Your credit card statement is a summary of your credit card activity over the last billing cycle. It shows charges, interest, fees, payment information and other account information.
You generally receive a credit card statement by mail each month. If you opt for paperless statements, you can view or download one in your bank’s mobile app or online account instead. You may still receive a statement even if there are no new charges or credits.
Let’s take an in-depth look at what’s on your credit card statement and how to read it.
How to read your credit card statement
Your credit card statement is likely a few pages long. It includes important information about payments, charges, credits, your account and more. Here’s a breakdown of common sections:
Payment information
Often found near the top of your statement, this section shows your balance as of the statement closing date, minimum payment and payment due date.
- New balance as of the statement closing date: Total amount you owe on the card at the end of the billing cycle.
- Minimum payment: The minimum amount you must pay by the due date to avoid late fees and penalties.
- Payment due date: The date by which your payment must be received to avoid late fees and penalties.
Account summary
This high-level summary of all charges and credits includes your previous balance, payments, credits, purchases, balance transfers, cash advances, fees and interest. This section summarizes these charges and shows how they make up your new balance. You’ll also see your total credit limit and available credit as well as information about your cash access line.
- Previous balance: Amount you owed at the end of the previous billing cycle
- Payments and credits: Total payments or refunds applied to your account
- Purchases, balance transfers and cash advances: Total amount of new purchases, balance transfers or cash withdrawals during the billing period
- Fees and interest: Any fees, such as late fees, cash advance fees or interest charges applied to your account
- New balance: The total amount you owe, including all transactions, fees, and interest charges
- Total credit limit and available credit: The amount of credit extended to you and the remaining credit you have available for use
- Cash access line and available for cash: The total amount you can borrow as a cash advance and how much of that is currently available
Account activity
While your account summary shows balance information on a high level, the account activity section provides a detailed breakdown of each transaction that occurred during the billing cycle. Here, you'll find a list of all purchases, including merchant name, purchase date, posted date and transaction amount. You’ll find similar details about payments or credits applied to your account, interest charges and other transactions, such as cash advances.
Late payment and minimum payment warnings
Late payment warning: This section lets you know what your late payment fee could be and warns you of penalty APRs for late or missed payments.
Minimum payment warning: This warning states that if you only pay the minimum, you will end up paying more in interest and it will take longer to pay your total balance. This section may also show how long it will take to pay your current balance if you only pay the minimum and how much you’ll pay in interest over that period.
Interest charges and fees
Here, you’ll find year-to-date totals for interest charges and fees. You’ll also see interest calculations and charges for this billing cycle.
Reward summary or information
If you can earn rewards – such as points, miles or cash back – with this card, your statement might include a section for rewards. This section can look a little different depending on the issuer, but it may consist of your total rewards earned for the billing statement and a summary of how you’ve earned and used them.
Account messages and account information
This section can vary by card issuer, but it may include updated terms and conditions for your account, general information about your card, how credit information is reported to credit bureaus, general information about credit card payments or a summary of your rights as a cardholder.
Disclosure: This article is for educational purposes. It is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and is not a substitute for professional advice. It does not indicate the availability of any Citi product or service. For advice about your specific circumstances, you should consult a qualified professional.
