A new era has begun in the minimum payment and interest regulations concerning credit card users. The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) has raised the limit threshold used to determine the minimum payment rate on credit cards from 50,000 TL to 100,000 TL.
Accordingly, users with a credit card limit of 100,000 TL and below will pay at least 20 percent of their statement balance as a minimum payment. For users with a card limit above 100,000 TL, the minimum payment rate will be applied as 40 percent.
In the new practice, the total limit of the card, rather than the statement balance, will be the determining factor when calculating the minimum payment amount. For example, if a card with a limit of 100,000 TL or less has a statement balance of 30,000 TL, the minimum payment will be 6,000 TL. For a card with a limit above 100,000 TL, the minimum amount will rise to 24,000 TL for a debt of 60,000 TL, and to 40,000 TL for a debt of 100,000 TL.
HOW WILL GRADUATED INTEREST BE APPLIED?
According to the maximum rates determined by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, interest on credit card shopping transactions in Turkish Lira will be calculated on a graduated basis according to the size of the statement balance. As of October 2026, for statement balances below 30,000 TL, the maximum monthly contractual interest rate will be 3.25 percent, and the late payment interest rate will be 3.55 percent.
For statement balances between 30,000 TL and 180,000 TL, the maximum monthly contractual interest rate will be 3.75 percent, and the late payment interest rate will be 4.05 percent. For debts above 180,000 TL, the maximum monthly contractual interest rate may rise up to 4.25 percent, and the late payment interest rate up to 4.55 percent. Banks will be able to set their own rates provided they do not exceed these upper limits.
Making the minimum payment by the due date prevents the card from falling into arrears. However, if the entire statement balance is not paid off, contractual interest continues to accrue on the remaining amount. For example, if a user with a limit above 100,000 TL and a statement balance of 60,000 TL makes a minimum payment of 24,000 TL, interest will be calculated on the remaining 36,000 TL.
If a payment is made below the minimum amount, late payment interest and legislative restrictions may come into play. Payment disruptions can negatively affect a consumer's credit history; if the problem persists, a legal follow-up process may begin.
There is also a restructuring option for consumers who have difficulty paying their credit card debt. The monthly contractual interest rate to be applied to credit card debts restructured within the scope of BRSA decisions cannot exceed the reference rate of 3.11 percent. Users need to contact their own banks for application conditions and installment options.
News Source: 12punto
