What is a good APR for credit card?
So, what is a good APR for a credit card? Few of the most popular credit cards offer an interest rate below 16%. More commonly, you'll pay around 20% in interest, even if you've got an excellent credit score and especially if you're applying for any of the best rewards credit cards.
A 24.99% APR is not good for mortgages, student loans, or auto loans, as it's far higher than what most borrowers should expect to pay and what most lenders will even offer. A 24.99% APR is reasonable for personal loans and credit cards, however, particularly for people with below-average credit.
The APR you receive is based on your credit score – the higher your score, the lower your APR. A good APR is around 22%, which is the current average for credit cards. People with bad credit may only have options for higher APR credit cards around 30%. Some people with good credit may find cards with APR as low as 16%.
An annual percentage rate (APR) of 24% indicates that if you carry a balance on a credit card for a full year, the balance will increase by approximately 24% due to accrued interest. For instance, if you maintain a $1,000 balance throughout the year, the interest accrued would amount to around $240.00.
The best rewards credit cards include the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express at 19.24 percent to 29.99 percent variable APR and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, offering 21.49 percent to 28.49 percent variable APR.
Anything below the average credit card interest rate — 23.55% for new offers, as of February 2023, according to a LendingTree study — is generally considered a good APR, and anything above that rate is considered high.
A credit card APR below 10% is definitely good, but you may have to go to a local bank or credit union to find it. The Federal Reserve tracks credit card interest rates, and an APR below the average would also be considered good.
The bottom line on APR
Remember that APR is only applied if you're carrying an outstanding balance on your card. You can typically avoid paying any interest charges if you pay off your card balance before the statement period ends each month. Selecting the right credit card shouldn't be complicated.
Key takeaways. Your credit card APR can go up if the prime rate changes, you paid your credit card bill late, your intro APR offer ended or your credit score dropped. If your APR increases, you can work on paying down your balance or transfer your balance to a card with a low or 0 percent intro APR offer.
The issuer may decline your request, but it never hurts to ask. If you've established a history of on-time payments and other responsible behavior with the issuer, you may be able to leverage this history to your benefit. A lower interest rate can ensure you pay less in interest over time, so it's worth asking for.
Is APR charged monthly?
The APR on a credit card is an annualized percentage rate that is applied monthly. If the advertised APR on a credit card is 19%, for example, then an interest rate of 1.58% will be imposed on the outstanding balance each month. As mentioned, any given credit card may come with several different APRs attached.
A 0% APR credit card can be useful for consolidating existing credit card debt or making a large purchase. Such cards offer interest-free periods, which typically range from six months to nearly two years, during which you're not being charged interest on your purchases, balance transfers or both.
![What is a good APR for credit card? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dFUtba41ujs/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLCzpeAN486VHUn3XtdEt2d5RxBE_w)
APR is the price you pay for a loan. It typically includes interest rates and fees. APR can sometimes be the same as a loan's interest rate, like in the case of most credit cards. APR may be fixed or variable, meaning the rate may stay the same or it might change with market factors.
- Improve your credit score. An improvement in your credit score is critical if you want to start reducing the APR you're being offered by lenders on credit card applications. ...
- Consider a balance transfer. ...
- Pay off your balance. ...
- Learn your credit issuer's policy.
Capital One's credit cards include some of the best-known products on the market, thanks to the company's celebrity spokespeople and its ubiquitous catchphrase, "What's in your wallet?" But the issuer's cards are more than hype — they include generous rewards cards as well as excellent products for business owners, ...
Two factors that contribute to your credit score are the number and type of credit accounts. If your goal is to get or maintain a good credit score, two to three credit card accounts, in addition to other types of credit, are generally recommended. This combination may help you improve your credit mix.
According to Rachel Sanborn Lawrence, advisory services director and certified financial planner at Ellevest, you should feel OK about taking on purposeful debt that's below 10% APR, and even better if it's below 5% APR.
