Credit card interest rates explained
Feb 10, 2008 : Comments (0)
Credit cards love to dish out teasing promises: “0% interest on purchases and balance transfers for 12 monthsâ€; “9.9% fixed APRâ€; “3.99% life-of-balance transfers!†But these promotional rates are sometimes just a guise; they have little to do with how much a credit card will actually charge you. If you carry a balance on your credit card – even sometimes – the interest rate you pay can make the difference between credit cards being a convenient financial tool and or a personal finance nightmare.
Sorting Out Credit Card Interest Rates
Every credit card has to clearly list its interest rates, fees, and other card member terms – either on the back of a printed card solicitation or on a webpage linked from the bottom of a credit card application page. (Hint: Check the fine print at the bottom). Knowing how to read these credit card terms is critical to finding a credit card that will not rip you off.
When reading credit card terms, you will encounter several different types of interest rates. Here is what they all mean: Continued