Using a credit card is still very expensive in spite of the fact that bank interest rates have fallen to their lowest levels in decades. The average APR is nearly 75%, with the monthly rate on unpaid balances at 6.20%, nearly the same rate as two years ago when the rate hit 6.40% per month. However, two years ago, bank interest was at 30% APR for personal loans and as much as 26% for mortgages. As of 11 November this year, personal loans are at 23.47% and mortgage loans are at 19.1%, and preferential loans for class A clients are 16.11%. According to Central Bank figures there are nearly three quarters of a million credit card holders in the Dominican Republic, down almost half a million from the 2003 figure. In spite of the decrease in the number of plastic users, the overall amount of money involved in credit card transactions has increased, as reported by the Cardnet credit agency.