Debt, cards and loans sources and dates

Where the starting numbers for the calculators in this group come from, and the date we checked each one. They are examples, not quotes.

Sources by Calculator

Back to all sources and dates. Each table lists a calculator's starting numbers, source links and check dates.

Personal loan APR and total cost

Assumption / InputStarting valueSourceChecked
24-month personal loan rate11.90%Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit Release2026-10-16
Personal loan origination fee4.0%Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)2026-10-12
Truth in Lending Act APR rulesRegulation Z bisection solverConsumer Financial Protection Bureau / Federal Reserve Board (12 C.F.R. ยง 1026.22)2026-10-12

Debt consolidation comparison

Assumption / InputStarting valueSourceChecked
Credit card interest rate21.0%Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit2026-10-16
Consolidation loan APR11.90%Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit2026-10-16
Balance transfer fees4.0%CFPB Consumer Credit Card Market Report2026-10-08
Loan origination fees4.0%FTC Consumer Guidance on Debt Consolidation Loans2026-10-08
New York debt protectionLegal protectionsNew York State Department of Financial Services2026-10-08

Debt payoff strategy planner

Assumption / InputStarting valueSourceChecked
Credit card interest rate22.0%Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit2026-10-16
Auto loan interest rate7.54%Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit2026-10-16
Personal loan interest rate11.90%Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit2026-10-16
Repayment strategiesAvalanche, SnowballCFPB Debt Collection and Repayment Guidance2026-10-08
Consumer debt protectionLegal protectionsConsumer Financial Protection Bureau2026-10-08

Credit card payoff calculator

Assumption / InputStarting valueSourceChecked
Credit card interest rate22.0%Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit2026-10-16
Minimum payment warning disclosure3-Year CARD Act TableCredit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (15 U.S.C. 1637(b)(11))2026-10-08
Minimum payment formulaGreater of $25 or interest + 1% balanceCFPB Consumer Credit Card Market Report2026-10-08
Consumer debt protectionLegal protectionsNew York State Department of Financial Services2026-10-08

Cash discount vs card

Assumption / InputStarting valueSourceChecked
Credit card grace periodAbout 30 days of float (paid in full)Regulation Z, 12 CFR 1026.5(b)(2)(ii)2026-10-16
Credit card revolving APR22.0% APRFederal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit Release2026-10-16
Merchant credit card surcharge cap3.0% maximum (Visa)Visa Core Rules and Product and Service Rules; AFS law alert on the Visa cap2026-10-16
Cash discount benchmark$96.50 cash vs $100.00 cardNational Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Payment Report2026-10-12
High-yield savings rate (float APY)4.0% APYFDIC National Rates and Rate Caps2026-10-16

Credit card fee payback

Assumption / InputStarting valueSourceChecked
Annual card membership fee$95 / yearCFPB Consumer Credit Card Market Report2026-10-12
Baseline no-fee card reward rate2.0% cash backFederal Reserve Bank of Boston Survey of Consumer Payment Choice2026-10-12
Fee card bonus reward rate4.0%CFPB Credit Card Rewards Report2026-10-12
Annual eligible category spending$6,000 / year ($500/mo)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey2026-10-12

Student loan payoff vs invest

Assumption / InputStarting valueSourceChecked
Student loan balance$32,000Federal Student Aid Data Center Portfolio Summary2026-10-12
Student loan interest rate6.52%Federal Student Aid Interest Rates and Fees; FSA Partners electronic announcement of 2026-06-042026-10-16
Student loan interest tax deductionUp to $2,500/yrInternal Revenue Service Topic No. 456 Student Loan Interest Deduction2026-10-16
Expected investment return7.5%S&P Dow Jones Indices U.S. Equities Benchmark2026-10-12

Balance transfer card payback

Assumption / InputStarting valueSourceChecked
Credit card balance to transfer$6,500Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer Credit Card Market Report2026-10-13
Current credit card APR22.8%Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit Release2026-10-16
Balance transfer fee3% (min $5)Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Balance Transfer Guide2026-10-13
Promotional period and post-promo APR18 mos at 0%, then 24.9%Federal Reserve G.19 Consumer Credit and CFPB Credit Card Terms Survey2026-10-13