Bankrate’s 2026 Credit Card Debt Report

Here’s the kicker astir recognition paper indebtedness — arsenic soon arsenic it starts rolling down the hill, involvement charges mean it gains momentum and size. Unfortunately, it’s a slippery slope that galore recognition cardholders find themselves on… and progressively stuck determination long-term.

Credit paper involvement rates are immoderate of the highest borrowing costs retired there, presently averaging supra 19%. When you transportation a paper balance, not lone are you taking wealth from your aboriginal self, but you’re piling involvement connected apical of interest.

The implications of recognition paper indebtedness are far-reaching, from pausing large beingness decisions to feeling similar you’ll ne'er wage it off. But with the close tools, it’s imaginable to tackle your indebtedness earlier it takes over.

• More Americans acquisition semipermanent recognition paper debt

  Sixty-one percent of Americans with paper indebtedness person been successful indebtedness for astatine slightest a twelvemonth — up from 53% successful precocious 2024.

  Source: Bankrate’s 2026 Credit Card Debt Survey

• Around fractional of American recognition cardholders transportation recognition paper debt

  Forty-seven percent of recognition cardholders study having a recognition paper balance. About 1 successful 5 (22%) debtors don’t deliberation they’ll ever wage it off.

  Source: Bankrate’s 2026 Credit Card Debt Survey

• Emergency and day-to-day expenses are the astir communal reasons for recognition paper debt

  Among recognition paper debtors, 41% accidental their indebtedness comes chiefly from emergency/unexpected expense(s), including aesculapian bills (12%), car repairs (8%), location repairs (8%) and different exigency oregon unexpected expenses (13%). Thirty-three percent, up from 28% successful 2024 and 26% successful 2023, mention day-to-day expenses specified arsenic groceries, childcare and utilities.

  Source: Bankrate’s 2026 Credit Card Debt Survey

Since 1976, Bankrate has been the go-to root for idiosyncratic concern data, publishing mean rates connected the astir fashionable fiscal products and tracking the acquisition of consumers nationwide.

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About 3 successful 5 cardholders (61%) with recognition paper balances person been successful indebtedness for astatine slightest a twelvemonth — that’s up from 53% successful precocious 2024. This includes 31% of those who person been successful indebtedness for astatine slightest 3 years and 21% who person been successful indebtedness for astatine slightest 5 years.

Even if you’re making minimum payments connected your balance, that whitethorn not chopped it.

“Minimum payments could support you successful indebtedness for decades and outgo you thousands of dollars successful interest,” Rossman explains.

For example, the mean recognition paper equilibrium is $6,523, according to TransUnion. If you lone marque minimum payments astatine 19% APR, you could beryllium successful indebtedness for 170 months and wage $6,491 successful interest.