Credit Card Interest Formula:
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Credit card interest calculation determines the amount of interest charged on outstanding balances. The formula considers average daily balance, monthly interest rate, and number of days in the billing cycle to compute the monthly interest charge.
The calculator uses the credit card interest formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates interest based on the average balance maintained throughout the billing cycle, applying the daily periodic rate over the number of days in the cycle.
Details: Understanding credit card interest helps consumers manage debt effectively, make informed financial decisions, and avoid excessive interest charges that can accumulate over time.
Tips: Enter average daily balance in dollars, monthly interest rate as a percentage, and number of days in billing cycle. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: How is average daily balance calculated?
A: ADB is calculated by summing the daily balances throughout the billing cycle and dividing by the number of days in the cycle.
Q2: How do I convert annual percentage rate to monthly rate?
A: Divide the annual rate by 12 to get the monthly rate, then divide by 100 to convert from percentage to decimal.
Q3: Why is 30 used in the denominator?
A: The denominator uses 30 as a standard number of days for monthly calculations, though actual billing cycles may vary.
Q4: Does this calculation include compounding interest?
A: This formula calculates simple interest for one billing cycle. Credit card interest typically compounds daily.
Q5: How can I reduce my credit card interest?
A: Paying balances in full each month, making payments more frequently, or transferring to lower-rate cards can reduce interest charges.