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What is a minimum payment?
If there’s a balance on your credit card, you need to make at least a minimum payment each month.
Your three monthly payment options
How paying more could cut your borrowing costs
We’re here if you need support
If you’re ever finding it difficult to make credit card payments, please let us know so we can help.
Frequently asked payment questions
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The calculation might vary depending on who your lender is, but at Halifax your minimum payment is either 2.5% of your balance plus any interest and fees, or £5 – whichever is higher.
Below are two simple examples, based on a credit card with a balance at 0% interest for 12 months:
Example one
Imagine your balance is £2,000. 2.5% of this is £50, so your minimum payment is £50.Example two
Imagine your balance is £199. 2.5% of this is just £4.98, so your minimum payment is £5.Even if a 0% introductory or promotional interest rate applies to your balance, you must make the minimum payment each month, by the due date shown on your statement or online account.
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To help you to stay on track, you could set up a Direct Debit to make payments to your credit card account automatically each month.
If a Direct Debit isn’t taken for 37 months, it will become inactive, and your bank or building society will remove the details from their systems. If this happens, you’ll need to set up a new one.
If you can pay more than your minimum payment each month in addition to your Direct Debit, or want to pay another way, there are a few payment options available, including online transfers, debit card or cheque payments.
A summary on minimum payments
If there’s a balance on your credit card, you need to make at least a minimum payment each month.
- It’s a good idea to pay more than the minimum to reduce your balance and borrowing costs. At Halifax, the minimum monthly payment is 2.5% of your balance, or £5 – whichever is higher.
- If you consistently pay just the minimum, you could fall into persistent debt.
- Most lenders offer support with money worries if you’re ever finding it difficult to make payments.
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Halifax is a division of Bank of Scotland plc. Registered in Scotland No. SC327000. Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Bank of Scotland plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 169628.