Ohio · East North Central
Debt consolidation in Ohio
Ohio has some of the lowest card debt in the country: $3,560 per adult, 39th of 51. Smaller balances change which consolidation option makes sense.
- $3,560
- card debt per adult, 39th of 51
- 11.14%
- of card balances 90+ days late (US 12.36%)
- +23.2%
- card debt growth since 2019 (US +28.3%)
Ohio balances next to the US
Card balances per adult are up 23.2% since 2019, slower than the national +28.3% (39th fastest of 51). Balances fell from $2,890 in 2019 to $2,570 in 2020, when spending dropped and stimulus paid down cards, then climbed back to $3,560 by 2025.
Lower card debt does not mean lower rates. A $3,560 balance at a typical card APR still costs hundreds a year in interest, and a smaller balance is often cheaper to clear with a 0% balance transfer than with a loan that carries an origination fee. In Ohio, cards, auto loans and student loans add up to $14,830 per adult, 4% below the national $15,470.
| Type | OH | US | OH change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | $3,560 | $4,350 | +3.2% |
| Auto loans | $5,410 | $5,660 | +0.4% |
| Student loans | $5,860 | $5,460 | -4.2% |
| Mortgages | $28,700 | $44,300 | +3.3% |
| All household debt | $46,780 | $63,200 | +2.2% |
Personal loan rules in Ohio
Ohio sets different limits by loan type. Installment loans under the Small Loan Act are capped at 28% a year on the first $1,000 and 22% above that, plus small fees, while short-term loans of $1,000 or less allow 28% interest plus a monthly fee of up to $30, which can push the total cost well above 100% APR.
- Small Loan Act loans: 28% per year on the first $1,000 of principal, 22% on the rest, plus an origination charge (greater of $15 or 1% on smaller loans, greater of $30 or 1% on larger loans) (Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.13)
- Short-term loans of $1,000 or less (terms of 91 days to 1 year, with limited exceptions): 28% per year interest plus a monthly maintenance fee of the lesser of 10% of the loan or $30, plus a 2% origination charge on loans of $500 or more (Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1321.39, 1321.40)
The National Consumer Law Center puts the highest APR allowed in Ohio at 145% on a $500, six-month loan and 31% on a $2,000, two-year loan (State Annual Percentage Rate (APR) Caps For $500, $2,000 and $10,000 Installment Loans (NCLC fact sheet, December 2025; figures current as of September 2025)).
Non-bank lenders need a state license to make these loans. License: Small Loan Act license (loans of $5,000 or less) or a Short-Term Loan Act license (Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.02; §§ 1321.35 to 1321.48).
NCLC's 145% figure for a $500 loan reflects the short-term loan fees, not the interest rate alone.
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: Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.13; Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.40; Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.39; Ohio Rev. Code § 1321.02; NCLC, State APR Caps for $500, $2,000 and $10,000 Installment Loans, December 2025.
Your options in Ohio
- 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 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.
What consolidating could save at OH numbers
Take the Ohio average of $3,560 and pay it off in 36 months. At a 24% card APR the payment is about $140 a month and the interest about $1,468. With a 12% consolidation loan the payment drops to about $118 and the interest to about $697, a difference of $771.
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.
Ohio next to its neighbors
Among the 5 East North Central states, Ohio has the 3rd highest card debt per adult.
How many Ohio borrowers are behind
11.14% of credit card balances in Ohio were seriously delinquent (90+ days) at the end of 2025. That is 1.2 points below the national rate of 12.36%, placing Ohio 29th of 51 for card delinquency (1st is the highest). The rate rose 0.8 points in the past year, from 10.37% in 2024. In 2019 the share was 7.42%.
Auto loan delinquency in Ohio stood at 5.34% (US 5.18%), and student loan delinquency at 8.49% (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 Ohio
Non-bank consumer lenders in Ohio are licensed by the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Financial Institutions (DFI). Before you accept an offer, look up the lender's license. To report a problem, contact the Ohio Attorney General, Consumer Protection Section or file with the CFPB. Never pay upfront fees for debt relief.
Ohio debt consolidation FAQ
How much credit card debt does the average person in Ohio have?
$3,560 per adult with a credit file at the end of 2025, according to New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax data. That is 18% below the US figure of $4,350 and ranks 39th of 51. The figure includes people with no card balance, so people who do carry a balance typically owe more.
Are more people in Ohio falling behind on credit cards?
11.14% of card balances in Ohio were 90 or more days past due in 2025, compared with 7.42% in 2019 (up 3.7 points). The national rate was 12.36%.
Can a consolidation loan lower what borrowers in Ohio pay in interest?
It can if the loan APR is well below your card APRs. On a $3,560 balance paid off over 36 months, a 24% card APR costs about $1,468 in interest and a 12% loan about $697. Rates depend on your credit and the lender, loans are not available in every state, and fees can shrink the savings.
Is a balance transfer better than a loan for a smaller Ohio balance?
Often, yes. If you can pay off the balance within a 0% promo period, a transfer fee of a few percent usually costs less than loan interest. A fixed-rate loan is the safer choice if you need longer than the promo period.
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.