South Africa credit card limit calculator
Enter one applicant or cardholder to see the lowest limit set by card behaviour, affordability after other debts, your own income cap and South Africa’s rules. The result identifies which one binds.
Credit limit
The limit is R60,000, set by behaviour limit. Behaviour gives R60,000, income carries R120,000, and the market’s rules allow R414,692, which reflects an income cap in some markets and a repayment test in others.
High utilisation with enough statements paid in full earns the large increase.
Candidate limits
The lowest candidate is the limit, and a candidate with no cap has no bar.
Market rules for this person
| Rule | Cap for person | Applies |
|---|---|---|
| There is no cap on the limit, and under Reg 23A, income less the minimum expense norm for that income, R3,265, and less other debt payments has to cover the minimum payment on the full limit, 5% of it. | R414,692 | Yes |
| Under Reg 42, the card’s interest rate may not exceed the repo rate plus 14 percentage points a year, which is 21.25% at the repo rate of 7.25% that applies from 23 September 2026. | Yes | |
| Under s.74, a limit increase takes effect only once the cardholder has accepted it, never because the cardholder did not decline it. | Yes | |
| Under Reg 23A(13), the cardholder’s repayment history is checked within seven business days before the card is approved or its limit is raised. | Yes |
These summaries cover each regulator’s rule for this tool and do not reproduce the full text. The issuer checks the current text. The lowest applicable cap is the market’s cap.
Behaviour decision table
| Months on book | Missed payments | Utilisation | Paid in full | Limit action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <6 | ANY | ANY | ANY | Hold limit |
| >=6 | >=2 | ANY | ANY | Cut by 50% |
| >=6 | 1 | ANY | ANY | Hold limit |
| >=6 | 0 | >=70% | >=50% | Raise by 50% |
| >=6 | 0 | >=70% | <50% | Hold limit |
| >=6 | 0 | >=30% | ANY | Raise by 25% |
| >=6 | 0 | <30% | ANY | Hold limit |
Rows paste as decision table cells, and the first matching row wins.
Get the result by email
Run these limit rules inside the credit decision for every application and cardholder, read limits held elsewhere from the bureau at that moment, and test threshold changes on past decisions before they go live. Start free
Show formulas
Behaviour limit, New applicant = Starting income multiple × Monthly net income Behaviour limit, Cardholder = Today’s limit × (1 + Large increase | Small increase) or × (1 − Cut after missed payments) Affordability limit = (Income share for all debt payments × Monthly net income − Other debt payments) ÷ Card payment share of limit Own income cap = Own income cap × Monthly net income Market = Lowest applicable market cap Credit limit = min(Behaviour limit, Affordability limit, Own income cap, Market), Rounded down Rounding step
The affordability limit assumes the card is fully drawn, and the behaviour rules are an example policy to edit, not a standard. Regulatory caps are summaries for this tool and are not legal advice.
How South Africa sets card limits
South Africa sets no income cap on a credit card limit. Under Reg 23A, income less the Table 1 minimum expense norm and other debt payments must cover the payment share on the full limit. The tool calculates the amount under that test and shows the rate rule under Reg 42 separately.
The result is the lowest of the behaviour limit, affordability limit, the lender’s own income cap and the South African rule calculation. Which candidate binds changes from person to person, so use the result to review one applicant or cardholder and edit the example behaviour policy.
South Africa card limit questions
How is a credit card limit decided in South Africa?
The tool compares the behaviour limit, affordability limit, the lender’s own income cap and the South African rule calculation. The lowest candidate sets the result, and the page names it.
Does South Africa have an income cap on credit card limits?
South Africa sets no income cap on a credit card limit. Reg 23A instead tests whether income after the minimum expense norm and other debt payments covers the payment share on the full limit.
How does Reg 23A use minimum expense norms for a South African card limit?
Reg 23A uses the Table 1 minimum expense norm for the applicant’s income. After that norm and other debt payments are deducted, the remaining income must cover the card payment share on the full limit.
Can a South African issuer increase a card limit without acceptance?
Under s.74, a limit increase takes effect only after the cardholder accepts it. Reg 23A(13) also requires repayment history to be checked within seven business days before approval or an increase. The rule summary is not legal advice, so check the current text.
What is the credit facility interest rate cap in South Africa?
Under Reg 42, the credit facility’s annual rate may not exceed the repo rate plus 14 percentage points. At the 7.25% repo rate from 23 September 2026, the ceiling is 21.25% a year. This rate rule does not set the credit limit.