About Finance Atlas

Updated October 2026

Finance Atlas is an independent publisher of free, country-specific financial calculators and plain-language guides, run by Chuck. It exists for one reason: most people sign loan, mortgage and vehicle-finance agreements without ever seeing the full picture of what they cost — the fees capitalised into the loan, the balloon waiting at the end of the term, and the local rate caps that protect them. The tools mirror how credit products are actually put together in each market, so you can stress-test a deal before you sit down to sign one.

What We Cover

Five country sections are live today, each with its own calculator directory built on that country’s currency, fees and financial rules. South Africa (29 calculators) applies NCA fee and rate caps, prime-linked pricing and balloon structures. The United Kingdom (19) follows stamp duty bands, ISA and pension wrappers and Plan 2 student-loan repayment rules. China (19) uses the statutory 10% vehicle purchase tax with NEV relief periods and local amortisation conventions. Japan (10) follows Flat 35 pricing tiers and bonus-repayment mortgage structures. Singapore (11) applies the TDSR and MSR ceilings and OMV-based vehicle financing limits. A plain-language guide shelf supports each section, and every calculator states the local rules it applies.

How the Content Is Sourced and Maintained

Every regulatory figure on this site is drawn from official sources: the SARB, the National Credit Regulator and National Treasury in South Africa; HMRC, the FCA and the Bank of England in the UK; the State Taxation Administration in China; the Japan Housing Finance Agency and the Financial Services Agency in Japan; and MAS, HDB and the Association of Banks in Singapore. The exact figures each calculator uses — and where each one comes from — are listed on the methodology page. When a regulator moves a rate or a regulated fee changes, the affected tools and guides are updated and the change is recorded in the site changelog. Spotted something that looks wrong? The contact page is the fastest way to have it checked and corrected — corrections are handled openly, not silently.

How the Calculators Work

Every tool uses the standard amortisation formula that banks apply, with the regulated charges most online calculators ignore built in — once-off initiation fees, monthly service fees, and the interest-rate caps that apply to each credit type. Where a default rate is relevant it is quoted as prime plus a typical client margin, and defaults are reviewed when the central bank moves its policy rate. The full mathematics, formulas and rounding conventions are documented on the methodology page.

What This Site Is Not

Finance Atlas is not a registered Financial Services Provider (FSP) or credit provider, does not sell finance, does not collect applications, and does not receive commission from any bank or dealer. The calculators provide educational estimates only — your actual quote depends on your credit profile, the asset, and your bank’s assessment. Always confirm the final numbers with your bank or a registered FSP before signing.

Get in Touch

Spotted an error, or is there a calculator you wish existed? Visit the contact page — feedback from real buyers shapes what gets built next.