Rising interest rates on loans, greater borrowing and higher fees on deposit accounts all contributed to the increase. "Altogether, this paints a picture of debt that could really start to strain the checkbooks of American families," said Meghan Greene, a researcher at the nonprofit organization that authored the report.

The credit card company says it could raise interest rates, charge new fees and implement penalty-based pricing if late fees get capped at $8. But its ability to maneuver is constrained by a 14-year-old federal law.

The Simplicity credit card from Citigroup has had staying power, suggesting that a card without late fees can be profitable. Its success shows how the U.S. card market might look different under a controversial CFPB proposal to slash those charges.

Barclays' Peter Gasparro describes Barclays' unique approach

The ill-conceived proposed rule would increase costs for a significant majority of credit card customers.

Credit-card issuers and other lenders are developing financing options focused on managing interest, rewards and credit scores for consumers who face ongoing economic pressures to their budgets.

The product, designed for wealth management customers, is the first in the U.S. to implement Mastercard's Touch Card, which helps people distinguish credit, debit and prepaid cards through a notch on the card's edge.

Balances reached nearly $1 trillion at the end of the first quarter, up 17% from a year earlier. The increase reflects higher spending by well-off consumers on travel and entertainment, as well as the pressure that lower-income households are facing from inflation and higher interest rates.

Delinquency rates in credit cards, auto and personal loans are effectively back to normal after three years of unusually strong credit performance. Industry executives say the current situation is easily manageable, but they do anticipate that key metrics will continue to worsen.