Many of you have probably noticed that the little section on your credit card bill that reads “Minimum Payment” is considerably lower than your entire bill. The convenience of owning a credit card is having the option of putting off a bill, like a loan, and paying it later. You still have to pay something every month if you want to avoid any penalty fees, though. That is where the minimum payment comes in — the lowest amount of money that you are required to pay on your credit card statement each month.
Credit card companies are required to set the minimum fee so it is possible to bring your balance down, provided you don’t charge anything extra to your balance.
Minimum Fee Calculation
Every credit card company will stipulate their minimum payment calculations in the agreement you initially sign. This will either be a flat fee, or it will be a percentage of your outstanding balance.
If your minimum payment is based on a percentage of your balance, it could be anywhere between 1% and 5% on average. If it is calculated based on a flat fee, it is all fees and interest due that month, plus 1 percent of the principal amount owed. Again, this will be specified in the terms you initially agreed to when you signed up with your credit card.
Pitfalls
Paying the minimum on occasion is not a bad thing. However, it can be a dangerous habit to get into. With the interest accrued on your balance the next month, as well as the additional charges added with your next month’s statement, your balance will continue to grow. Becoming dependent on those minimum payments will not lessen your balance if you continue adding charges to your account. This is how many people fall into debt.
Failure to pay at least the minimum payment will not only bring on penalty fees, but it can also damage your credit rating, and in worse cases, cause the credit card company to take legal action in recovering the money they lent you with their credit card.
Low Interest Credit Cards
Although all credit cards have a minimum fee, some credit cards are less of a worry than others. If you think you are the type of person who depends too much on paying the minimum, you can use 0% introductory APR credit cards to make the minimum monthly payment and take advantage of the 0% interest for the rest of the account balance for an extended period of 15 months or so. After the introductory period, you may apply for another 0% interest credit card or you may also choose a low interest credit card to minimize the interest cost.
| Credit Cards | Purchase APR | Transfer Info | Annual Fee | Credit Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Platinum Visa card | 0% intro APR 17.74% - 27.24% (Variable) APR after that | 0% intro APR 17.74% - 27.24% (Variable) APR after that | $0 | Good / Excellent CreditApply NowView Card Details |
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| BankAmericard® credit card | 0% intro APR 15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR after that | 0% intro APR 15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR after that | $0 | Excellent / Good CreditApply NowView Card Details |
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- 0% Intro APR for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers (fees apply), then a 17.74%-27.24% variable APR; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee
- Get up to $600 protection on your cell phone (subject to $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellular telephone bill with your Wells Fargo Platinum Visa card
- Easy access to your FICO® Credit Score with Wells Fargo Online®
- Zero Liability protection for promptly reported unauthorized transactions
- Convenient tools to help create a budget and manage your spending with My Money Map
- $0 Annual Fee
- Select "Apply Now" to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions
- 0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee (min $10) applies to all balance transfers
- No annual fee
- No penalty APR. Paying late won't automatically raise your interest rate (APR). Other account pricing and terms apply.
- Access your FICO® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app
