Credit Card Delinquencies Rise in All 50 States: Vermont Leads, Florida Ranks Fifth

Credit card delinquency increased in every state between the first and second quarters of 2026, according to a WalletHub study. Vermont ranked first for the fastest deterioration.

The report, released November 4, compared proprietary WalletHub user data across all 50 states. Vermont recorded an 8.52% increase in the share of delinquent credit cards, followed by Delaware at 6.95%, Virginia at 6.78%, Utah at 6.73% and Florida at 6.62%.

The findings show that the states experiencing the fastest increases are not necessarily those with the highest delinquency levels. Mississippi, for example, ranked 43rd for its quarterly increase but had the largest share of delinquent cards in the dataset, at 51.61%.

Vermont's delinquent share stood at 21.31% in the second quarter, substantially below Mississippi's despite its faster increase. WalletHub's ranking measures how quickly delinquency worsened, rather than simply where overdue accounts were most prevalent.

The reported increases are percentage changes, not percentage-point jumps. Vermont's 8.52% increase, for instance, does not mean its delinquency share rose by 8.52 percentage points.

WalletHub linked Vermont's difficulties to relatively large credit card debts and continued borrowing. The state also ranked 10th in a separate WalletHub assessment of where consumers were adding the most debt. Growing balances can leave borrowers with less room to manage payments when interest charges accumulate.

Delaware's credit card debt levels were closer to the middle of the national rankings, and balances were growing relatively slowly, according to WalletHub. Nevertheless, 32% of cards in its dataset were delinquent during the second quarter.

The company suggested that broader repayment pressures could help explain Delaware's result, pointing to its second-place ranking for increasing mortgage delinquency. That connection is a possible explanation, rather than proof that mortgage problems caused missed credit card payments.

Virginia's delinquent share reached 28.61%. WalletHub cited the state's relatively high median credit card debt as a potential factor making repayment more difficult. Florida's fifth-place finish came with a delinquent share of 21.38%. Other populous states also recorded increases: California ranked 12th, with delinquency growing 6.02%, while Texas placed 15th at 5.95%. New York ranked 32nd, with a 5.43% increase.

North Dakota, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa and Maine completed the top 10 for the fastest increases. At the other end, Wyoming recorded the smallest increase, at 2.21%, followed by Louisiana at 3.53% and Montana at 3.99%. Those rankings did not necessarily indicate low delinquency. Louisiana's delinquent share was 45.80%, second only to Mississippi, while Alabama's reached 43.79%.

For consumers, missed payments can carry consequences that outlast the immediate cash shortage. "Long-term credit card delinquency can lead to large drops in your credit score, so it's imperative to get your account current as quickly as you can," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said.

Lupo said borrowers who catch up before reaching 30 days past due can avoid having the delinquency reported to credit bureaus. For people already further behind, he identified hardship programs, budgeting adjustments and debt consolidation as possible ways to regain control. Late payments can remain on credit reports for seven years, according to WalletHub.