The length of time a credit card payment takes to post depends on the card issuer and how the payment is made. For example, payments made online are almost always faster than credit card payments sent through the mail. Some card issuers are also faster in general when it comes to posting payments, whereas others are notorious for their slow pace.
For a payment to appear “on time” with a credit card issuer, however, you only need the payment to show up to the bank on your due date or before. This advice is based on protections built into the Truth in Lending Act, which requires a credit card company to credit payments to a consumer’s account the day they receive the money. So an online payment on the due date should work just fine -- even if the payment takes a few days to actually post to your account.
How do credit card payments work?
When you use a credit card for purchases or balance transfers, your card issuer will send you a credit card statement at the end of each billing cycle. The credit card statement provides an overview of all the transactions that apply during that billing cycle, including purchases made, interest charges, fees and how much you owe.
Credit card issuers require you to pay at least a minimum monthly payment, which is typically either a fixed amount or calculated as a percentage -- usually 1% to 4% -- of your credit card balance.
You can pay the minimum payment on your card, but paying more can help you reduce your balance faster. If you pay the statement balance on your card in full each billing period, you can avoid paying credit card interest on your purchases.
Your payment isn’t necessarily processed on the day it’s received, though. In fact, the date your payment is posted to your account is typically different than the day you paid your bill.
How long does it take for a credit card payment to post?
It might take a few days for your account to reflect new payments, and this timeline only starts when your credit card issuer receives your payment. The amount of time for a credit card payment to post also depends heavily on the method of payment.
The chart below shows how long it might take for a payment to be credited to and formally posted to your account based on your payment method.
| Payment method | Timeline to be credited to your account | Timeline to be posted to your account |
| Payment by mail | Seven business days or longer (depending on mail delivery) | Within a few days upon receipt of payment |
| Payment over the phone | Same day the payment is made | As soon as that business day, but typically within a few days of payment |
| Online payment | Same day the payment is made | As soon as that business day, but typically within a few days of payment |
| Automated payment | Same day the payment is made | As soon as that business day, but typically within a few days of payment |
How can you make sure your credit card issuer processes your payment quickly?
To make sure your credit card payment is always early or on time, you’ll need to be diligent about when and how you pay your bills. Consider these tips:
- Make sure you have the money in your bank account. A lack of funds could lead to a returned payment fee and your payment not posting on time.
- Pay your credit card bill electronically. Electronic payments can be credited to your account instantly when you make them, so choose online payments when you can. You can even set up autopayments with many issuers.
- Pay during the week. Remember that paying your credit card bill on the weekend can delay its processing time, so try to pay on weekdays when possible.
- Holidays can delay payment posting. Holidays can also result in delays in payments formally posting to your account, so try to schedule your payment on a business day if your credit card due date falls around a bank holiday.
What happens if your payment posts after the due date?
As long as your card issuer receives your payment on or before your due date, you should be in the clear. The Truth in Lending Act states that a credit card issuer must credit the payment as the date of receipt, “except when a delay in crediting does not result in a finance or other charge.” So as long as you submit your payment by the due date, the credit card company cannot charge a late fee, even if there’s a delay in your payment processing.
If there’s any concern, you can log into your credit card account to check on the progress of your bill payment.
What can you do if your credit card payment is delayed?
If your credit card payment is delayed because it’s lost in the mail or you didn’t submit your payment in time, you’ll need to be proactive to protect yourself financially. Since your payment history is the largest contributing factor to your credit score, even a single late payment has the potential to damage your credit score.
Payments that count as late with your card issuer can also trigger late fees and penalty interest rates, both of which can make paying off debt even more costly. Consider these tips if your payment is lost or delayed:
- Call your card issuer to explain the situation. If your payment is delayed and you’re worried about late fees, call your card issuer using the number on the back of your card as soon as you can.
- Ask your card issuer to waive the late fees. If you have a history of on-time payments, ask your card issuer if they would be willing to waive fees for a single late payment.
- Make a payment over the phone. If you’re worried your payment is lost in the mail and your payment due date hasn’t passed yet, consider making the minimum payment over the phone. This can help you avoid missing a payment on your account while you wait for a mailed payment to show up.
Helpful credit card payment terminology
Knowing the terms that credit card companies use can help you understand credit card payments, and how to ensure your payments are on time.
- Payment credited: The card issuer has received your payment. It does not necessarily mean your balance reflects your payment.
- Payment processed: The card issuer has credited your payment to your account and reduced your credit card balance by the amount paid.
- Posting date: The date the payment has been fully processed and credited to your account.
- Business day: A day when normal business operations occur and credit card transactions are processed. Business days are typically weekdays that don’t fall on federal legal holidays.
- Closing date: A closing date on a credit card is the last day of a credit card billing cycle.
- Due date: A credit card due date is the official date the payment is due, although the cutoff time may vary by issuer.
FAQs
Your credit card balance may not be updated immediately after you make a payment. As long as your card issuer receives your full payment before or on your due date, a delay in the payment posting shouldn’t result in any late fees or interest charges.
Electronic payments are always fastest. If you want to pay your credit card bill as quickly as possible, you can connect a bank account to your credit card account and set up an electronic transfer. If you have a bank account and credit card through the same bank, an electronic payment may process almost instantly.
It can take several business days before your payment is processed and your balance reflects your payment. Until the payment processes, your card issuer may put a hold on your account for pending transactions. If you’ve reached your credit limit, it’s best to pay down as much of your balance as you can before using your credit card to make new purchases. In addition to letting you make purchases, paying down your balance reduces your credit utilization ratio -- how much of your available credit you’re using -- which can help raise your credit score.
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