What Is the Rule of 78?
The Rule of 78 is a method used by some lenders to calculate interest charges on a loan. The Rule of 78 requires the borrower to pay a greater portion of interest in the earlier part of a loan cycle, which decreases the potential savings for the borrower in paying off their loan.
Key Takeaways
- The Rule of 78 is a method used by some lenders to calculate interest charges on a loan.
- The Rule of 78 allocates pre-calculated interest charges that favor the lender over the borrower for short-term loans or if a loan is paid off early.
- The Rule of 78 methodology gives added weight to months in the earlier cycle of a loan, so a greater portion of interest is paid earlier.
Understanding the Rule of 78
The Rule of 78 gives greater weight to months in the earlier part of a borrower’s loan cycle when calculating interest, which increases the profit for the lender. This type of interest calculation schedule is primarily used on fixed-rate non-revolving loans. The Rule of 78 is an important consideration for borrowers who potentially intend to pay off their loans early.
The Rule of 78 holds that the borrower must pay a greater portion of the interest rate in the earlier part of the loan cycle, which means the borrower will pay more than they would with a regular loan.
Calculating Rule of 78 Loan Interest
The Rule of 78 loan interest methodology is more complex than a simple annual percentage rate (APR) loan. In both types of loans, however, the borrower will pay the same amount of interest on the loan if they make payments for the full loan cycle with no pre-payment.
The Rule of 78 methodology gives added weight to months in the earlier cycle of a loan. It is often used by short-term installment lenders who provide loans to subprime borrowers.
In the case of a 12-month loan, a lender would sum the number of digits through 12 months in the following calculation:
- 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 + 12 = 78
For a one year loan, the total number of digits is equal to 78, which explains the term the Rule of 78. For a two year loan, the total sum of the digits would be 300.
With the sum of the months calculated, the lender then weights the interest payments in reverse order applying greater weight to the earlier months. For a one-year loan, the weighting factor would be 12/78 of the total interest in the first month, 11/78 in the second month, 10/78 in the third month, etc. For a two-year loan, the weighting factor would be 24/300 in the first month, 23/300 in the second month, 22/300 in the third month, etc.
Rule of 78 vs. Simple Interest
When paying off a loan, the repayments are composed of two parts: the principal and the interest charged. The Rule of 78 weights the earlier payments with more interest than the later payments. If the loan is not terminated or prepaid early, the total interest paid between simple interest and the Rule of 78 will be equal.
However, because the Rule of 78 weights the earlier payments with more interest than a simple interest method, paying off a loan early will result in the borrower paying slightly more interest overall.
In 1992, the legislation made this type of financing illegal for loans in the United States with a duration of greater than 61 months. Certain states have adopted more stringent restrictions for loans less than 61 months in duration, while some states have outlawed the practice completely for any loan duration. Check with your state's Attorney General's office prior to entering into a loan agreement with a Rule of 78 provision if you are unsure.
The difference in savings from early prepayment on a Rule of 78 loan versus a simple interest loan is not significantly substantial in the case of shorter-term loans. For example, a borrower with a two-year $10,000 loan at a 5% fixed rate would pay total interest of $529.13 over the entire loan cycle for both a Rule of 78 and a simple interest loan.
In the first month of the Rule of 78 loan, the borrower would pay $42.33. In the first month of a simple interest loan, the interest is calculated as a percent of the outstanding principal, and the borrower would pay $41.67. A borrower who would like to pay the loan off after 12 months would be required to pay $5,124.71 for the simple interest loan and $5,126.98 for the Rule of 78 loan.
FAQs
What Is the Rule of 78? The Rule of 78 is a method used by some lenders to calculate interest charges on a loan. The Rule of 78 requires the borrower to pay a greater portion of interest in the earlier part of a loan cycle, which decreases the potential savings for the borrower in paying off their loan.
How do you calculate the Rule of 78s on a loan? ›
The rule of 78 methodology calculates interest for the life of the loan, then allocates a portion of that interest to each month, using what is known as a reverse sum of digits. For example, if you had a 12-month loan, you would add the numbers 1 through 12 (1+2+3+4, etc.) which equals 78.
