CAT bundles the interest rate, fees, mandatory insurance and, where it applies, VAT into a single annual percentage. Banxico (Mexico's central bank) built it so two loans of the same type can be compared head to head. When you see "from 38% CAT", that "from" is calculated on the best-profile customer — yours may differ. If a credit card and a personal loan show the same CAT, the actual total cost is essentially the same.