There is a "credit balance" shown on my statement. What is a credit balance? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

FAQs

There is a "credit balance" shown on my statement. What is a credit balance? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? ›

If the total of your credits exceeds the amount you owe, your statement shows a credit balance. This is money the card issuer owes you. You can call your card issuer and arrange to have a check sent to you in the amount of the credit balance. Your card issuer may ask you to submit this request in writing.

Essentially, a “credit balance” refers to an amount that a business owes to a customer. It's when a customer has paid you more than the current invoice stipulates. You can locate credit balances on the right side of a subsidiary ledger account or a general ledger account.

A credit balance in accounts receivable describes an amount that a business owes to a customer. This can occur if a customer has paid you more than the current invoice demands. Credit balances can be located on the right side of a subsidiary ledger account or a general ledger account.

When you see the words 'in credit' on your bills, this means you've paid more money than you needed to and the company owes you money. It's most commonly found on utility bills for electricity and gas. Building up credit on an account is very common and it's not something you need to worry about.

A credit balance arises whenever the creditor receives or holds funds in an account in excess of the total balance due from the consumer on that account.