New Credit Card Tiered Interest Rate


In March 2011, Bank Negara Malaysia announced a new financial guideline to promote prudent financial management among credit card users.

The main objective of the guidelines is to stop the rise in household debt, which stood at RM580bil at the end of 2010. Credit card debt, was about 5% of this or approximately RM30bil.

Credit extended by the banks to the credit cards holders was much higher at RM124bil. This means that most of the card holders were not borrowing on credit cards because interest rates on credit cards are so prohibitively high.

The rates going to be much higher soon, as much as 1.5 percent higher than the current rates. The table below is the current & soon to be tier rates.

Tier Prompt Payment Current Rates (% pa) New Rates (% pa)
I Last 12 months 13.5 15
II 10 or 11 out of 12 months 16 17
III less than 10 out of 12 months 17.5 18


On top of that, there will be a revision on late payment charges as below

Current Charges Minimum RM5 or 1% of total outstanding balance whichever is higher. Up to RM50 per account
New Charges Minimum RM10 or 1% of total outstanding balance whichever is higher. Up to RM100 per account

 



2 comments… add one
  • The main objective of the guidelines is to stop the rise in household debt…then why the rise in the interest rates? This wil further increase hh debts…

    Reply
    • THe Golden Rule – who set the rule , keep the gold. Just find better mask to suck more blood, simple

      Reply

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