Banks typically offer credit card APRs in the range of 19% to 28%. According to the Federal Reserve's most recently available data as of November 2023, the average interest rate for U.S. credit cards' assessed interest is 22.75% on all accounts.
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a solid choice for people looking to build credit. You won't earn rewards or have access to many perks, but it will help you learn to manage your credit effectively. But, beyond helping you to build your credit, this card doesn't have much to offer.
Not everyone can qualify for an interest-free loan. In fact, lenders or dealerships might review several requirements, including: Credit score: You might need a credit score of at least 740 to be considered for a 0% APR loan.
What APR does a 700 credit score get?
A credit score of 700 gets you an interest rate of 3% to 6% on car loans for new cars and about 5% to 9% for second-hand cars.
Average Mortgage Rates by FICO® Score | |
---|---|
FICO® Score | Mortgage APR |
760-850 | 2.52% |
700-759 | 2.75% |
680-699 | 2.92% |
But your annual percentage rate (APR) may only kick in for any remaining balances carried over to the next month. This means paying your credit card balance in full every billing cycle can help you pay less in interest than if you carry over your balance month after month.
Even though you paid off your account, there could have been residual interest from previous balances. Residual interest will accrue to an account after the statement date if you have a balance transfer, cash advance balance, or have been carrying a balance from month to month.
Pay your monthly statement in full and on time
Paying the full amount will help you avoid any interest charges. If you can't pay your statement balance off completely, try to make a smaller payment (not less than the minimum payment).
References
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/is-there-a-limit-on-credit-card-interest-rates/
- https://www.dosslaw.com/definitive-guides/doss-law-llps-definitive-guide-to-usury-in-california/
- https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/credit-cards/articles/-/learn/how-many-credit-cards-should-i-have/
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/how-to-use-grace-period-to-avoid-paying-interest/
- https://wallethub.com/easiest-credit-card-to-get
- https://www.bankrate.com/banking/reviews/capital-one/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/credit-cards/capital-one-cards
- https://www.wsj.com/buyside/personal-finance/capital-one-bank-review-6c03a1b0
- https://wallethub.com/answers/pl/how-much-can-i-borrow-with-a-650-credit-score-1000508-2140806921/
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/11/01/credit-card-interest-rates-climb-to-33-percent/71391622007/
- https://www.barclays.co.uk/loans/what-does-apr-mean/
- https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/average-credit-card-interest-rate-in-america/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/100314/what-difference-between-interest-rate-and-annual-percentage-rate-apr.asp
- https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/articles/understanding-the-different-types-of-credit-card-aprs/
- https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/capital-one-preapproval/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/negotiate-credit-card-apr.asp
- https://wallethub.com/answers/pl/is-24-99-apr-good-1000431-2140750784/
- https://www.moneylion.com/learn/home-loan-for-650-credit-score/
- https://ycharts.com/indicators/effective_federal_funds_rate
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/usury-rate.asp
- https://wallethub.com/most-exclusive-credit-cards
- https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/does-closing-credit-card-hurt-credit-score
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/715-credit-score-is-it-good-or-bad
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/good-apr-for-credit-card/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/reviews/credit-cards/capital-one-quicksilver
- https://www.upcounsel.com/lectl-state-interest-rates-and-usury-limits
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/usury.asp
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/what-is-a-good-apr-for-a-credit-card/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/the-best-credit-cards-for-building-credit/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/good-interest-rates-for-personal-loans/
- https://nypost.com/credit-cards/exclusive-credit-cards-used-by-millionares/
- https://www.tdecu.org/blog/what-is-an-apr
- https://www.creditkarma.com/credit-cards/i/how-to-get-high-limit-credit-card
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/purchase-apr.asp
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/29-99-card-apr-too-110000479.html
- https://www.militaryonesource.mil/relationships/support-community/financial-protections-for-your-service-member/
- https://www.citizensbank.com/learning/what-is-apr.aspx
