How to read your credit card statement

Credit card statements arrive each month to offer a detailed look at what’s going on with a credit card account. In just a few pages, you might find topics from payments to rewards.

That makes your credit card statement a helpful tool to track spending, confirm payment details and identify unauthorized charges. So it helps to know how to read it to get the most out of the information.

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Key takeaways

Payment information

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A payment information box appears near the top of your credit card statement. Here, you’ll likely find:

Account summary

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The account summary provides a snapshot of your account activity during the latest billing period. Most summaries begin with your balance at the end of the last billing cycle. You may also see a reminder about your credit limit and how much is still available. Other line items could include:

Further down your statement, you’ll find more details about each of these in the transactions section.

Rewards summary

If you have a rewards credit card, your statement might summarize your rewards. It might include:

Transactions

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The transactions section is where issuers list all the details of your account summary.

Depending on the lender, you may see transactions grouped by date or type. Either way, this will likely include:

Year-end summary

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This section shows how much you’ve been charged in fees and interest for the current year to date. This can be helpful to review as you’re budgeting for the year or looking for a snapshot of how much you’ve paid in addition to your balance. And remember, paying your full balance each month could help you pay less in interest and fees.

Interest charge calculation

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Usually found near the end of your statement, this section explains your card’s interest rates, the balances on your account that are subject to those interest rates and the amount of interest charged.

Account notifications

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The notifications section of your statement provides updates that may affect your account. If you’re a Capital One cardholder, you might see explanations of fees, interest charges or your AutoPay selections.

You might also see more general information, like how to contact customer service or use digital tools to find out about recent updates.

Consider going paperless

If you have a Capital One account, you can also go paperless. It takes just a few taps to switch to paperless statements, which can reduce clutter and eliminate the risk of your statement getting lost or stolen in the mail.

Credit card statement FAQ

Here are some answers to questions about reading credit card statements:

Where can I find my credit card statement balance?

You can typically find your balance in the account summary or payment information section. The summary shows the charges and credits since your previous balance or the balance at the end of the last billing period. The payment information shows the new balance, the minimum payment due and the payment due date.

How can I get my credit card statements?

Most credit card issuers give customers the opportunity to request a paper copy or view their statements online. Capital One customers can access theirs through the Capital One Mobile app or by signing in to their online account.

How can I dispute billing errors?

The Fair Credit Billing Act created a standard process for consumers to dispute billing errors without harming their credit. You typically have to report billing errors to the credit card issuer within 60 days of getting your credit card statement. Some creditors may ask you to contact the merchant first.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers a sample dispute letter that consumers can use to notify the card issuer in writing.

Credit card statements in a nutshell

Reading your credit card statement can help you stay on top of your spending and any changes to your account.

To get a clearer understanding of how it all works, you can check out these common credit card terms.

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