Credit card figures for the United Kingdom, from the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority and StepChange.
The effective interest rate on credit card loans to individuals was 21.71 per cent in the United Kingdom in September 2026.
Source: Monthly average of UK resident banks' sterling weighted average interest rate - credit card loans to Individuals and individual trusts (in percent) not seasonally adjusted, Bank of England, September 2026
Not seasonally adjusted. The Bank release describes this as the rate on interest-charging credit cards.
The average quoted interest rate on representative credit card lending was 24.71 per cent in the United Kingdom in September 2026.
Source: Monthly interest rate of UK monetary financial institutions (excl. Central Bank) sterling representative credit card lending to households (in percent) not seasonally adjusted, Bank of England, September 2026
Not seasonally adjusted. Monthly average of advertised (quoted) rates; the Bank states the advertised rates come from an independent service (Moneyfacts), weighted by lender volumes.
The 12-month growth rate of credit card lending to individuals was 13.1 per cent in the United Kingdom in September 2026.
Source: Monthly 12 month growth rate of total sterling net credit card lending to individuals (in percent) seasonally adjusted, Bank of England, September 2026
Seasonally adjusted.
In 2024, 65 per cent of adults in the United Kingdom held a credit card (now or in the previous 12 months).
Source: Financial Lives 2024 survey: Annex A (Product holdings), Financial Conduct Authority, 2024
Survey estimate, base all UK adults; fieldwork 5 February to 16 June 2024
In 2024, 19 per cent of adults in the United Kingdom revolved a balance on a credit card (now or in the previous 12 months).
Source: Financial Lives 2024 survey: Annex A (Product holdings), Financial Conduct Authority, 2024
Survey estimate, base all UK adults; fieldwork 5 February to 16 June 2024
In 2024, 5 per cent of adults in the United Kingdom had paid more in interest, fees and charges than they had paid off on their credit cards over the previous 12 to 18 months.
Source: Financial Lives 2024 survey: Credit & loans, underlying data for charts, Financial Conduct Authority, 2024
Survey estimate, base all UK adults; persistent credit card debt as defined by the publisher; fieldwork 5 February to 16 June 2024
Among new clients completing first-time debt advice at StepChange, 74% had credit card debt at the time of advice in September 2026.
Source: Monthly Client Data Report: September 2026, StepChange, September 2026
Monthly Client Data Report, September 2026 edition (published October 2026); clients who first received debt advice in the month; the report presents rounded whole numbers and says percentages may not add to 100%.
The net percentage balance of lenders reporting a change in the default rate on credit card loans to households over the past three months was 25.7 in the third quarter of 2026.
Source: Credit Conditions Survey - 2026 Q3, Unsecured lending results, Bank of England, Q3 2026
Net percentage balance of lenders, weighted by market share; the Bank states a positive balance means lenders reported availability, demand or defaults higher (or terms cheaper or looser) than over the previous three months. Answers are for the past three months.
The net percentage balance of lenders reporting a change in demand for credit card lending from households over the past three months was -3.6 in the third quarter of 2026.
Source: Credit Conditions Survey - 2026 Q3, Unsecured lending results, Bank of England, Q3 2026
Net percentage balance of lenders, weighted by market share; the Bank states a positive balance means lenders reported availability, demand or defaults higher (or terms cheaper or looser) than over the previous three months. Answers are for the past three months.
The amount outstanding of credit card lending to individuals was £83,708 million in the United Kingdom at the end of September 2026.
Source: Monthly amounts outstanding of total sterling net credit card lending to individuals (in sterling millions) seasonally adjusted, Bank of England, September 2026
Seasonally adjusted.
Gross credit card lending to individuals was £27,679 million in the United Kingdom in September 2026.
Source: Monthly amount of total sterling credit card gross lending to individuals (in sterling millions) seasonally adjusted, Bank of England, September 2026
Seasonally adjusted.
Net credit card lending to individuals was £668 million in the United Kingdom in September 2026.
Source: Monthly changes of total sterling net credit card lending to individuals (in sterling millions) seasonally adjusted, Bank of England, September 2026
Seasonally adjusted.
UK resident monetary financial institutions wrote off £376 million of sterling credit card lending to individuals in the second quarter of 2026.
Source: Quarterly amounts UK resident monetary financial institutions' sterling write-offs of credit card lending to individuals (in sterling millions) not seasonally adjusted, Bank of England, Q2 2026
Not seasonally adjusted. Sterling write-offs by UK resident monetary financial institutions (excluding the central bank); quarterly figure.
In 2024, an estimated 35,322,576 adults in the United Kingdom held a credit card (now or in the previous 12 months).
Source: Financial Lives 2024 survey: Annex A (Product holdings), Financial Conduct Authority, 2024
Gross weighted estimate of UK adults; fieldwork 5 February to 16 June 2024
In 2024, an estimated 10,130,219 adults in the United Kingdom revolved a balance on a credit card (now or in the previous 12 months).
Source: Financial Lives 2024 survey: Annex A (Product holdings), Financial Conduct Authority, 2024
Gross weighted estimate of UK adults; fieldwork 5 February to 16 June 2024
Firms opened 219,131 complaints about credit cards in the United Kingdom in the first half of 2026.
Source: Aggregate complaints data 2026 H1, Financial Conduct Authority, H1 2026
Complaints reported to the regulator by regulated firms; H1 is 1 January to 30 June; excludes complaints against firms authorised only for consumer credit.
The average amount of credit card debt among new clients completing first-time debt advice at StepChange was £8,021 in 2025.
Source: Statistics Yearbook 2025 data sheet, StepChange, 2025
Statistics Yearbook 2025 data sheet; calendar year; clients' first fully completed debt advice session.
The effective interest rate on credit card loans to individuals was 19.55 per cent in the United Kingdom in December 2022.
Source: Monthly average of UK resident banks' sterling weighted average interest rate - credit card loans to Individuals and individual trusts (in percent) not seasonally adjusted, Bank of England, December 2022
Not seasonally adjusted. The Bank release describes this as the rate on interest-charging credit cards.
The effective interest rate on credit card loans to individuals was 18.35 per cent in the United Kingdom in December 2019.
Source: Monthly average of UK resident banks' sterling weighted average interest rate - credit card loans to Individuals and individual trusts (in percent) not seasonally adjusted, Bank of England, December 2019
Not seasonally adjusted. The Bank release describes this as the rate on interest-charging credit cards.
The effective interest rate on credit card loans to individuals was 21.71 per cent in the United Kingdom in September 2026. The average quoted interest rate on representative credit card lending was 24.71 per cent in the United Kingdom in September 2026. The 12-month growth rate of credit card lending to individuals was 13.1 per cent in the United Kingdom in September 2026.
The effective interest rate on credit card loans to individuals was 21.71 per cent in the United Kingdom in September 2026.
The average quoted interest rate on representative credit card lending was 24.71 per cent in the United Kingdom in September 2026.
The 12-month growth rate of credit card lending to individuals was 13.1 per cent in the United Kingdom in September 2026.