TransUnion: Lenders expand credit access for below-prime borrowers
TRU•TransUnion's Q3 2026 credit report found below-prime borrowers accounted for 42.3% of credit card originations and 69% of unsecured personal loan originations. Balance-level delinquencies and personal loan charge-offs fell year over year, while borrower-level delinquencies rose.
1. Credit access and delinquencies
Below-prime borrowers accounted for 42.3% of credit card originations and 69% of unsecured personal loan originations, TransUnion's Q3 2026 credit report found. Balance-level delinquency fell year over year to 1.99% for credit cards and 1.95% for unsecured personal loans, while borrower-level delinquency rose to 2.5% and 4.12%, respectively.
2. Personal loan charge-offs
Unsecured personal loan charge-offs fell 11% year over year to $3.5 billion, despite more accounts being charged off.
