What to remember
- The minimum payment does not clear the card debt.
- Your monthly statement and current app balance can differ.
- Check purchases, repayments, fees and refunds.
1. Five items to find on the statement
Start with the statement balance, minimum, due date, interest and fees. Available credit shows remaining borrowing capacity, not the payment due.
For example, BKT explains the monthly amount due, minimum and payment date separately. Your bank may label these differently.
2. Statement balance and today’s balance are different
Hypothetical example: your statement closes on 5 October at ALL 30,000. You spend another ALL 5,000 on 8 October. With no other payments or charges, the app may show ALL 35,000 while the closed statement remains ALL 30,000.
The new purchase may enter the next billing period. Follow your bank’s statement dates and required amount, particularly when instalments, older balances or cash withdrawals are involved. These dates are illustrative.
3. What happens when you pay the minimum?
The minimum is the smallest required payment for that period. The rest remains outstanding and may accrue interest under the agreement. A percentage-based minimum may fall as the balance falls, prolonging repayment.
For a faster plan, explore a higher monthly payment and exclude new spending from the calculation. Paying the minimum on time does not automatically preserve interest-free terms.
4. Example: ALL 2,500 or ALL 5,000 a month?
Assume an ALL 50,000 balance at 18% annual nominal interest, charged monthly on the outstanding amount. There is no new spending, fee, late payment or interest-free period. The final payment is smaller.
Both payments are fixed illustrative choices; ALL 2,500 is not presented as a bank’s minimum. Totals include the starting balance and interest. Actual bank calculations may use daily accrual and contractual rules.
| Plan | Time | Approximate total |
|---|---|---|
| ALL 2,500 monthly | 24 months | ALL 59,891 |
| ALL 5,000 monthly | 11 months | ALL 54,581 |
Here, the higher payment saves about ALL 5,310 in interest. The 18% rate is an assumption, not a bank offer or APR.
5. Check errors and act before the deadline
Match transactions against receipts and check that your payments were credited. A merchant’s statement name may differ from the shop name. If a transaction remains unfamiliar, contact the bank through its official phone number or app and ask how to dispute it.
If you cannot pay, contact the bank before the deadline and request a written arrangement. Do not treat a disputed charge as cancelled without confirmation or stop all payments without clarifying the required steps.
Questions to take to the bank
Use this list when requesting your written offer.
- What amount must I pay to retain the interest-free period?
- By which date must the bank receive payment?
- How is the minimum calculated and payment allocated between balances?
- Does automatic payment cover the minimum or the full bill?
- How do I report a transaction I did not make?
Frequently asked questions
Why do I see two different balances?
The statement records the balance at the end of its period. The app may include more recent purchases, payments or charges. Check pending transactions separately.
Is setting up automatic payment enough?
Check the amount, funding account and collection date. Keep enough money available and confirm the payment went through; enabling the service alone does not settle the bill.
Sources and examples
BKT: card-statement explanation ↗
Links beside specific explanations identify their official sources. Worked examples are educational assumptions, not bank offers. The bank confirms the terms for your situation.
Further reading in English
These guides offer additional explanations from the UK and US. Their local laws, products and eligibility tools may not apply in Albania. Albanian requirements are linked to local sources above.