel and car rentals booked using the Credit One Bank travel partner. Cash back rewards will be awarded as rewards points redeemable for a statement credit, gift cards, travel, and more. Terms apply.

Annual Fee:$95

ApplyView detailsRates and fees

Terms Apply

(53)Rated 4.62 out of 5 stars, 53 reviews

90%

would recommend

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

Intro bonus:

As High As 80K Miles + $250 Statement Credit

You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 Bonus Miles and a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply to find out your offer. Terms Apply. Offer ends 11/04/2026.

Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable

Rewards:

1x - 2x (Miles per dollar)

When you use your Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.

Annual Fee:$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

ApplyView detailsRates and fees

Terms Apply

(24)Rated 4.54 out of 5 stars, 24 reviews

83%

would recommend

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

Intro bonus:

As High As 90K Miles + $300 Statement Credit

You may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles and a $300 Statement Credit after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply to find out your offer. Terms Apply. Offer ends 11/04/2026.

Ongoing APR:19.74%-28.74% Variable

Rewards:

1x - 3x (Miles per dollar)

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

Annual Fee:$350

ApplyView detailsRates and fees

Terms Apply

(127)Rated 4.35 out of 5 stars, 127 reviews

87%

would recommend

Citi Simplicity^® Card

Intro APR:0% intro APR for 18 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Ongoing APR:17.74% - 28.49% (Variable)

Rewards:

N/A

Annual Fee:$0

ApplyView detailsRates and fees

(39)Rated 4.23 out of 5 stars, 39 reviews

Bank of America^® Travel Rewards credit card

Intro APR:0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Ongoing APR:17.74% - 27.74% Variable

Rewards:

1.5x - 3x (Points per dollar)

3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through BofA Travel and 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases

Annual Fee:$0

ApplyView details

Show more Show less

See all our best credit cards for 2026.

Watch Your Credit for an Impact

Regardless of why you want to transfer available credit from one card to another, it's important to watch for any positive or negative effects on your credit score. With Experian's free credit monitoring service, you'll get free access to your Experian credit report, along with your FICO^® Score^Θ powered by Experian data.

You'll also get real-time alerts when changes are made to your credit report, such as when a new inquiry is added.

After you request the credit limit transfer, keep an eye on your credit score and report to find out if there's an impact. Then continue to monitor your credit regularly to continue to build or maintain a good credit history for when you need it.