If you usually pay your credit card account in full each month, have a significant emergency fund, and know you’ll never use the card to fund a huge purchase, a decent credit card APR might not mean much to you.
However, you should watch the APR if you intend to carry a balance at any time.
APRs can help you figure out if you’re getting a great deal or not by looking at the rates card issuers are currently offering, but first, let’s get clear on what an APR is.
APR stands for annual percentage rate. What’s known as an annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of borrowing money for a year, and Depending on your credit score and the APR range of the card you’re applying for, credit card firms will decide your APR.
With the prime rate as a benchmark, APRs are linked to the interest rate banks charge customers with the best credit. When the prime rate rises, so does the interest rate on credit cards.
Some credit cards have a wide range of APRs for interest rates, such as 13 percent to 23 percent. That’s why you won’t always obtain the advertised APR.
APR is useless if you don’t carry a monthly debt because you won’t be charged interest, but assuming you have a debt, the APR will dictate how much interest you incur over time.
Table of contents
- Types of Credit Cards APRs
- How to Estimate A Credit Card Annual Percentage Rates
- What is a Great Credit Card Annual Percentage Rate?
- Is There A Credit Card With A Bad APR?
- How to Analyze Credit Card Annual Percentage Rates
- What to Expect From High-Interest Credit Cards
- What to Expect From Low-Interest Credit Cards
- How to Qualify For an Excellent APR
- FAQs
- Conclusion
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Types of Credit Cards APRs
Most credit cards advertise an annual percentage rate (APR) for purchases. However, there are more forms of APRs.
To figure out the APR, you’ll need to read the tiny print on the card’s terms and conditions. APRs are classified into the following categories:
Promotional APR:
A promotional APR, sometimes an introductory APR, is applicable for a limited time following the account’s opening.
These promotional APRs, which are frequently zero percent, typically last between six and eighteen months and may be used to balance transfers or purchases.
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Purchase APR:
A purchase APR is an interest charged on regular purchases made with your card.
This number is often mentioned when discussing the card’s annual percentage rate. The purchase APR is only applicable if you have a balance on your card.
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APR on cash advances:
Advances in money In an emergency, your credit card issuer may send you a “relief check” to help you get the cash you need.
Not only do you have to pay a fee, but you also have to pay a significantly higher interest, which usually starts right away.
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APR for Penalty:
A penalty APR is a significantly greater interest rate than the one charged by the card issuer when you fall behind on your payments. Penalty APRs frequently exceed 30%. At all costs, consider paying each month to avoid being charged a penalty APR.
Understanding the various sorts of annual percentage rates (APRs) and reading the terms and conditions on your card will help you prevent being startled by a high-interest rate.
How to Estimate A Credit Card Annual Percentage Rates
The annual percentage rate (APR) on a credit card is determined by the type of card you select. For example, cashback cards, student credit cards, travel reward cards, and retail shop cards generally have higher interest rates.
However, low-interest credit cards often have an annual percentage rate (APR) more than three percentage points lower than the national average for all credit cards.
As of September 2021, the national average rate for low-interest cards is less than 13%, and those with a great credit score may qualify for significantly lower rates.
When looking for a credit card, observe the following:
Credit card type:
It’s highly advisable to follow this simple principle: obtain a rewards credit card if you intend to pay your bill in full each month, but seek out a no-interest or low-interest credit card if you believe you will carry a balance at some point.
If you want the best of the two, consider getting a rewards card for everyday purchases and a low-interest card to keep in your wallet for large purchases or unexpected needs that may not be repaid quickly.
Your credit rating:
Credit cards normally advertise various annual percentage rates, and you will not know your precise APR until you apply for and receive the card. While predicting your APR in advance is impossible, consumers with less-than-perfect credit should anticipate an APR closer to the maximum if authorized.
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What is a Great Credit Card Annual Percentage Rate?
Even though there are other sorts of credit card APRs, the most prevalent is the purchase APR—the interest rate charged on purchases. While it’s simple to argue that you should constantly look for credit cards with APRs that are comparable to or lower than the national average, the truth is that the best purchase APR for you is highly dependent on your credit score.
Individuals with below-average credit ratings will almost certainly be offered greater interest rates than those with outstanding credit.
This means that a favorable credit card interest rate for someone with average credit is not the same as that for someone with exceptional credit. If you would like the lowest possible credit card APR, you may want to first work on increasing your credit score.
Once your FICO Score exceeds 670, you will switch from “subprime” to “prime” credit. This implies you will begin to qualify for prime interest rates. As your creditworthiness improves, you’ll have a better chance of receiving favorable credit card APR offers from providers.
Is There A Credit Card With A Bad APR?
On the other hand, a terrible credit card APR condemns you to large interest costs and makes it difficult to manage your debt. A high APR also means that the interest costs offset any incentives or cash back you earn on your purchases.
You should avoid carrying debt on your credit card, regardless of the APR. However, this is especially critical if you cannot pay off your balance in full each month and your card’s APR is higher than the industry average of roughly 16%.
If you anticipate holding a large credit card balance, avoid cards with an annual percentage rate (APR) of more than 20%.
