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A credit card statement summarises your monthly spending, outstanding dues, rewards, and applicable charges. Knowing how to read credit card statement details helps you make timely payments, manage debt effectively, and maintain a healthy credit score. It also helps you avoid unnecessary fees and enhance financial discipline. Regularly reviewing your statement also protects you from unauthorised charges and ensures you're in control of your financial decisions.
A credit card statement is a detailed summary provided each month by your credit card issuer. It shows transactions, payments, fees, outstanding balances, and rewards earned during the billing period. This statement typically includes personal details, account information, credit limit, available credit, and payment deadlines. Regularly reviewing your statement ensures you can track spending habits, detect unusual activity, and manage your credit responsibly.
To fully understand your statement, familiarise yourself with these key sections:
This shows your previous balance, total new charges, payments made, credits received, and current outstanding balance
The date by which your credit card payment must be received to avoid late payment charges
The lowest amount you must pay by the due date to avoid late fees, typically a small percentage of your total outstanding balance
The amount added if you carry a balance beyond the due date, based on your card's interest rate
Lists all purchases, payments, refunds, and other transactions made during the billing period
Additionally, some statements include details like available credit limit, reward points earned, and customer service contact information.
Your credit card statement features different balance types that reflect your spending and payments. Here’s what each means:
This is the outstanding amount from your previous statement. If you paid the previous bill in full, this balance would show zero.
The total amount currently due on your card. It includes new purchases, fees, interest charges, minus payments or credits received.
The total unpaid amount, including carried-over balances and recent purchases not yet paid.
To accurately read your credit card balance, check your new balance first. Paying this in full each month avoids interest charges. If you pay less than this amount, interest will apply to the remaining outstanding balance.
Credit card statements clearly list various fees and charges. Common fees you should be aware of include:
A yearly charge some cards levy for card usage and privileges provided.
Charged if the minimum payment is not made by the due date, typically a fixed amount based on your card issuer’s policy.
Applied if you withdraw cash using your credit card. Interest is usually charged from the transaction date without any interest-free period.
Applicable when using your credit card internationally or for online purchases from foreign merchants, typically around 2-4% of the transaction value.
Credit card statements usually include a separate section highlighting rewards earned through purchases. Rewards typically include cashback, reward points, or air miles. This section shows your accumulated rewards, redeemed rewards, and the balance remaining.
Regularly checking rewards ensures you take full advantage of your card benefits. Note any expiry dates mentioned, as rewards may become invalid if not used in time. If you spot discrepancies, promptly contact your card issuer to resolve the issue.
Your statement clearly indicates the payment due date and the minimum payment amount. Paying before or on this date helps you avoid late payment charges and negative impacts on your credit score. The minimum payment is the lowest amount you must pay to keep your account in good standing. However, paying just the minimum can result in accumulating interest. Ideally, clear your entire outstanding balance monthly to avoid interest charges and maintain a strong credit profile.
Regularly reviewing your credit card statement helps quickly identify errors or suspicious transactions. To detect mistakes or discrepancies:
Match transactions listed on the statement with your purchase receipts or online order confirmations
Check transaction dates, merchant names, and amounts carefully for accuracy
Verify fees and charges to ensure they align with your credit card terms
If you notice inaccuracies, immediately contact your card issuer’s customer service. Clearly explain the issue and provide any supporting documents or transaction records. Typically, card issuers investigate disputes within 30–60 days and rectify valid errors promptly. Regular checks protect your financial health, reduce unnecessary charges, and prevent potential fraud.
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Posted on 16 May
Roshani Ballal
Academy by Bajaj Markets
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