Tags: credit | card | interest | rate | cap | josh hawley | bernie sanders

Sens. Hawley, Sanders Propose 10% Cap on Credit Card Rates

Sens. Hawley, Sanders Propose 10% Cap on Credit Card Rates
(Dreamstime)

By    |   Wednesday, 05 February 2025 10:03 AM EST

Senators Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, and Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, have proposed a 10% cap on credit card interest rates for five years.

Their bipartisan bill put forth Tuesday aims to relieve consumers burdened by high credit card debt and supports a campaign promise made by President Donald Trump.

The thinking behind the bill has gaimed broad public support, with 77% of surveyed individuals favoring a cap on rates, currently averaging 21.47%, and unpaid balances charging 22.80%.

Consumer advocacy groups call the rates unscrupulous. Critics, including the Consumer Bankers Association and the American Financial Services Association, a trade group for credit card issuers, warn that a cap could reduce credit access and increase costs for consumers, The New York Times reports.

Sanders and Hawley have unsuccessfully tried to lower credit card rates through legislation, with Hawley calling current interest rates “exploitive.”

Hitting back, the credit card group has slammed rate caps as “unworkable,” claiming that they “actually harm the consumers policymakers are trying to help, by limiting the types of credit tens of millions of Americans depend on more than ever.”

During Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s confirmation hearing last month, he was asked if he would support a cap on credit card interest rates. Bessent responded that he would back whatever President Trump felt is best.

Lee Barney

Lee Barney, Newsmax’s financial editor, has been a financial journalist for 30 years, covering the economy, retirement planning, investing and financial technology.

© 2025 Newsmax Finance. All rights reserved.


StreetTalk
Senators Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, and Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, have proposed a 10% cap on credit card interest rates for five years.
credit, card, interest, rate, cap, josh hawley, bernie sanders
215
2025-03-05
Wednesday, 05 February 2025 10:03 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
Get Newsmax Text Alerts
TOP

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
MONEYNEWS.COM
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
NEWSMAX.COM
MONEYNEWS.COM
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved