Delinquencies

Household debt is higher than ever, and delinquencies in credit cards and unsecured personal loans are edging upward. Bruce Van Saun, chairman and CEO of Citizens Financial, shares his views on the market and the business opportunities there.

About 175 million Americans now have access to a credit card, and the delinquency rate has gone up along with that, but an expert at TransUnion, which issued the data Tuesday, said the underlying metrics suggest there is no cause for alarm — yet.

Late-payment rates at banks declined in nine out of the 11 consumer loan categories tracked by the American Bankers Association, including credit cards, auto loans and personal loans.

While some key indicators dropped in the year ending Dec. 31, 2017, credit unions in many states continue to thrive, with several new states jumping to the head of the pack for various growth measurements.

Credit unions saw strong gains in membership, loans and more in 2017, though the industry continued to shrink, with 200 fewer credit unions in operation than at the end of 2016.

On top of a banner year for lending, delinquency rates in the state are at historic lows.

The Stamford, Conn.-based credit card issuer saw improvement in late payments by its customers, but the pace of loan growth also slowed during the fourth quarter.

The late-payment rate on loans frequently used to consolidate credit card debt hit its highest level in more than four years.

Fannie Mae's serious delinquency rate climbed to a high not seen since March 2017, but remained lower than it was 12 months prior.

The long-running slide in mortgage payments 60 or more days past due will continue next year, and perhaps even longer as borrowers benefit from favorable economic conditions.