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What is an APR?

Learn how your APR, or annual percentage rate, is calculated to get a new loan or line of credit.

Published May 17, 2022

An APR, or annual percentage rate, is the total annual cost you pay to take out a loan or line of credit. If you have credit cards, personal loans, and/or a mortgage—your APR is the total interest owed over the course of a year, plus any other lender charges, such as points and fees.

Transcript

An APR, or annual percentage rate, is the total annual cost you pay to take out a loan or line of credit. If you have credit cards, personal loans, and/or a mortgage—your APR is the total interest owed over the course of a year, plus any other lender charges, such as points and fees.

The way APRs are calculated varies based on the type of account. If your credit card purchase APR is 24%, that means you’re paying 2% in monthly interest charges for standard purchases—but, you’ll likely pay a higher APR for special transactions, such as cash advances.

For loans, the APR is the sum of your interest rate plus any fees charged by your lender, such as loan origination fees and closing costs.

Since banks and lenders are required to disclose their APRs, consumers can easily make apples-to-apples comparisons of similar financial products from different lenders—so be sure you review the APR details carefully before you sign on the dotted line.

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This information provided is for informational purposes only and does not substitute consultation with a legal, tax or investment professional for important financial decisions. Laurel Road assumes no liability for loss or damage incurred by use of the information provided. Please visit laurelroad.com for full product details, terms and conditions.

All Laurel Road lending products are subject to credit approval.