
If you have a credit card, or have applied for one, you may be wondering how credit card interest works. A lot of credit card companies take advantage of the fact that you may not know how their fees will effect you. The truth is, understanding how credit card companies calculate their interest rates can be confusing. So, how does credit card interest get calculated?
Compound Interest
Compound interest means that interest charges are added to the amount you originally borrowed so that your debt grows exponentially.
Let’s say you have $1,o00 of debt with a 10% interest rate. The first month, you will be charged $100, (1000 x.10) so your debt will be $1,100. The second month, you will be charged $110 (1100 x .10) and so on.
As you can see, the amount you owe adds up quickly!
Most credit card companies nowadays compound interest on a daily basis instead of monthly, meaning each day you have a balance you are being charged.
Read the fine print
It’s important to read the fine print on your credit card statement so you understand exactly how your lending company charges interest. When you make your first credit card purchase, a lot of companies give you a month grace period to pay off the balance before they start charging interest. After that time, you will be charged the interest rate. Some credit card companies charge interest on the full amount you borrowed, even if you’ve paid off a good portion of the debt during the grace period. For example, if you charged $500 and paid off $400, instead of being charged interest for the $100 you still owed, you’d be charged on the $500. Be sure to always read and understand the fine print!
Payments
Your payment behavior can also affect your interest rate. If you do not make payments on time, your credit card company may charge you late fees or make you pay a higher interest rate. Late payments can not only effect your interest rate, but will negatively impact your credit score, which could prevent you from getting a car loan, student loan, mortgage or additional credit cards.
Having credit is a necessity of life, but it’s important to understand how interest rates work. Before you apply for a credit card, make sure you understand how the company calculates interest and make sure you read all the fine print! Knowing this information will help you be a smarter shopper.