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APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. APR is a measure of interest paid for credit received (or earned on principal invested) that does not take into account the effect of compounding. Unlike APR, APY, or annual percentage yield, does account for compounding. For example, on a loan at a rate of 1% per month, the APR will be 12*1% = 12%, but the APY will be (1+1%)^12–1 = 12.68%. At 2% per month, APR is 24%, and APY is 26.82%. The higher periodic rate and the more periods in a year, the larger the gap between APR and APY. APY is more economically meaningful than APR. Nevertheless, federal law requires banks, credit card issuers, and other consumer finance entities to disclose APR to the borrower. On the other hand, the higher APY figure is always reported rather than APR when depository institutions advertise rates on savings products such as certificates of deposit and money market accounts. |
