The amount you owed last month, after that month's payments and charges were added up. A charge for making a purchase or receiving a cash advance. Take advantage of your grace period. With a grace period, you won't be charged interest until the start of the next period, so try to pay off the entire balance each month. Ask your bank if you can get a lower interest rate.
Many banks have lower-rate cards.
If you can't get a better rate from your bank, shop around for another card. Always pay more than the minimum balance. Paying the minimum prolongs the time it will take you to pay off your balance, and costs you a lot more in interest. If you are paying interest, mail your check as soon as you receive your statement. The earlier your money is received, the lower your average daily balance will be, reducing the amount you pay in interest.