This calculator helps you estimate the monthly payment for a loan obtained from your credit union. Credit unions are member-owned financial cooperatives that often offer competitive loan rates and personalized service. Understanding how your loan payment is calculated is key to making informed financial decisions.
The Math Behind the Monthly Payment
The calculation for a fixed-rate loan payment uses a standard amortization formula. The formula determines how much you need to pay each month to cover both the principal (the amount borrowed) and the interest accrued over the life of the loan.
The formula is:
M = P [ i(1 + i)^n ] / [ (1 + i)^n – 1]
Where:
M = Your total monthly payment.
P = The principal loan amount (the amount you borrow).
i = Your *monthly* interest rate. This is calculated by dividing your annual interest rate by 12. (e.g., 5% annual rate becomes 0.05 / 12 = 0.004167 monthly).
n = The total number of payments over the loan's lifetime. This is calculated by multiplying the loan term in years by 12. (e.g., a 5-year loan has 5 * 12 = 60 payments).
How to Use This Calculator:
Loan Amount: Enter the total amount you plan to borrow.
Annual Interest Rate: Enter the interest rate offered by the credit union as a percentage (e.g., 5 for 5%).
Loan Term (Years): Enter the duration of the loan in years.
Calculate Monthly Payment: Click this button to see your estimated monthly repayment.
Reset: Click this to clear all fields and start over.
Example Calculation:
Let's say you want to take out a car loan from your credit union for $20,000. The credit union offers an annual interest rate of 6.5%, and you want to repay it over 7 years.
Principal (P) = $20,000
Annual Interest Rate = 6.5%
Loan Term = 7 years
First, we convert these to the required values for the formula: