Kansas · West North Central
Debt consolidation in Kansas
Adults in Kansas with a credit file carry $3,670 in credit card debt on average, 16% below the national $4,350. 10.74% of those balances are 90 or more days past due.
- $3,670
- card debt per adult, 35th of 51
- 10.74%
- of card balances 90+ days late (US 12.36%)
- +25.3%
- card debt growth since 2019 (US +28.3%)
What Kansas households owe
Card balances per adult are up 25.3% since 2019, slower than the national +28.3% (30th fastest of 51). Balances fell from $2,930 in 2019 to $2,610 in 2020, when spending dropped and stimulus paid down cards, then climbed back to $3,670 by 2025.
Card debt is the most expensive balance most households carry, which is why it is usually the first target for consolidation. In Kansas, cards, auto loans and student loans add up to $13,790 per adult, 11% below the national $15,470.
| Type | KS | US | KS change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | $3,670 | $4,350 | +3.7% |
| Auto loans | $4,930 | $5,660 | +0.8% |
| Student loans | $5,190 | $5,460 | -2.4% |
| Mortgages | $30,510 | $44,300 | +4.7% |
| All household debt | $46,720 | $63,200 | +3.2% |
Personal loan rules in Kansas
Kansas caps closed-end consumer loans at 36% per year plus a one-time fee of up to 2% of the amount financed or $300, whichever is less. Lenders charging more than 12% APR need a state license.
- Closed-end consumer loans (not payday loans), effective January 1, 2025: 36% per year, plus prepaid finance charges up to the lesser of 2% of the amount financed or $300 (Kan. Stat. Ann. § 16a-2-401(2), (4))
The National Consumer Law Center puts the highest APR allowed in Kansas at 43% on a $500, six-month loan and 38% 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: Supervised Loan license (Kan. Stat. Ann. § 16a-2-301).
Before January 1, 2025 Kansas allowed 36% only on the first $860 and 21% above that (2024 Kan. Laws ch. 6). Open-end credit may carry any agreed rate. Payday loans are governed separately by § 16a-2-404.
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: Kan. Stat. Ann. § 16a-2-401; Kan. Stat. Ann. § 16a-2-301; OSBC Applications/Forms (Supervised Loan license); NCLC, Predatory Installment Lending in the States (2025), maps 1 and 2 and Appendix C.
How many Kansas borrowers are behind
10.74% of credit card balances in Kansas were seriously delinquent (90+ days) at the end of 2025. That is 1.6 points below the national rate of 12.36%, placing Kansas 31st of 51 for card delinquency (1st is the highest). The rate rose 0.9 points in the past year, from 9.87% in 2024. In 2019 the share was 6.42%.
Auto loan delinquency in Kansas stood at 4.04% (US 5.18%), and student loan delinquency at 9.97% (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 .
Kansas next to its neighbors
Among the 7 West North Central states, Kansas has the 3rd highest card debt per adult.
- Minnesota: $3,990 per adult, 8.55% 90+ days late
- North Dakota: $3,970 per adult, 9.02% 90+ days late
- Kansas: $3,670 per adult, 10.74% 90+ days late
- Nebraska: $3,650 per adult, 9.75% 90+ days late
- Missouri: $3,550 per adult, 11.35% 90+ days late
- South Dakota: $3,530 per adult, 9.14% 90+ days late
- Iowa: $3,250 per adult, 10.26% 90+ days late
Ten years of card debt in Kansas
Card debt per adult in Kansas has changed +46.8% since 2015 and +3.7% in the last year alone (US +4.1%).
| Year | KS | US |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $2,500 | $2,800 |
| 2019 | $2,930 | $3,390 |
| 2020 | $2,610 | $2,970 |
| 2024 | $3,540 | $4,180 |
| 2025 | $3,670 | $4,350 |
What consolidating could save at KS numbers
Take the Kansas average of $3,670 and pay it off in 36 months. At a 24% card APR the payment is about $144 a month and the interest about $1,513. With a 12% consolidation loan the payment drops to about $122 and the interest to about $718, a difference of $795.
People who carry a balance usually owe more than the per-adult average. On $9,000 the same comparison is $3,711 of card interest against $1,761 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 Kansas
- 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 Kansas
Non-bank consumer lenders in Kansas are licensed by the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner (OSBC). Before you accept an offer, look up the lender's license. To report a problem, contact the Kansas Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division or file with the CFPB. Never pay upfront fees for debt relief.
Kansas debt consolidation FAQ
How much credit card debt does the average person in Kansas have?
$3,670 per adult with a credit file at the end of 2025, according to New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax data. That is 16% below the US figure of $4,350 and ranks 35th of 51. The figure includes people with no card balance, so people who do carry a balance typically owe more.
Are more people in Kansas falling behind on credit cards?
10.74% of card balances in Kansas were 90 or more days past due in 2025, compared with 6.42% in 2019 (up 4.3 points). The national rate was 12.36%.
Can a consolidation loan lower what borrowers in Kansas pay in interest?
It can if the loan APR is well below your card APRs. On a $3,670 balance paid off over 36 months, a 24% card APR costs about $1,513 in interest and a 12% loan about $718. 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 Kansas?
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.