Does lowering your credit card interest rate affect your credit score?
Isabella Turner
Updated on January 30, 2026
The interest rate charged is not a scoring factor; however, a lower rate could indirectly help your score. As I said initially, a lower credit card APR will allow you to put more of your payment toward the principal balance on the card. Paying less for the money you borrow makes good financial sense.
What happens if my credit card interest rate is too high?
5 immediate steps when you have a high-interest credit card
- Step 1: Stop using your cards.
- Step 2: Check your credit score.
- Step 3: Check out other credit cards.
- Step 4: Talk to your creditor.
- Step 5: Decide whether to transfer or pay off your balance.
- Negotiate with the creditor.
- Balance transfer.
What are the ways you can get a lower interest rate?
Top Ways To Lower Interest Rates
- Know the facts about your debt.
- Call your lender and ask for a lower rate.
- Exchange high interest rates for lower rates.
- Perform a balance transfer.
- Promo rates — Most balance transfer deals offer you a promotional rate that you’ll pay on the amount you transfer.
How can I lower the interest rate on my house?
10 Ways to Lower Your Mortgage Rate
- Maintain a good credit score.
- Have a long and consistent work history.
- Shop around for the best rate.
- Ask your bank or credit union for a better rate.
- Put more money down.
- Shorten your loan.
- Consider the adjustable-rate vs.
- Pay for points.
What is the average credit card rate?
The average credit card interest rate is 18.04% for new offers and 14.61% for existing accounts, according to WalletHub’s Credit Card Landscape Report. Much like there are many different types of credit cards, there are lots more average credit card APRs worth considering, too.
How high is too high of an interest rate?
How high is too high? As a rule of thumb, if your rates are in the double digits – that’s too high. Anything at or above 10% is a high interest rate for student loans. Generally speaking, an interest rate lower than 7% is a much healthier place to be for student loans.
Can you ask your bank to lower mortgage interest rate?
If you are having trouble keeping up with your monthly mortgage payments, you can apply for a loan modification to reduce your interest rate and hence, lower your monthly payments. A lender will review your current mortgage and financial circumstances before deciding to approve or deny you for a modification.
How do you fix a high interest rate?
7 Strategies for Paying Off High Interest Credit Card Debt
- The Trouble With High-Interest Debt.
- Ask for a Lower Interest Rate.
- Transfer the Balance.
- Pay as Much as You Can.
- Cut Expenses.
- Wait a Few Months.
- Tackle Smaller Debts First.
- Get Credit Counseling.
Why do I need to lower my credit card interest rate?
But credit cards may also come with high interest rates that make carrying balances expensive for cardholders. If you currently carry a balance on your card and want to avoid incurring more debt, lowering the interest rate on your card can help. But how do you lower your credit card interest rate without switching cards?
Can a credit card company Raise your interest rate?
Credit card companies can raise your rates if you fail to pay on time. They will be less likely to lower your interest rates if this is the case as well. That’s why it’s important to consistently pay your bills on time and in full. If you are considered a credit risk, you will not qualify for a lower interest rate.
What’s the best way to manage a credit card?
Without question, the best way to manage your credit cards is to pay off your balances in full each month. If you always pay your balance in full then your interest rate becomes irrelevant. In fact, I have no idea what the interest rates are on any of my credit cards because I don’t carry balances.
How can I avoid paying interest on my credit card?
While the best way to avoid paying interest fees on your credit card balance is to pay it off entirely each statement cycle, sometimes reality dictates the need to carry that balance.