Credit rate cap down, ECB holds steady, CCD2 coming
The three developments this month most relevant if you have a credit card or are thinking about applying for one, with sources and our own take.
Published 27 August 2026 · 4 min read
1. Statutory maximum credit fee drops to 12%
Since 1 January 2026, the statutory maximum credit fee has dropped from 14% to 12% per year. This cap applies to consumer credit such as revolving credit, overdrafts and instalment plans, and is tied to the statutory interest rate plus a fixed 8 percentage point surcharge. Because the statutory interest rate fell from 6% to 4%, the cap dropped along with it.
What this means for you: if you have a credit card where you carry a balance at interest (rather than a charge card you pay off in full each month), the provider can never charge you more than 12% per year. Note that this statutory cap applies to consumer credit, not automatically to business credit products.
2. ECB holds rates at 2.25%
The European Central Bank decided on 23 July 2026 to leave rates unchanged at 2.25%. The next rate decision is scheduled for 10 September 2026. Dutch banks have historically not fully passed on ECB rate changes to consumer products.
What this means for you: a stable ECB rate means there is, for now, no direct trigger for credit card providers to significantly adjust their own interest rates. The rate on your credit card usually only changes when a provider changes its own terms, not automatically in step with the ECB.
3. New EU Consumer Credit Directive (CCD2) from 20 November 2026
The revised EU Consumer Credit Directive (CCD2) is being implemented in the Netherlands and is expected to take effect on 20 November 2026. The law brings more providers and forms of credit under supervision, including Buy Now Pay Later services, which will fall under the Financial Supervision Act from that date and require an AFM licence. A ban on BNPL for minors will also apply.
What this means for you: if you ever weigh a credit card against a buy-now-pay-later service for a large purchase, that playing field becomes fairer under CCD2. BNPL providers will face the same kind of creditworthiness checks and transparency requirements that have long applied to credit cards.
Sources
- Rijksoverheid.nl, maximum credit fee
- VFN, change to the maximum credit fee as of 1 January 2026
- De Nederlandsche Bank, ECB rate decision
- BKR, CCD2 and its impact on providers and consumers
- Rijksoverheid.nl, new rules for Buy Now Pay Later
This summary was written editorially by SmartCreditcard based on the sources above and does not constitute financial advice. Regulations can change, check the official source if in doubt.