Wisconsin · East North Central
Debt consolidation in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has some of the lowest card debt in the country: $3,400 per adult, 46th of 51. Smaller balances change which consolidation option makes sense.
- $3,400
- card debt per adult, 46th of 51
- 8.03%
- of card balances 90+ days late (US 12.36%)
- +22.7%
- card debt growth since 2019 (US +28.3%)
Wisconsin balances next to the US
Card balances per adult are up 22.7% since 2019, slower than the national +28.3% (41st fastest of 51). Balances fell from $2,770 in 2019 to $2,450 in 2020, when spending dropped and stimulus paid down cards, then climbed back to $3,400 by 2025.
Lower card debt does not mean lower rates. A $3,400 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 Wisconsin, cards, auto loans and student loans add up to $12,560 per adult, 19% below the national $15,470.
| Type | WI | US | WI change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | $3,400 | $4,350 | +4.0% |
| Auto loans | $4,560 | $5,660 | -0.2% |
| Student loans | $4,600 | $5,460 | -3.0% |
| Mortgages | $33,260 | $44,300 | +2.6% |
| All household debt | $49,210 | $63,200 | +2.4% |
Personal loan rules in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has no interest rate cap for licensed consumer lenders, so the main limit is that loan terms cannot be unconscionable. Lenders charging more than 18% a year need a state license.
- Loans by licensed lenders under s. 138.09: No maximum interest rate (loans made after Oct. 31, 1984); unconscionability rule still applies (Wis. Stat. § 138.09(7)(bp))
The National Consumer Law Center puts the highest APR allowed in Wisconsin at no cap on a $500, six-month loan and no cap 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).
Non-bank lenders need a state license to make these loans. License: Licensed lender (loan company) license, required to charge more than 18% a year (Wis. Stat. § 138.09(1m)(a)).
No cap for either NCLC sample loan; NCLC classes Wisconsin as 'no cap other than unconscionability' (citing Wis. Stat. § 138.09(7)(bp), (k)). Loans are also covered by the Wisconsin Consumer Act (Wis. Stat. chs. 421 to 427).
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: Wis. Stat. § 138.09(7)(bp); Wisconsin DFI, Loan Companies; NCLC, Predatory Installment Lending in the States (Dec. 2025), Maps 1 and 2 and Appendix C.
Your options in Wisconsin
- 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 WI numbers
Take the Wisconsin average of $3,400 and pay it off in 36 months. At a 24% card APR the payment is about $133 a month and the interest about $1,402. With a 12% consolidation loan the payment drops to about $113 and the interest to about $665, a difference of $737.
People who carry a balance usually owe more than the per-adult average. On $8,500 the same comparison is $3,505 of card interest against $1,664 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.
Wisconsin next to its neighbors
Among the 5 East North Central states, Wisconsin has the lowest card debt per adult.
How many Wisconsin borrowers are behind
8.03% of credit card balances in Wisconsin were seriously delinquent (90+ days) at the end of 2025. That is 4.3 points below the national rate of 12.36%, placing Wisconsin 51st of 51 for card delinquency (1st is the highest). The rate rose 0.4 points in the past year, from 7.62% in 2024. In 2019 the share was 5.47%.
Auto loan delinquency in Wisconsin stood at 3.64% (US 5.18%), and student loan delinquency at 4.33% (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 Wisconsin
Non-bank consumer lenders in Wisconsin are licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Before you accept an offer, look up the lender's license. To report a problem, contact the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection or file with the CFPB. Never pay upfront fees for debt relief.
Wisconsin debt consolidation FAQ
How much credit card debt does the average person in Wisconsin have?
$3,400 per adult with a credit file at the end of 2025, according to New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax data. That is 22% below the US figure of $4,350 and ranks 46th of 51. The figure includes people with no card balance, so people who do carry a balance typically owe more.
Are more people in Wisconsin falling behind on credit cards?
8.03% of card balances in Wisconsin were 90 or more days past due in 2025, compared with 5.47% in 2019 (up 2.6 points). The national rate was 12.36%.
Can a consolidation loan lower what borrowers in Wisconsin pay in interest?
It can if the loan APR is well below your card APRs. On a $3,400 balance paid off over 36 months, a 24% card APR costs about $1,402 in interest and a 12% loan about $665. 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 Wisconsin 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.