Credit card interest rates
The Fed's G.19 release puts the average APR on cards that carry a balance at 22.36% (Aug 2026 (prelim.)). Americans owe $1.26 trillion on cards (NY Fed, 2026-Q2). Below: the history, what a balance costs you at these rates, and the balance-transfer math.
22.36%APR, accounts assessed interest
21.19%APR, all accounts
7.54%60-month new car loan (banks)
11.90%24-month personal loan
+5.91 ptscard APR vs 2021
What your balance costs
Balance transfer offer
Result
0 months
to clear the balance paying it where it is
$0interest paid in place
0months with the transfer
$0fee + interest with the transfer
$0transfer saves
Card and loan rates, Fed G.19 released 2026-10-07
| Period | Card APR, all accounts | Card APR, accounts assessed interest | 60-mo new car (banks) | 24-mo personal loan | Finance co. new car APR | Avg amount financed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14.60% | 16.45% | 4.82% | 9.38% | 4.6% | $35,307 |
| 2022 | 16.26% | 17.91% | 5.36% | 9.87% | 5.2% | $38,900 |
| 2023 | 20.90% | 22.15% | 7.83% | 11.87% | 6.7% | $38,716 |
| 2024 | 21.58% | 22.89% | 8.16% | 12.27% | 6.2% | $39,386 |
| 2025 | 21.22% | 22.32% | 7.65% | 11.50% | 6.4% | $40,582 |
| 2025 Q2 | 21.16% | 22.25% | 7.67% | 11.57% | 6.6% | $39,867 |
| 2025 Q3 | 21.39% | 22.83% | 7.64% | 11.14% | 6.3% | $40,803 |
| 2025 Q4 | 20.97% | 22.30% | 7.24% | 11.63% | 6.1% | $41,742 |
| 2026 Q1 | 21.00% | 21.52% | 7.53% | 11.36% | 6.2% | $41,727 |
| 2026 Q2 | 20.94% | 22.15% | 7.14% | 11.86% | 6.3% | $41,705 |
| Aug 2026 (prelim.) | 21.19% | 22.36% | 7.54% | 11.90% | — | — |
Source: Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit, commercial bank interest rates; next release 2026-11-06. Balances: NY Fed household debt report.
Getting the rate down
- Ask. Issuers lower APRs for long-standing customers who call; a 3 to 5 point cut is common.
- 0% transfer if you can clear it inside the window (above); otherwise a fixed-rate personal loan at 11.90% turns revolving debt into a payoff date.
- Pay twice a month. Interest accrues daily on the average balance; two half-payments cut it.
- Autopay the statement balance on any card you can; the APR only matters on the balance you carry.
- Use the debt payoff calculator for the avalanche-vs-snowball order across several cards.