PETALING JAYA: Several banks will be increasing interest rates for outstanding credit card balances, with late payment charges also doubled.
At least three banks have informed their card holders of the impending changes effective March 1.
Hong Leong Bank, Citibank and AmBank have also put up announcements on the new tiered pricing for outstanding balances and hike in late payment charges on their websites.
A Bank Negara spokesman said the repricing of rates was not due to a directive from the central bank, explaining that it was done by the banks.
“However, the new rates are within the range stipulated in Bank Negara's credit card guidelines,'' he told The Star.
Ambank card holders who have been paying their outstanding credit card bills on time for 12 consecutive months will be charged an interest rate of 15% per annum, up from 13.5%.
Prompt payments for at least 10 months will come under a 17% interest charge (previously 16%) while those who do not fall into either category will be slapped with the highest interest rate of 18% (previously 17.5%).
For late payments, card holders will be charged a minimum of RM10 or 1% of the outstanding balance, whichever is higher, and up to a maximum of RM100.
Citibank will raise its tiered pricing rates for prompt payments over 12 months from 13.5% to 15%, 16% to 17% (for 10 prompt monthly payments), retaining the maximum interest at 17.5%.
Hong Leong Bank's new interest rates are 15%, 17% and 18% in the respective categories.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) CEO Datuk Paul Selvaraj said increasing interest rates for those who had been paying promptly was not the right thing to do.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim said the move would encourage those with outstanding balances to pay them off.
“We have about 3.3 million principle credit card holders in the country and the number of those in debt is a matter of concern,'' he added.
Post time 15-2-2012 11:42 AM
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