Montana · Mountain
Debt consolidation in Montana
Only 9.78% of card balances in Montana are seriously late, one of the lowest rates of 51. Borrowers in good standing can shop harder for a low rate.
- $3,850
- card debt per adult, 31st of 51
- 9.78%
- of card balances 90+ days late (US 12.36%)
- +25.8%
- card debt growth since 2019 (US +28.3%)
What Montana households owe
Card balances per adult are up 25.8% since 2019, slower than the national +28.3% (29th fastest of 51). Balances fell from $3,060 in 2019 to $2,740 in 2020, when spending dropped and stimulus paid down cards, then climbed back to $3,850 by 2025.
Card debt is the most expensive balance most households carry, which is why it is usually the first target for consolidation. In Montana, cards, auto loans and student loans add up to $13,230 per adult, 14% below the national $15,470.
| Type | MT | US | MT change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | $3,850 | $4,350 | +3.8% |
| Auto loans | $4,990 | $5,660 | +0.8% |
| Student loans | $4,390 | $5,460 | -1.8% |
| Mortgages | $40,740 | $44,300 | +2.4% |
| All household debt | $58,390 | $63,200 | +2.5% |
Personal loan rules in Montana
Montana caps consumer loans at 36% a year in interest, and anyone in the business of making consumer loans must be licensed under the Montana Consumer Loan Act.
- All consumer loans by Consumer Loan Act licensees: 36% per year interest; only limited deferral and late fees allowed on top (Mont. Code Ann. § 32-5-301(1))
The National Consumer Law Center puts the highest APR allowed in Montana 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?, NCLC, December 2025 (Maps 1 and 2)).
Non-bank lenders need a state license to make these loans. License: Consumer loan license (Montana Consumer Loan Act) (Mont. Code Ann. § 32-5-103).
Loans made in violation of the license requirement by an unlicensed, non-exempt person are void and the lender may not collect principal or interest (§ 32-5-103(4)).
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: Mont. Code Ann. § 32-5-301; Mont. Code Ann. § 32-5-103; NCLC, Predatory Installment Lending in the States (2025), full report PDF (Maps 1 and 2, Appendix C).
Using good standing to get a lower rate
With delinquency in Montana at 9.78% against 12.36% nationally, many borrowers here have the payment history lenders reward. Compare at least three offers on APR, origination fee and term rather than monthly payment alone, and check whether a 0% balance transfer would clear your balance before the promo ends. How to compare loan offers.
What consolidating could save at MT numbers
Take the Montana average of $3,850 and pay it off in 36 months. At a 24% card APR the payment is about $151 a month and the interest about $1,588. With a 12% consolidation loan the payment drops to about $128 and the interest to about $754, a difference of $834.
People who carry a balance usually owe more than the per-adult average. On $9,500 the same comparison is $3,918 of card interest against $1,859 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 Montana
- 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.
Montana next to its neighbors
Among the 8 Mountain states, Montana has the 7th highest card debt per adult.
- Nevada: $5,060 per adult, 16.28% 90+ days late
- Colorado: $4,910 per adult, 11.06% 90+ days late
- Arizona: $4,530 per adult, 13.67% 90+ days late
- Utah: $4,260 per adult, 9.45% 90+ days late
- Wyoming: $3,990 per adult, 10.54% 90+ days late
- Idaho: $3,870 per adult, 9.52% 90+ days late
- Montana: $3,850 per adult, 9.78% 90+ days late
- New Mexico: $3,520 per adult, 11.9% 90+ days late
How many Montana borrowers are behind
9.78% of credit card balances in Montana were seriously delinquent (90+ days) at the end of 2025. That is 2.6 points below the national rate of 12.36%, placing Montana 41st of 51 for card delinquency (1st is the highest). The rate rose 1.1 points in the past year, from 8.68% in 2024. In 2019 the share was 7.05%.
Auto loan delinquency in Montana stood at 4.02% (US 5.18%), and student loan delinquency at 9.89% (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 Montana
Non-bank consumer lenders in Montana are licensed by the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Before you accept an offer, look up the lender's license. To report a problem, contact the Montana Department of Justice, Office of Consumer Protection or file with the CFPB. Never pay upfront fees for debt relief.
Montana debt consolidation FAQ
How much credit card debt does the average person in Montana have?
$3,850 per adult with a credit file at the end of 2025, according to New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax data. That is 11% below the US figure of $4,350 and ranks 31st of 51. The figure includes people with no card balance, so people who do carry a balance typically owe more.
Are more people in Montana falling behind on credit cards?
9.78% of card balances in Montana were 90 or more days past due in 2025, compared with 7.05% in 2019 (up 2.7 points). The national rate was 12.36%.
Can a consolidation loan lower what borrowers in Montana pay in interest?
It can if the loan APR is well below your card APRs. On a $3,850 balance paid off over 36 months, a 24% card APR costs about $1,588 in interest and a 12% loan about $754. Rates depend on your credit and the lender, loans are not available in every state, and fees can shrink the savings.
What rate can a borrower in good standing in Montana expect?
Rates depend mostly on your score, income and debt-to-income ratio, and state rules can cap what lenders charge. Borrowers with strong credit are offered the lowest APRs, so compare several lenders and look at the fee as well as the rate.
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.