• The average outstanding balance refers to the unpaid portion of any term, installment, revolving or credit card debt that earns interest over a specified period of time.

  • Interest on revolving loans can be calculated using the average balance method.
  • Credit card companies report monthly outstanding balances to consumer credit bureaus for use in credit scoring and credit underwriting.
  • Average outstanding balance can be calculated based on daily, monthly or other time period.
  • Large outstanding balances can be an indicator of financial problems for both lenders and borrowers.