The world is rapidly switching to credit cards for all big and small transactions. Hence, it is recommended that you know all about credit cards and their interest rates so that you can calculate interest on your credit card and plan your finances accordingly.
Once your billing cycle is over, you get 20 days to pay your credit card bills. After the due date, if you choose to not clear the outstanding amount and only pay the “minimum amount due” to continue your credit card services, then an interest is levied.
Now the question arises: How is the interest calculated on a credit card?
The interest rate on credit cards is stated as the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). Annual Percentage Rate or APR is the interest rate that is levied yearly. But in reality, credit card interest rates are calculated monthly using the Daily Periodic Rate or DPR.
Monthly Interest Charges = Daily Percentage Rate (DPR) x Number of days in the billing cycle x Outstanding balance on credit card
Here is the credit card interest rate calculation explained with an example:
Knowing how to calculate your credit card interest rate can come very handy. You can choose the credit card that offers the best interest rate so that you can afford to clear all your credit card dues efficiently. Furthermore, having a credit card with a low-interest rate also ensures that you never fall into debt while using your credit card.
Earning high credit card interest can change how you handle money. The Fi-Federal co-branded card offers reasonable rates. With this card, you're assured of a 2% valueback through rewards. But that's not all, as you'll also get 5x on your top 3 brands, 2x on all partner brands listed in the Fi Catalogue (including Amazon, Netflix, etc.) and 1x on everything else, including rent and fuel. What's unique is that you earn points through Fi-Coins. For travellers, the perks are even better, as you can convert your Fi-Coins to airline miles or cashback.
The amount of interest charged on a credit card depends on the following factors:
APR is the annual rate of interest mentioned by credit card lenders. Effective interest rate depends on the Daily Periodic Rate (APR/365).
You can carry a balance on your credit card, but you will have to pay interest charges on it and the interest charges build up over time to a huge amount.
Credit card companies calculate interest with the following formula:
Monthly Interest Charges = Daily Percentage Rate (DPR) * Number of days in the billing cycle * Outstanding balance on credit