Minimum Payment Trap Calculator

The current card balance both scenarios start from — paying only the minimum, and paying the fixed amount.

The yearly interest rate in percent, as quoted by the bank or lender — enter 5 for 5%.

Even a fraction of a percent compounds into a visible difference over a long term, so it pays to compare offers.

The share of the current balance the issuer asks for each month — commonly 2–4%. Because the payment shrinks along with the balance, payoff drags on for years.

The smallest payment the issuer accepts regardless of the balance — often around 25. Without this floor the shrinking minimum would never finish the debt.

A constant monthly payment for the comparison scenario — the same amount every month until the debt is gone.