Fees & Interest
APR (Annual Percentage Rate)
The yearly cost of borrowing on your credit card, shown as a percentage. It's what you pay when you don't clear your full bill by the due date.
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate — the yearly cost of borrowing money on your credit card. Whenever you carry a balance instead of paying your bill in full, the bank charges you interest, and the APR is the rate that interest is based on.
Why APR matters
Your credit card gives you an interest-free period only if you pay the full statement amount by the due date. The moment you pay less than the full amount, APR kicks in — and Indian credit cards carry some of the highest rates around, often 36% to 45% per year.
A quick example
Say you have a ₹50,000 balance on a card with a 42% APR and you only pay the minimum due. Over a year, carrying that balance could cost you roughly ₹21,000 in interest alone — almost half the original amount.
The single most valuable habit with any credit card is paying the full statement balance every month. Do that, and the APR is just a number you never actually pay.
What affects your APR
Banks set APRs based on the card type and, sometimes, your credit profile. Premium and co-branded cards don't necessarily have lower rates — always check the rate in the card's fine print before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is APR the same as the monthly interest rate?
No. The APR is the yearly figure. Indian card statements often show a monthly rate (e.g. 3.5% per month), which works out to a much higher APR once compounded over a year (around 42%).
How do I avoid paying APR altogether?
Pay your statement balance in full by the due date every month. Do that and the APR never applies — you get an interest-free credit period.
Related guides
Sources
Written by
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Founder & Editor, BesCa
Writes plain-English guides on credit cards, rewards and personal finance in India.
Reviewed by
Jane Smith
CFA · 10+ years in consumer banking
Reviews BesCa's finance content for accuracy before publication.