Pennsylvania · Middle Atlantic
Debt consolidation in Pennsylvania
Adults in Pennsylvania with a credit file carry $3,950 in credit card debt on average, 9% below the national $4,350. 12.34% of those balances are 90 or more days past due.
- $3,950
- card debt per adult, 29th of 51
- 12.34%
- of card balances 90+ days late (US 12.36%)
- +21.2%
- card debt growth since 2019 (US +28.3%)
What Pennsylvania households owe
Card balances per adult are up 21.2% since 2019, slower than the national +28.3% (45th fastest of 51). Balances fell from $3,260 in 2019 to $2,890 in 2020, when spending dropped and stimulus paid down cards, then climbed back to $3,950 by 2025.
Card debt is the most expensive balance most households carry, which is why it is usually the first target for consolidation. In Pennsylvania, cards, auto loans and student loans add up to $15,250 per adult, about the same as the national $15,470.
| Type | PA | US | PA change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | $3,950 | $4,350 | +2.6% |
| Auto loans | $4,850 | $5,660 | -0.8% |
| Student loans | $6,450 | $5,460 | -0.9% |
| Mortgages | $31,540 | $44,300 | +2.2% |
| All household debt | $50,360 | $63,200 | +1.7% |
Personal loan rules in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania limits most loans of $50,000 or less to 6% a year unless the lender is licensed. Licensed consumer discount companies can make loans of $25,000 or less using a set discount rate plus a capped service charge, which NCLC puts at about 24% to 27% APR.
- Loans of $50,000 or less by unlicensed lenders (excludes unsecured loans over $35,000): 6% per year (41 P.S. § 201)
- Consumer discount company loans of $25,000 or less: Interest or discount of $9.50 per $100 per year for the first 48 months ($6 per $100 per year after), plus a service charge of $1.50 per $50 (max $150) (7 P.S. § 6213 (Consumer Discount Company Act))
The National Consumer Law Center puts the highest APR allowed in Pennsylvania at 27% on a $500, six-month loan and 24% 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: Consumer Discount Company license, issued by the PA Department of Banking and Securities (7 P.S. § 6203).
The Consumer Discount Company Act states its limits as dollar charges, not an APR. The APR equivalents shown are NCLC's calculations.
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: 7 P.S. § 6213; 7 P.S. § 6203; 41 P.S. § 201; NCLC, State APR Caps for $500, $2,000 and $10,000 Installment Loans, December 2025.
How many Pennsylvania borrowers are behind
12.34% of credit card balances in Pennsylvania were seriously delinquent (90+ days) at the end of 2025. That is 0.0 points below the national rate of 12.36%, placing Pennsylvania 15th of 51 for card delinquency (1st is the highest). The rate rose 0.9 points in the past year, from 11.4% in 2024. In 2019 the share was 7.98%.
Auto loan delinquency in Pennsylvania stood at 4.79% (US 5.18%), and student loan delinquency at 7.75% (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 .
Pennsylvania next to its neighbors
Among the 3 Middle Atlantic states, Pennsylvania has the lowest card debt per adult.
- New Jersey: $5,160 per adult, 11.41% 90+ days late
- New York: $4,820 per adult, 12.91% 90+ days late
- Pennsylvania: $3,950 per adult, 12.34% 90+ days late
Ten years of card debt in Pennsylvania
Card debt per adult in Pennsylvania has changed +41.6% since 2015 and +2.6% in the last year alone (US +4.1%).
| Year | PA | US |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $2,790 | $2,800 |
| 2019 | $3,260 | $3,390 |
| 2020 | $2,890 | $2,970 |
| 2024 | $3,850 | $4,180 |
| 2025 | $3,950 | $4,350 |
What consolidating could save at PA numbers
Take the Pennsylvania average of $3,950 and pay it off in 36 months. At a 24% card APR the payment is about $155 a month and the interest about $1,629. With a 12% consolidation loan the payment drops to about $131 and the interest to about $773, a difference of $856.
People who carry a balance usually owe more than the per-adult average. On $10,000 the same comparison is $4,124 of card interest against $1,957 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 Pennsylvania
- 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 Pennsylvania
Non-bank consumer lenders in Pennsylvania are licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS). Before you accept an offer, look up the lender's license. To report a problem, contact the Pennsylvania Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection or file with the CFPB. Never pay upfront fees for debt relief.
Pennsylvania debt consolidation FAQ
How much credit card debt does the average person in Pennsylvania have?
$3,950 per adult with a credit file at the end of 2025, according to New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax data. That is 9% below the US figure of $4,350 and ranks 29th of 51. The figure includes people with no card balance, so people who do carry a balance typically owe more.
Are more people in Pennsylvania falling behind on credit cards?
12.34% of card balances in Pennsylvania were 90 or more days past due in 2025, compared with 7.98% in 2019 (up 4.4 points). The national rate was 12.36%.
Can a consolidation loan lower what borrowers in Pennsylvania pay in interest?
It can if the loan APR is well below your card APRs. On a $3,950 balance paid off over 36 months, a 24% card APR costs about $1,629 in interest and a 12% loan about $773. 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 Pennsylvania?
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.