The average US credit card APR is 21.00% across all accounts and 21.52% on accounts that are actually charged interest, according to the Federal Reserve’s G.19 Consumer Credit release for the first quarter of 2026. That assessed-interest figure is down from 22.30% the previous quarter.
But “average” hides an enormous spread. The CFPB’s Terms of Credit Card Plans survey, which collects the actual terms issuers report to the government, shows a median maximum purchase APR around 27.49% across surveyed cards — and rates that range from under 10% at some credit unions to nearly 36% on store cards.
The two Fed numbers, explained
| Measure | Q1 2026 | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| All accounts | 21.00% | Stated APR averaged across every card account, including people who never pay interest |
| Accounts assessed interest | 21.52% | Only accounts actually charged interest — skews toward higher-rate revolvers |
| Accounts assessed interest (Q4 2025) | 22.30% | The prior quarter, for comparison |
The “assessed interest” figure is the one that matters if you carry a balance, because it reflects what revolving cardholders are really paying.
Why your rate is probably different
Your APR depends on two things the average can’t capture: which issuer you use and your credit tier. The CFPB found large banks charge roughly 8 to 10 percentage points more than small banks and credit unions for the same credit tier. See the full breakdown on our average-APR hub and what-APR-to-expect by credit score pages.
To see what a given rate actually costs you, run your balance through the payoff calculator.
Sources
National averages: Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit (Q1 2026). Issuer terms: CFPB Terms of Credit Card Plans survey. These are surveyed terms, not offers — verify your card’s APR with the issuer.