Many users make the mistake of paying only the minimum monthly amount, while financial experts, like Marta Luna, advise paying in full what has been spent to avoid extra charges on the credit card. According to Panama's Superintendence of Banks, the average credit card interest rate at the end of December 2025 was 22.07%, higher than the 21.71% recorded in December 2024. The total credit card debt from banks reached $2,972 million in February, with 876,906 active cards in Panama and an average balance of $3,390 per cardholder. Delinquency rates are among the highest for all financial products, averaging 9.13% for bank-registered debts over 60 days past due, and even higher at 19.14% for finance companies. With credit card usage growing and financial pressure on households increasing, experts recommend always paying more than the minimum, controlling your payment dates, checking your statements, and avoiding cash advances, which are one of the most expensive ways to use a card.
