States That Would Benefit Most From Credit Card Interest Rate Declines [2024 Data Study]

Despite increased costs and high interest rates, U.S. households have not been deterred from spending their money. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, consumer spending¹ in the U.S. increased by 24.1% from the first quarter of 2021 to the last quarter of 2023, which, in turn, led to a notable uptick in credit usage.

Total credit card debt² in the U.S. surpassed $1 trillion for the first time in 2022, and throughout that year, card issuers levied over $130 billion in interest and fees. This equates to more than $1,000 in credit card interest and fees per U.S. household. However, variations in consumer credit utilization and their propensity to accrue interest — most commonly by not paying off their bill in full each month — have created disparities among states. Because of this, certain states are experiencing the impact of elevated interest rates more than others.

Credit Card Interest Rate Trends

In 2023, interest rates on credit card accounts skyrocketed to historic levels. Image Credit: Upgraded Points

This past year saw typical credit card interest rates soar to historic levels, which puts even greater pressure on households relying heavily on credit. From the beginning of 2022 to the end of 2023, credit card APRs spiked from 16.6% to 22.8%, their highest level dating back to at least the mid-1990s. For credit card users who do not settle their balances in full each month, these elevated interest rates can lead to a rapid compounding of the total amount owed.

For example, an individual with $10,000 in credit card debt at a 16% rate, opting to make only the minimum monthly payment, could accrue nearly $13,000 in interest by the time the debt is fully paid off. At a 23% rate, that same individual could pay over $18,000 in interest.

States With the Most Adults Who Carry a Credit Card Balance

Unfortunately, carrying a credit card balance from month to month is more common than one might expect, given the high cost of doing so. Nationally, nearly 43% of adults acknowledge occasionally carrying a balance and incurring interest on their credit cards — an audience that stands to gain the most from a reduction in interest rates expected in 2024.

This pattern is notably widespread in regions of the South and West, where substantial proportions of adults admit to not paying their credit card bills in full each month. For instance, In West Virginia and Mississippi, over half of all credit card holders carry balances and accrue interest. Similar patterns persist in Alaska, Arkansas, Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas, where at least 48% of cardholders maintain balances. It’s also common for residents in these states to engage in other costly credit card behaviors, such as only making the minimum monthly payment on their bill, paying their bill late, or using their cards for cash advances.

On the other hand, cardholders in the Northeast, Midwest, and Hawaii are the least likely to accrue credit card interest, given their high propensity to pay their bills off completely (and on time) each month. In Hawaii, fewer than a third of residents carry a credit card balance.

Below is a complete breakdown of all 50 states. The research was conducted by Upgraded Points using the latest data from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). For more details on how the analysis was conducted, refer to the methodology below.

Credit Card Behaviors That Lead to High Fees and Interest

There are significant differences among cardholders in how they use credit and handle their balances. One of the factors that impacts this is financial literacy. According to data from FINRA, credit card holders with below-average financial literacy are 10 percentage points more likely to carry a balance and pay interest than those with above-average financial literacy. They are also nearly twice as likely to only make a minimum monthly payment and more than twice as likely to use their card for a cash advance and to pay their credit card bill late.

Americans with high financial literacy are less likely to incur credit card fees and interest. Image Credit: Upgraded Points

Methodology

Data sources included FINRA’s 2021 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS) and Experian’s 2023 Average FICO Score by State. To determine which states would benefit most from credit card interest rate declines, Upgraded Points calculated the percentage of survey respondents in each state who reported sometimes carrying a credit card balance and subsequently paying interest. In the event of a tie, the state with the higher percentage of respondents who reported sometimes only making the minimum credit card payment was ranked higher. Only survey respondents who hold at least 1 credit card were included.

Final Thoughts

Amid record-high interest rates, costly credit card behaviors like carrying a balance have become even more expensive. These behaviors, which are more common among those with lower levels of financial literacy, vary regionally. In certain states like West Virginia and Mississippi, more than half of credit card holders carry a balance and pay interest. Cardholders in these states will benefit most from future interest rate declines expected for later in 2024.

References

1. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (n.d.). National Income and Product Accounts Tables [Data file]. Retrieved from https://apps.bea.gov/iTable/?reqid=19&step=2&isuri=1&categories=survey#eyJhcHBpZCI6MTksInN0ZXBzIjpbMSwyLDNdLCJkYXRhIjpbWyJjYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwiU3VydmV5Il0sWyJOSVBBX1RhYmxlX0xpc3QiLCI2NSJdXX0=

2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2023). Consumer Credit Card Market Report 2023. Retrieved from https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_consumer-credit-card-market-report_2023.pdf