Norway raised interest rates. Check which debt costs you the most

• Norges Bank raised the interest rate to 4.25%.

• It's worth checking your debt, especially if you have a loan, credit card, or forbrukslån.

• The interest rate is the price of money, and its increase affects the cost of loans.

• The loan installment consists of avdrag, renter, and gebyr.

• Nominal and effective interest rates differ; it's important to pay attention to the total cost of the loan.

• The Debt Monitor allows you to check your liabilities in one place.

• It's worth regularly checking your finances to avoid debt problems.

Do you have a loan, credit card, or forbrukslån in Norway? This is a good time to check your debt.

Norges Bank has raised the interest rate to 4.25%. This doesn't mean every installment will go up the very next day. But it does mean one thing: money in Norway is still expensive, and banks are watching loans, limits, and repayment ability closely.

For many Poles in Norway, the problem is not one big loan. Often, the problem is that everything is scattered: credit card, forbrukslån, store credit, phone installment, an old card that's hardly used, plus interest and fees.

In the end, you pay every month, but you don't know which debt costs you the most.

That's why it's worth checking. Preferably step by step and without guessing.

The interest rate is the price of money.

When a bank lends you money, you don't just pay back what you borrowed. You also pay the cost of the loan. This cost is mainly interest.

When Norges Bank raises the interest rate, banks usually keep loan interest rates higher. Those who feel it most are people with more expensive debts, such as credit cards, forbrukslån, credit limits, store installments, and unsecured loans.

Not everyone will feel it the same way. It all depends on the type of debt, interest rate, agreement, and how much is left to pay.

An installment is not just one simple amount.

Most often, it consists of several parts.

Avdrag is the part of the installment that reduces your debt.

Renter is the interest. In other words, the cost of using the bank's money.

Gebyr are fees. For example, a monthly loan fee or an administrative fee.

And here's an important thing: you may pay an installment every month, but your debt may decrease very slowly. Why? Because a large part of the installment goes to interest and fees, and only part to actually repaying the debt.

In Norway, you will often come across two terms.

Nominell rente is the basic loan interest rate.

Effektiv rente is the fuller cost of the loan, as it also includes fees.

That's why you shouldn't look only at the nominal interest rate. What matters is how much the loan really costs.

If you have several liabilities, one may seem harmless but have a high interest rate. Another may have a lower installment but a very long repayment period. Without checking the details, it's easy to make a mistake.

Marek works in Norway. He has a steady salary. He doesn't live beyond his means, but over the years, a few things have accumulated.

He has a credit card. He has a forbrukslån. He has a small installment for purchases. He also has an old limit he hardly uses.

Marek thinks: "I pay every month, it's going okay."

But when he starts checking the details, he sees something different.

One card has a high interest rate. Forbrukslån takes a large part of the monthly installment. The old limit is still there, even though the card is in a drawer. Part of the installments goes mainly to interest, and the debt decreases slowly.

And then you see that the problem is not just the amount of debt. The problem is which debt costs the most.

Many people think: "I don't use the card, so it's not a problem."

Not always.

If you have a credit card with a limit, the bank may look not only at how much you've used, but also at the total limit granted. When assessing repayment ability for rammekreditt, which includes credit cards, banks take into account full use of the granted limits.

That's why an old card, unused limit, or several small liabilities can matter when assessing your situation.

This is especially important if you want to take a new loan, refinance old debts, buy a home, ask the bank for better terms, or simply organize your finances after a few years in Norway.

In the Debt Monitor, you can check your liabilities in one place and in Polish.

You can see, among other things:

• how much debt you have,

• where you have loans,

• whether you have credit cards,

• what limits you have,

• how much of the limit is used,

• what is subject to interest,

• what your interest rates are,

• what your monthly costs are,

• which liability is worth checking first.

It's not just a list of loans. It's meant to help you understand what's really happening with your money.

Check your debt in Polish
Don't know which card, installment, or loan costs you the most? Log in to the Debt Monitor and see your loans, limits, and interest rates in Polish.
Check in the Monitor

You don't need to be a finance expert. Start with five simple things.

1. How much debt do you have in total
Not "about". Check the exact amount.

2. Where are your liabilities
Bank, card, limit, loan, store installment. See the whole picture.

3. Which debt has a high interest rate
Most often, it's worth looking at credit cards and forbrukslån first.

4. How much do you pay each month
The installment itself is one thing. It's also important how much of it goes to interest.

5. Do you have unused limits
An old card or unused limit can also matter.

This simple check often gives you more than guessing for several months.

Because interest rates in Norway are a hot topic again. Because installments and interest are still high. Because cards and forbrukslån can cost more than you think.

According to Norsk Gjeldsinformasjon data, there is over NOK 175 billion in unsecured debt in Norway. This includes, among other things, consumer loans, credit cards, and limits. Several million people have such liabilities.

This is not a problem of "other people." It's a normal topic for many families and workers in Norway.

The worst thing is guessing.

"I think I have only one card."

"I think the installment is okay."

"I think this limit doesn't matter."

"I think the bank doesn't see it."

It's better to check for yourself.

Log in to the Debt Monitor - GjeldsMonitor and see your loans, cards, limits, and costs in Polish.

Don't guess. Check.

Check your debt in Norway in Polish
See loans, cards, limits, interest rates, and monthly costs in one place.
Go to the Monitor

Avdrag — the part of the installment that reduces the debt.

Renter — interest, i.e. the cost of borrowed money.

Gebyr — fee for the loan or service.

Nominell rente — basic interest rate.

Effektiv rente — the fuller cost of the loan including fees.

Rammekreditt — credit limit, e.g. credit card.

This text is for informational purposes only. It is not a loan offer or individual financial advice. Before deciding on a loan, refinancing, or closing a liability, check the terms of your agreement.

• Norges Bank, decision of May 6, 2026, to raise the interest rate to 4.25%.

• Norsk Gjeldsinformasjon, unsecured debt statistics, update 04.05.2026.

• Regjeringen, Utlånsforskriften, rules for assessing creditworthiness and credit limits.

• SpareBank 1, information about data visible in the gjeldsregisteret.