U.S. Consumer Debt Tops $18.19 Trillion as Subprime Bankcard Balances Rise 4%
EFX•Equifax’s Q1 data show U.S. consumer debt reached a record $18.19 trillion in March with subprime bankcard balances up 4% year-over-year and new subprime accounts surging 18.6%. While 60+ day delinquencies on unsecured personal, auto loans and bankcards fell, bankcard and auto loan write-offs edged higher.
1. Record Consumer Debt and Subprime Growth
Consumer debt balances reached a record $18.19 trillion in March 2026, driven by an almost 4% year-over-year rise in bankcard balances and an 18.6% jump in new subprime bankcard originations with credit limits up 37.6%.
2. Stabilizing Delinquencies and Rising Write-Offs
60+ day delinquencies on unsecured personal loans, bankcards and auto loans improved month-over-month, dropping to 3.18%, 2.97% and 1.49% respectively, while bankcard and auto loan write-off rates climbed by 0.9 and 27.5 basis points.
3. Student Loan Origination and Delinquency Trends
New student loan accounts fell over 10% year-over-year but origination volumes rose 4.7%, with 90+ day student loan delinquencies rising to 17.01%, marking a fourth consecutive monthly increase.