Additionally, a few cards – including some offered by shops – advertise annual percentage rates of 29.99 percent or higher.
How to Analyze Credit Card Annual Percentage Rates
When comparing credit cards, try looking at each card’s annual percentage rate (APR) range. If you’re looking for one of the best rewards credit cards, for instance, you can consider the following two cards:
- American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card: variable APR of 13.99 percent to 23.99 percent
- Variable APR: 15.99 percent to 22.99 percent on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred’s lowest APR is about the national median of 16%, but it is two percentage points higher than Blue Cash Preferred’s lowest APR. Additionally, you’ll have to see if the credit card offers a promotional APR on purchases and debt transfers.
For instance, the Blue Cash Preferred Card offers 12 months of 0% initial APR on purchases (followed by a variable APR of 13.99 percent to 23.99 percent), but not on balance transfers. Conversely, the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not provide 0% starter APR rates.
Additionally, you must be aware of any penalty APRs that may apply if you fail to make a credit card payment on time. The Blue Cash Preferred and Sapphire Preferred credit cards may have a penalty annual percentage rate of 29.99 percent (variable). Choose your credit card based on the aspects that are most essential to you.
What to Expect From High-Interest Credit Cards
APRs on rewards credit cards and shop credit cards are often higher. While they may provide useful benefits, bonuses, or discounts, they are not recommended if you carry a balance every month, as interest can chip away at incentives.
Take advantage of an 18-month balance transfer offer on the Citi® Double Cash Card, which offers 1% cashback on all transactions and a 1% cashback bonus on balance transfers. It offers a 0% initial APR on cash advances for 18 months, followed by a variable APR of 13.99 percent -23.99 percent.
APRs on store credit cards can be considerably higher than on rewards cards. Consider the following benefits of the Banana Republic Visa® Credit Card: The continuing annual percentage rate is 25.99 percent variables.
And APRs may be even higher on deferred interest incentives offered by some shop cards, which promote “no interest if paid in full” within a specified duration. (If you remain in arrears at the end of the promotional period, you will be charged all accrued interest retrospectively).
Read Also: 15 Best Credit Cards For Beginners In 2023
What to Expect From Low-Interest Credit Cards
Low-interest credit cards typically demand a strong credit score — 690 or above — to qualify. However, using them to finance significant purchases or transfer current high-interest debt can save you money on interest.
An ideal APR is a 0% promotional rate that allows you to defer interest payments for a specified time.
For example, the US Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers a lengthy 0% initial APR period of 20 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers*, followed by an ongoing APR of 14.49 percent – 24.49 percent * Variable APR.
The second-best alternative is a low continuing rate, like the Lake Michigan Credit Union Prime Platinum Card, often considered one of the best credit union credit cards. The current annual percentage rate is 6.25 percent variables.
How to Qualify For an Excellent APR
Not many can locate or qualify for a credit card with less than 10 percent APR. If you want an extremely low-interest rate card, you may have to resort to a credit union or lesser bank. The more prominent issuers often compete on services and aren’t as competitively priced.
To obtain a card with an APR lower than 13%, you’ll need an excellent credit rating or prefer to engage with a bank. Even this higher-than-average rate, though, can help you save money. On a $5,000 amount, lowering your APR by three percentage points below the average will save you $150 in interest payments per year.
What can an excellent credit rating help you receive a lower APR? A score in the mid-700s or better is excellent, but you generally won’t know what you may be eligible for until you apply.
Indeed, some individuals with excellent credit have been amazed when they apply for a low-interest card and receive an APR in the upper range. But you may make some efforts to try to avoid unwanted surprises when you apply for a new credit card. Here’s what to do:
Perform a credit check:
Each year, you are legally entitled to one complimentary credit report from the three main credit agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. And the credit bureaus are issuing free credit reports every week through April 2022 because of the pandemic.
FAQs
A credit card with a decent APR is one with a rate of less than 14%. That is around the average annual percentage rate for credit card offers to those with excellent credit. And a zero percent annual percentage rate is an amazing APR for a credit card.
If your credit score is 675 or above and you match all other criteria, you will have little to no difficulty getting a mortgage. A credit score of 675 qualifies a borrower to register for conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, and non-prime mortgages.
In the U.S., the median credit score is 698. The misconception that you have only one credit score is untrue. Indeed, you have a variety of credit scores. It’s prudent to monitor your credit ratings frequently.
Even if you settle off balance, the account remains open, and while repaying off an installment loan early does not affect your credit, leaving the account active for the duration of the loan and completing all payments on schedule is evaluated positively by credit scoring models and can enhance your credit score.
Credit card credit limits for the majority of creditworthy applicants with stable salaries range between $3,500 and $7,500. Credit limits of up to or greater than $10,000 may be available to high-income candidates with exceptional credit.
Conclusion
For credit cards, a good APR is lower than the national average or equal to it; nevertheless, a good APR for you is contingent on the strength of your credit. Improve your credit score to access credit cards with reduced interest rates.
Suppose you want to stop paying credit card interest. In that case, balance transfer credit cards can allow you to pay off old balances interest-free, but the best way to prevent paying credit card interest would be never to carry a balance.
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