Balance Calculation Methods Part 2
- Two-Cycle Average Daily Balance, Including New Purchases. This balance is the sum of the average daily balances for two billing cycles. The first balance is for the current billing cycle, and is figured by adding the outstanding balance (including new purchases and deducting payments and credits) for each date in the billing cycle, and then dividing by the number of days in the billing cycle. The second balance is for the preceding cycle and is figured in the same way as the first balance. Adds interest on two months’ balances together, as above, but includes any new purchases in the current month’s balance.
This last method can result in the highest finance charges of any common calculation method, but the two-cycle method (either type) usually only applies in cases where you start the billing cycle with a zero balance, charge something, and then fail to pay the bill off in full by the due date. If you’re consistently carrying a balance from month to month, the two-cycle method won’t usually raise your credit costsexcept in the first month where you went from carrying no balance to carrying a balance.
Does the balance calculation method really make a difference in costs? Absolutely. Here’s an example from the Maine Bureau of Consumer Protection: Suppose we are comparing two credit cards. One uses the average daily balance method excluding new purchases. The other uses the two-cycle average daily balance method including new purchases.
Now suppose that each company mails out bills on the first of the month. You make two purchases of $200 each, one on November 2 (which first appears on your December statement) and the next on December 2 (which appears on your January statement). You don’t pay your December bill, but you pay your January bill in full within the grace period.
Your January billing statement will carry a $3 finance charge from the card issuer that uses the average daily balance method excluding new purchases. On the other statement, however, the finance charge is more than double that at $8.79. There is a big differenceespecially when it adds up over the years.