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/is-there-a-law-that-limits-credit-card-interest-rates-for-servicemembers-en-73/
- https://wallethub.com/answers/cc/highest-credit-card-interest-rate-2140660307/
- https://www.quora.com/Is-24-APR-on-purchases-high-for-a-credit-card
- https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/credit-card-pre-approval-pre-qualification/
- https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/articles/apr-ranges-explained/
- https://themortgagereports.com/32667/mortgage-rates-forecast-fha-va-usda-conventional
- https://www.helpwithmybank.gov/help-topics/personal-auto-loans/loan-interest-rates/loan-interest-residual.html
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/reviews/capital-one-platinum-credit-card/
- https://wallethub.com/d/capital-one-platinum-83c
- https://wallethub.com/answers/cc/what-is-24-apr-on-a-credit-card-1000248-2140743241/
- https://wallethub.com/answers/cc/how-to-get-approved-for-capital-one-credit-card-2140736494/
- https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/credit-cards/what-is-a-good-apr-for-a-credit-card/
- https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/credit-score-needed-buy-house/
- https://wallethub.com/best-credit-cards
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/does-credit-card-apr-matter/
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/what-to-do-after-card-apr-increase/
- https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/how-applications-affect-credit-scores/
- https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/credit-card-approved/
- https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/interest-apr/how-to-score-lower-interest-rate-on-credit-card
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/does-applying-for-a-credit-card-hurt-your-credit/
- https://time.com/personal-finance/article/what-is-a-good-apr-for-a-credit-card/
- https://www.paisabazaar.com/credit-card/instant-credit-cards/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/facts-about-zero-percent-apr-credit-cards
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/personal-loans/usury-laws
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/does-law-cap-credit-card-interest-rates/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/what-is-a-good-apr-for-a-credit-card
- https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/credit-cards/credit-intel/overpaid-credit-card/
- https://www.latimes.com/compare-deals/credit-cards/guides/good-apr-for-credit-card
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/how-high-can-credit-card-interest-rate-go/
- https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/capital-one-credit-cards-recommended-minimum-requirements/
- https://www.uswitch.com/credit-cards/guides/what-is-apr/
- https://wallethub.com/answers/cc/why-is-it-so-hard-to-get-a-capital-one-credit-card-1000417-2140844241/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-capital-one-credit-cards/
- https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/paying-credit-card-early/
- https://wallethub.com/answers/cc/can-you-get-0-interest-on-an-existing-credit-card-2140759952/
- https://www.caranddriver.com/auto-loans/a41855998/0-apr-car-loan/
- https://www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/money-management/what-is-apr/
- https://www.stimmel-law.com/en/articles/usury-law-california
- https://wallethub.com/answers/cc/capital-one-quicksilver-credit-limit-1000420-2140658370/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-to-lower-credit-card-interest-rate/
- https://www.bankrate.com/loans/auto-loans/how-to-get-0-apr-car-loan/
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/what-credit-score-do-you-need-to-buy-a-house/
- https://wallethub.com/answers/cc/good-apr-for-first-credit-card-2140674294/
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-kind-of-mortgage-interest-rate-can-i-get-with-a-750-credit-score/
- https://www.capitalone.com/auto-financing/popup/proof-of-income/
- https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/what-kind-of-car-financing-rate-can-i-get-with-a-700-credit-score
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/personal-loans/3000-personal-loan/
- https://time.com/personal-finance/article/what-happens-if-you-go-over-your-credit-card-limit/
- https://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/how-to-lower-credit-card-interest-rate/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/credit-cards/easiest-to-get
- https://money.usnews.com/credit-cards/articles/average-apr
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/capital-one-cof-sued-deceiving-152500216.html
- https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/credit/score/articles/-/learn/what-is-a-good-credit-score/
- https://smartasset.com/checking-account/capital-one-vs-chase-bank
- https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/interest-apr/why-did-your-credit-card-apr-increase