Alaska · Pacific
Debt consolidation in Alaska
Adults in Alaska carry $5,250 in credit card debt on average, 2nd highest of 51. At that balance the interest rate is the biggest lever you have.
- $5,250
- card debt per adult, 2nd of 51
- 9.79%
- of card balances 90+ days late (US 12.36%)
- +18.2%
- card debt growth since 2019 (US +28.3%)
The interest on a typical Alaska balance
Take the Alaska average of $5,250 and pay it off in 36 months. At a 24% card APR the payment is about $206 a month and the interest about $2,165. With a 12% consolidation loan the payment drops to about $174 and the interest to about $1,028, a difference of $1,138.
People who carry a balance usually owe more than the per-adult average. On $13,000 the same comparison is $5,361 of card interest against $2,544 on the loan. These rates are examples, not offers. Your APR depends on your credit, income and the lender, and an origination fee reduces the savings. See what lenders look for.
Personal loan rules in Alaska
Alaska lets licensed small loan companies charge up to 36% a year on the first $850 and 24% a year on the balance up to $10,000, with the rate above $10,000 set by contract. Lenders making loans of $25,000 or less at more than the ordinary legal rate need a state license.
- Licensed small loans up to $25,000 (Alaska Small Loans Act): 3% a month on the unpaid balance up to $850; 2% a month on the balance from $850 to $10,000; rate agreed by contract on the balance from $10,000 to $25,000 (Alaska Stat. § 06.20.230(a))
The National Consumer Law Center puts the highest APR allowed in Alaska at 36% on a $500, six-month loan and 31% on a $2,000, two-year loan (Predatory Installment Lending in the States: How Well Do the States Protect Consumers Against High-Cost Installment Loans? (2025), National Consumer Law Center, December 2025).
Non-bank lenders need a state license to make these loans. License: Small loan license under the Alaska Small Loans Act (Alaska Stat. § 06.20.010(a)).
NCLC notes Alaska also has an Installment Loan Act with lower maximum rates.
Compare rate caps in every state. Checked 2026-09-30. Summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and banks chartered in other states may follow different rules. Sources: Alaska Statutes ch. 06.20 (Alaska Small Loans Act), compiled by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors; NCLC, Predatory Installment Lending in the States (2025), main report with Map 1 ($500) and Map 2 ($2,000); NCLC, Predatory Installment Lending in the States (2025), Appendix C: state lending laws; NCLC fact sheet, State APR Caps for $500, $2,000 and $10,000 Installment Loans (Nov. 2024).
Interest saved at different balances
With Alaska balances among the highest in the country, here is how the same 24% card vs 12% loan comparison scales. Each line is a 36-month payoff.
| Balance | Card payment | Loan payment | Interest saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $196/mo | $166/mo | $1,083 |
| $10,000 | $392/mo | $332/mo | $2,167 |
| $13,000 | $510/mo | $432/mo | $2,817 |
| $20,000 | $785/mo | $664/mo | $4,333 |
Where the $5,250 fits in Alaska household debt
Card balances per adult are up 18.2% since 2019, slower than the national +28.3% (50th fastest of 51). Balances fell from $4,440 in 2019 to $3,900 in 2020, when spending dropped and stimulus paid down cards, then climbed back to $5,250 by 2025.
Card debt is the most expensive balance most households carry, which is why it is usually the first target for consolidation. In Alaska, cards, auto loans and student loans add up to $14,900 per adult, 4% below the national $15,470.
| Type | AK | US | AK change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | $5,250 | $4,350 | +1.5% |
| Auto loans | $5,790 | $5,660 | -0.3% |
| Student loans | $3,860 | $5,460 | -7.7% |
| Mortgages | $51,070 | $44,300 | +1.1% |
| All household debt | $69,460 | $63,200 | +0.8% |
Your options in Alaska
- Debt consolidation loan: one fixed payment and end date, worth it when the APR is clearly below your card rates. How to compare offers.
- Balance transfer card: a 0% introductory APR can beat a loan if you can clear the balance before the promo ends. Balance transfer vs personal loan.
- Debt management plan: a nonprofit credit counseling agency negotiates lower rates with your card issuers. Useful if you cannot qualify for a loan. DMP vs consolidation.
Alaska next to its neighbors
Among the 5 Pacific states, Alaska has the highest card debt per adult.
- Alaska: $5,250 per adult, 9.79% 90+ days late
- Hawaii: $5,220 per adult, 10.17% 90+ days late
- California: $5,000 per adult, 13.2% 90+ days late
- Washington: $4,640 per adult, 9.34% 90+ days late
- Oregon: $4,030 per adult, 9.49% 90+ days late
How many Alaska borrowers are behind
9.79% of credit card balances in Alaska were seriously delinquent (90+ days) at the end of 2025. That is 2.6 points below the national rate of 12.36%, placing Alaska 40th of 51 for card delinquency (1st is the highest). The rate rose 0.6 points in the past year, from 9.19% in 2024. In 2019 the share was 6.58%.
Auto loan delinquency in Alaska stood at 2.94% (US 5.18%), and student loan delinquency at 8.77% (US 8.25%). If your payments are current, you are in a better position to qualify for a lower rate. If not, read our guide to consolidation loans with bad credit .
Checking a lender in Alaska
Non-bank consumer lenders in Alaska are licensed by the Alaska Division of Banking and Securities. Before you accept an offer, look up the lender's license. To report a problem, file with the Alaska Department of Law, Consumer Protection Unit or the CFPB. Never pay upfront fees for debt relief.
Alaska debt consolidation FAQ
How much credit card debt does the average person in Alaska have?
$5,250 per adult with a credit file at the end of 2025, according to New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax data. That is 21% above the US figure of $4,350 and ranks 2nd of 51. The figure includes people with no card balance, so people who do carry a balance typically owe more.
Are more people in Alaska falling behind on credit cards?
9.79% of card balances in Alaska were 90 or more days past due in 2025, compared with 6.58% in 2019 (up 3.2 points). The national rate was 12.36%.
Can a consolidation loan lower what borrowers in Alaska pay in interest?
It can if the loan APR is well below your card APRs. On a $5,250 balance paid off over 36 months, a 24% card APR costs about $2,165 in interest and a 12% loan about $1,028. Rates depend on your credit and the lender, loans are not available in every state, and fees can shrink the savings.
Is a consolidation loan worth it on a large Alaska balance?
The larger the balance, the more the rate matters. On $20,000 over 36 months, moving from a 24% card APR to a 12% loan saves about $4,333 in interest, before any origination fee.
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax, State Level Household Debt Statistics 2003-2025 (February 2026), Q4 figures per adult with a credit file. Ranks and changes computed by Smart Debt Relief across 50 states and DC. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Full state table and CSV.