Credit Card Delinquencies Remain Elevated After Reaching Highest Level in Over a Decade

Americans are falling farther behind on credit card bills as researchers say the share of delinquent balances remains elevated.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, which has tracked large-bank credit card delinquencies since 2012, reports that delinquency measures improved year over year in every quarter of 2025 — though they remain elevated relative to pre-pandemic norms. “The shares of balances and accounts 30+, 60+, and 90+ days past due have improved year over year in every quarter of 2025,” researchers said in the report.

The Philadelphia Fed’s data for the third quarter of 2025 shows that borrowers with delinquent accounts are getting deeper in debt. The share of balances that are 60 days past due was 2.32% in Q3 2025, while the share of accounts 60 days past due was 1.16%.

“That said, all credit performance indicators remain elevated relative to pre-pandemic norms,” the report said.

For those struggling to manage these debts, credit card debt relief could offer a path forward. 

Delinquent credit card balances remain elevated

Rising credit card delinquencies are one of the weaknesses in an economy that overall has many bright spots, and it could be an indication that households are struggling to pay the bills following high inflation in recent years.

A credit card balance is a type of revolving debt. Revolving debt affects your credit score, which is one of the reasons it’s important to stay on top of your credit card balances — not to mention that interest rates on credit card debt are often 25% or higher (the Philadelphia Fed puts the average purchase APR at 24.49% in Q3 2025).

If you don’t pay off your balance each month, or if your utilization is too high, your score will suffer and lenders will be less likely to offer you the best rates on products including auto loans and mortgages.

According to the Philadelphia Fed, total revolving balances were at $662.05 billion in the third quarter of 2025, which was also a series high.

What to do if you can’t pay your credit card bill

As the data in this report makes clear, you’re not alone if you’re struggling to pay off credit card debt.

Personal loans or balance transfers to another credit card can potentially help you avoid late payment fees and mitigate damage to your credit. But a long-lasting solution for getting out of debt often takes more work.

If you have struggled to responsibly manage a credit card in the past, you’ll need to adjust your spending habits so you can pay above the minimum payment.

Experts recommend sticking to a monthly budget and coming up with a plan to regularly chip away at the debt, starting with the highest-interest rate accounts. Most importantly, avoid adding on new credit card debt or opening additional credit cards that will tempt you to borrow even more.

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This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 11:36 AM.