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ABCreative/Adobe Stock November 02, 2022 Aja McClanahan is an author, blogger and speaker on personal finance and entrepreneurship. Aja is the author of "How a Mother Should Talk About Money with Her Daughter." Claire Dickey is a product editor for Bankrate, and . Before joining Bankrate, Claire worked as a copywriter for brands within the telecommunications industry as well as a hybrid marketing and content writer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to: Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options. Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make confident decisions. Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you. At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. As a credit card holder, you likely depend on the terms of your card to stay the same. However, there are some times when this doesn’t happen. For many reasons, your credit card issuer may increase your annual percentage rate, or . This is one of the terms most likely to change for your credit card — and it can affect your account big time when it does. Your APR determines how much you shell out for monthly payments and how quickly you can . If your credit card APR has increased, you may not be sure about your options. Here’s what you can do if your issuer has increased your credit card APR. Why did my credit card APR increase
The prime rate changed
Credit card APRs are tied to the prime rate, which is the rate many lenders use for financial products like credit cards, mortgages and auto loans. When the Federal Reserve makes adjustments to the (or the interest rate banks charge each other for overnight lending), it can also affect . In this case, your credit card APR will be affected. When the federal funds rate increases, it’s known as a rate hike. And in the spring of 2022, the Fed announced its plan to enact a number of rate hikes over the course of the year. So far, there’s been six rate hikes since March 2022 — most recently on Nov. 2, 2022. In the days of rising interest rates, carrying a balance can get very expensive. However, with some planning and diligence, you can , which we’ll discuss below. You paid your credit card bill late
If you don’t pay your credit card bill on time, your card issuer may charge a , which could be upwards of 29.99 percent. If your issuer gave you a regular APR, or you have a 0 percent introductory APR via your card, this penalty APR will replace your previous rate. If this happens to you, the penalty APR may not be permanent. If you resume making payments on time, your card issuer should review your account and reinstate your regular APR. Your introductory APR period is over
If you received an introductory APR as a new cardholder, the promotion may have expired. This promotional offer gives cardholders a lower interest rate for a predetermined period of time. When this promotional rate ends, your regular APR kicks in and is applied to any balance you may be carrying on the card. Your credit score dropped
When your credit score decreases, it could cause your lender to perceive you as more of a credit risk, which is why it will charge a higher APR for the money you are borrowing. Once your card issuer notices a drop in your score, it has the right to charge a new, higher APR. You do have the option to opt out of the higher rate once you are notified of the upcoming change. What can I do if my APR increases
Now that you understand all the reasons why your APR could increase, it’s time to talk about what you can do when this happens. Pay down your balance
The surest way to avoid the negative financial effects of a higher APR is to decrease or eliminate your credit card balance altogether. The smaller your balance is, the less you’ll have to pay in interest charges. You can decrease your balance in many ways. One way to start is by not putting new charges on your card (while looking for aggressive ways to pay the balance down). You can find extra money by taking on side hustles or selling things around the house for extra cash. With some creativity and intention, many people have successfully used these methods to pay down their credit card balances. Chances are you can do the same. Transfer your balance to a lower APR card
If you can’t pay your balance down quickly, it might make sense to transfer your balance to a credit card with a lower APR. This move can help you save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest. Many credit cards offer an introductory APR for balance transfers. Depending on the card, you may be eligible for a promotional balance transfer rate of zero percent (or some other ). Keep in mind that balance transfers are not free. Many cards charge 3 percent to 5 percent in balance transfer fees. If you want to see how much you could save with a balance transfer, even with balance transfer fees, you should check out . Consolidate your debt
If your credit card debt is really high, you might be a candidate for low-interest loans that allow you to in larger amounts. are typically much lower than credit card interest rates. However, lenders in this space may have more stringent lending requirements. You’ll have to demonstrate your strength as a borrower. This means you’ll need good or excellent credit, a low debt-to-income ratio along with a steady job history. If, for some reason, a personal loan does not work for you, you may be able to borrow against the equity in your home in the form of a home equity line of credit or a cash-out refinance. Because these are secured loans, interest rates can be much lower than a personal loan or credit card. Although may be somewhat easier to qualify for, you should know that if you default on this type of loan, you could risk losing your property. Granted, a secured loan could be a great option to consolidate any high-interest debt you might have, but it’s not a decision you should take lightly. Consider credit counseling
If none of the options mentioned above work for you because you simply have too much debt (and an increase in your APR would make the situation worse), you could be a great candidate for credit counseling. Working with a can help you put together a budget and plan of attack to help you pay down high-interest debt as quickly as possible. In some cases, they may suggest a (DMP), bankruptcy or other alternatives. If you go this route, be very diligent about choosing a credit counselor to work with. Be sure to check their references and reviews and if they have a history of complaints or failing to deliver the services they’ve promised to clients. The bottom line
It’s never fun to see the terms of your credit cards change, especially if the changes are not in your favor. Even a small adjustment in your card’s APR could mean taking more hard-earned money out of your wallet. In general, the best practice is not to on your credit card. But if you happen to have one when your APR increases, you still have to deal with it. The good news is you’ve got many options in this situation to still come out ahead. SHARE: Aja McClanahan is an author, blogger and speaker on personal finance and entrepreneurship. Aja is the author of "How a Mother Should Talk About Money with Her Daughter." Claire Dickey is a product editor for Bankrate, and . Before joining Bankrate, Claire worked as a copywriter for brands within the telecommunications industry as well as a hybrid marketing and content writer. Related Articles