 A derivatives contract with a notional value of millions of dollars may actually only cost a few thousand dollars.For example, an interest rate swap might be based on exchanging the interest payments on $100 million in US Treasury bonds at a fixed interest of 4.5%, for the floating interest rate of $100 million in credit card receivables.This contract would involve at least $4.5 million in interest payments, though the notional value may be reported as $100 million.