Thursday, April 28, 2011

Compare Credit Cards With Fixed Vs Variable Rate

Generally credit cards offer special introduction rates which often include less or 0% interest for first months or may be a year. But after this introductory period many cards change to fixed or variable interest. You should know the difference in cards with these tariffs. You can also obtain free annual credit report from government to know your Credit0 status.

Credit cards with variable rates.

Variable tariffs are generally tied with other ones. Mostly a card company uses the prime tariff of lending as the index. It is the current prime rate which major banks in the U.S. get when money is borrowed from Federal Reserve. The creditors can also calculate variable interest based on Treasury bill.

A lender for a card adds the number for percentage points, which is known as margin, to the index rate. The new one is then applicable to the lender's card. In some cases, your company may multiply index rate with another number, which is called multiple. This new figure gets added to margin to decide the interest coefficient of the card.

As this index rate is fluctuating, it affects the one of your card. The APR on the credit cards having variable rate may vary from time to time. These cards include the "floor rate" which is the lowest one offered.

Cards with fixed rates.

Unlike cards with variable rate, which can change with time, cards with the fixed rate offer a standard one. Their initial rate may be slightly higher than the variable one. But you have the advantage that the fixed rate does not change often as the one of the credit card with the variable coefficient.

Fixed rates can also sometimes change. The company of the cards can have the right for changing it within their card plan. Lending Act has the provision that the lender must get notice minimum 15 days before increasing the rate.

Decide the rate which suits you best.

To decide the rate which suits you best, you should consider the fluctuations in the market. The present average interest rate for cards with variable is 14.72%. The current average rate for cards with fixed rate is 13.33%. According to some experts having a credit card with fixed rate is better for stability. Some others suggest that opting for credit card with variable rate is beneficial when rates of interest are dropping.

When you consider getting a card with the variable interest, you should check the interest caps to know how much high or low your card interest may go. If the lowest rate which you can get on credit card is about 16%, and if rates are seen dropping, then you should look for other options.

If you decide to get a card having a fixed or variable rate, read the instructions carefully to know about their fluctuation terms. Some cards may change interest plans after missed or late payments.

If your balances are paid off each month, the interest rate will not affect you much. It is necessary that you should know the difference in fixed and variable rates to get an excellent deal for interest charges.

Generally credit cards offer special introduction rates which often include less or 0% interest for first months or may be a year. But after this introductory period many cards change to fixed or variable interest. You should know the difference in cards with these tariffs. You can also obtain free annual credit report from government to know your Credit0 status.

Credit cards with variable rates.

Variable tariffs are generally tied with other ones. Mostly a card company uses the prime tariff of lending as the index. It is the current prime rate which major banks in the U.S. get when money is borrowed from Federal Reserve. The creditors can also calculate variable interest based on Treasury bill.

A lender for a card adds the number for percentage points, which is known as margin, to the index rate. The new one is then applicable to the lender's card. In some cases, your company may multiply index rate with another number, which is called multiple. This new figure gets added to margin to decide the interest coefficient of the card.

As this index rate is fluctuating, it affects the one of your card. The APR on the credit cards having variable rate may vary from time to time. These cards include the "floor rate" which is the lowest one offered.

Cards with fixed rates.

Unlike cards with variable rate, which can change with time, cards with the fixed rate offer a standard one. Their initial rate may be slightly higher than the variable one. But you have the advantage that the fixed rate does not change often as the one of the credit card with the variable coefficient.

Fixed rates can also sometimes change. The company of the cards can have the right for changing it within their card plan. Lending Act has the provision that the lender must get notice minimum 15 days before increasing the rate.

Decide the rate which suits you best.

To decide the rate which suits you best, you should consider the fluctuations in the market. The present average interest rate for cards with variable is 14.72%. The current average rate for cards with fixed rate is 13.33%. According to some experts having a credit card with fixed rate is better for stability. Some others suggest that opting for credit card with variable rate is beneficial when rates of interest are dropping.

When you consider getting a card with the variable interest, you should check the interest caps to know how much high or low your card interest may go. If the lowest rate which you can get on credit card is about 16%, and if rates are seen dropping, then you should look for other options.

If you decide to get a card having a fixed or variable rate, read the instructions carefully to know about their fluctuation terms. Some cards may change interest plans after missed or late payments.

If your balances are paid off each month, the interest rate will not affect you much. It is necessary that you should know the difference in fixed and variable rates to get an excellent deal for interest charges.

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