Illinois · East North Central
Debt consolidation in Illinois
Adults in Illinois with a credit file carry $4,260 in credit card debt on average, 2% below the national $4,350. 11.59% of those balances are 90 or more days past due.
- $4,260
- card debt per adult, 21st of 51
- 11.59%
- of card balances 90+ days late (US 12.36%)
- +24.9%
- card debt growth since 2019 (US +28.3%)
What Illinois households owe
Card balances per adult are up 24.9% since 2019, slower than the national +28.3% (31st fastest of 51). Balances fell from $3,410 in 2019 to $2,960 in 2020, when spending dropped and stimulus paid down cards, then climbed back to $4,260 by 2025.
Card debt is the most expensive balance most households carry, which is why it is usually the first target for consolidation. In Illinois, cards, auto loans and student loans add up to $15,080 per adult, 3% below the national $15,470.
| Type | IL | US | IL change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | $4,260 | $4,350 | +3.1% |
| Auto loans | $4,880 | $5,660 | -1.2% |
| Student loans | $5,940 | $5,460 | +0.5% |
| Mortgages | $36,470 | $44,300 | +1.4% |
| All household debt | $54,050 | $63,200 | +1.2% |
Personal loan rules in Illinois
Illinois caps all consumer loans from non-bank lenders at 36% APR, and the APR must count nearly all fees and add-on charges. A loan above that rate is void.
- All consumer loans by non-bank lenders (banks, credit unions and insurers are exempt): 36% APR, calculated like the federal Military Lending Act APR, which includes most fees and add-on products (815 ILCS 123/15-5-5 (Predatory Loan Prevention Act); Ill. Admin. Code tit. 38, § 110.2)
The National Consumer Law Center puts the highest APR allowed in Illinois at 36% on a $500, six-month loan and 36% 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), NCLC, December 2025).
Non-bank lenders need a state license to make these loans. License: Consumer Installment Loan Act license (205 ILCS 670/1).
Any loan over 36% PLPA APR is null and void.
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: 815 ILCS 123/15-5-5, Rate cap; Ill. Admin. Code tit. 38, § 110.2, Rate Cap Disclosure Notices; 205 ILCS 670, Consumer Installment Loan Act; NCLC, Predatory Installment Lending in the States (2025), maps 1 and 2 and Appendix C.
How many Illinois borrowers are behind
11.59% of credit card balances in Illinois were seriously delinquent (90+ days) at the end of 2025. That is 0.8 points below the national rate of 12.36%, placing Illinois 22nd of 51 for card delinquency (1st is the highest). The rate rose 1.2 points in the past year, from 10.43% in 2024. In 2019 the share was 6.62%.
Auto loan delinquency in Illinois stood at 5.59% (US 5.18%), and student loan delinquency at 7.76% (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 .
Illinois next to its neighbors
Among the 5 East North Central states, Illinois has the highest card debt per adult.
Ten years of card debt in Illinois
Card debt per adult in Illinois has changed +50.5% since 2015 and +3.1% in the last year alone (US +4.1%).
| Year | IL | US |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $2,830 | $2,800 |
| 2019 | $3,410 | $3,390 |
| 2020 | $2,960 | $2,970 |
| 2024 | $4,130 | $4,180 |
| 2025 | $4,260 | $4,350 |
What consolidating could save at IL numbers
Take the Illinois average of $4,260 and pay it off in 36 months. At a 24% card APR the payment is about $167 a month and the interest about $1,757. With a 12% consolidation loan the payment drops to about $141 and the interest to about $834, a difference of $923.
People who carry a balance usually owe more than the per-adult average. On $10,500 the same comparison is $4,330 of card interest against $2,055 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.
Your options in Illinois
- Debt consolidation loan: one fixed payment and end date, worth it when the APR is clearly below your card rates. How to compare offers.
- 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.
- 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.
Checking a lender in Illinois
Non-bank consumer lenders in Illinois are licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Financial Institutions (IDFPR). Before you accept an offer, look up the lender's license. To report a problem, file with the Illinois Attorney General, Consumer Fraud Bureau or the CFPB. Never pay upfront fees for debt relief.
Illinois debt consolidation FAQ
How much credit card debt does the average person in Illinois have?
$4,260 per adult with a credit file at the end of 2025, according to New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax data. That is 2% below the US figure of $4,350 and ranks 21st of 51. The figure includes people with no card balance, so people who do carry a balance typically owe more.
Are more people in Illinois falling behind on credit cards?
11.59% of card balances in Illinois were 90 or more days past due in 2025, compared with 6.62% in 2019 (up 5.0 points). The national rate was 12.36%.
Can a consolidation loan lower what borrowers in Illinois pay in interest?
It can if the loan APR is well below your card APRs. On a $4,260 balance paid off over 36 months, a 24% card APR costs about $1,757 in interest and a 12% loan about $834. Rates depend on your credit and the lender, loans are not available in every state, and fees can shrink the savings.
Does debt consolidation hurt your credit in Illinois?
Checking offers uses a soft inquiry and does not affect your score. Accepting a loan adds a hard inquiry and a new account, which can dip your score briefly, while paying down card balances usually helps over time.
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.