What is APR and how does it work?
Sarah Martinez
Updated on January 22, 2026
An annual percentage rate is expressed as an interest rate. It calculates what percentage of the principal you’ll pay each year by taking things such as monthly payments into account. APR is also the annual rate of interest paid on investments without accounting for the compounding of interest within that year.
What is a good credit card APR?
A good APR for a credit card is 14% and below. That’s roughly the average APR among credit card offers for people with excellent credit. And a great APR for a credit card is 0%. The right 0% credit card could help you avoid interest entirely on big-ticket purchases or reduce the cost of existing debt.
Is APR good or bad?
A good APR for a credit card is one below the current average interest rate, although the lowest interest rates will only be available to applicants with excellent credit. According to the Federal Reserve, the average interest rate for U.S. credit cards has been approximately 14% to 15% APR since early 2018.
What is a bad APR for a loan?
The lowest APR on a personal loan is around 3.99%, and the average APR for a personal loan is 12.42%, according to WalletHub data. You’ll likely only be able to get rates close to 3.99% if you have excellent credit. If you have bad credit, you can probably expect rates between 18% and 36%.
What is 0 APR mean?
An intro 0 percent APR means that the money you are borrowing is available for no additional cost. You still have to pay back the money you borrowed, but there is no added interest as long as you pay off the balance before the intro APR period ends.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): What it is and how it works. What is APR? Annual percentage rate (APR) is the official rate used to help you understand the cost of borrowing. It takes into account the interest rate and additional charges of a credit offer.
What is an Annual Percentage Rate ( APR ) on a loan?
What is an Annual Percentage Rate – APR. An annual percentage rate (APR) is the annual rate charged for borrowing or earned through an investment. APR is expressed as a percentage that represents the actual yearly cost of funds over the term of a loan.
When does Apr change on a credit card?
However, an APR can change in that period if it’s a promotional or variable rate or if the terms and conditions are violated. Consumers should review terms and conditions, including the APR, before using their cards. In most circumstances, when changing terms and conditions, companies must give 45 days advance notice.
What does APRC stand for in mortgage terms?
APRC stands for annual percentage rate of charge. It’s the same as an APR but it’s the term used when comparing mortgages and secured loans.