What is the Rule of 78 loan formula? ›
The Rule of 78s is also known as the sum of the digits. In fact, the 78 is a sum of the digits of the months in a year: 1 plus 2 plus 3 plus 4, etc., to 12, equals 78. Under the rule, each month in the contract is assigned a value which is exactly the reverse of its occurrence in the contract.
What is the Rule of 78 simplified? ›
The idea is to weight the interest so that you pay more of it in the early stages of the loan, but still pay the same amount of total interest as you would with a simple interest formula. As you can see, the sum of the monthly digits for a one-year loan equals 78, demonstrating why this method is dubbed the Rule of 78.
What is the Rule of 78 mortgage? ›
The Rule of 78 formula
The lender allocates a fraction of the interest for each month in reverse order. For example, you would pay 12/78 of the interest in the first month of the loan, 11/78 of the interest in the second month and so on. The result is that you pay more interest than you should.
What is the Rule of 78 on a loan schedule? ›
According to “Rule of 78”, the denominator of the loan with a 24-month tenor is the sum of the numbers 1 to 24 added together, which is 300 (24 + 23 + 22 + …… + 1 = 300). Hence, 24/300ths of the total interest is allocated as the portion to be paid in the 1st month.
What are the benefits of Rule 78? ›
Interest Savings: One of the primary benefits of the Rule of 78 is its potential for interest savings. When borrowers choose to pay off a loan early, they can often negotiate a reduced interest rate based on the Rule of 78. This means that the total interest paid is recalculated, considering the shorter loan term.
What is Rule of 78 effective interest rate? ›
The Rule of 78 formula is: Effective interest Rate = total Interest Paid / Principal Amount. 7. Interpret the Result: The effective interest rate represents the annualized cost of borrowing under the specific terms of the loan. This percentage is what you are truly paying for the privilege of borrowing money.
How to calculate loan requirements? ›
How to Use Home Loan Eligibility Calculator?
- Enter your monthly income.
- Include any ongoing EMIs.
- Select your desired tenure.
- Interest Rate: Put the rate of interest.
- Click 'Calculate' to instantly determine your Home Loan eligibility amount.
Just multiply the amount of new revenue you expect to bring in each month by 78 to get your yearly sales forecast. A caveat to the Rule of 78 formula is that it assumes you'll gain just one new customer per month – and that every customer is paying the same monthly fee.
The Rule of 78 accelerates the accrual of interest at the start of the loan, and the purpose of using the actuarial method for posting to income is to avoid having that acceleration reflected in the ledger.
What are the alternatives to the Rule of 78? ›
Amortization Schedule: An alternative to the Rule of 78 is an amortization schedule, which follows a more favorable path for borrowers aiming to reduce their principal. With an amortization schedule, each payment is divided between interest and principal, with the proportion of interest decreasing over time.
How do you calculate rule 78? ›
Calculating Rule of 78 Loan Interest
It is often used by short-term installment lenders who provide loans to subprime borrowers. In the case of a 12-month loan, a lender would sum the number of digits through 12 months in the following calculation: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 + 12 = 78.
How is reducing balance loan calculated? ›
What's the formula for calculating reducing balance interest rate? the interest payable (each instalment) = Outstanding loan amount x interest rate applicable for each instalment. So, after every instalment, your principal amount decreases, which in turn reflects on the effective interest rate.
What is the golden rule of mortgage? ›
The 28% / 36% Rule
To use this calculation to figure out how much you can afford to spend, multiply your gross monthly income by 0.28. For example, if your gross monthly income is $8,000, you should spend no more than $2,240 on a monthly mortgage payment.
What is the correct formula for calculating the loan principal amount? ›
To calculate interest, multiply the principal amount, the rate of interest, and the time in years it will take to repay the loan. To find the principal, divide the amount of interest by the product of the interest rate and the time of the loan in years.
What is the Rule of 72 what formula is used to calculate this amount? ›
Do you know the Rule of 72? It's an easy way to calculate just how long it's going to take for your money to double. Just take the number 72 and divide it by the interest rate you hope to earn. That number gives you the approximate number of years it will take for your investment to double.
How to calculate loan settlement amount? ›
To calculate a personal loan settlement, assess the outstanding balance, including interest and fees. Propose a reasonable settlement amount, often a percentage of the total owed. Negotiate terms with the lender, considering your financial circ*mstances.
