Money Management International Credit Debt Volume Hits Multi-Year High

Money Management International is managing more than $1 billion in client debt through September 2026, marking the highest volume for the Stafford, Texas-based nonprofit credit counseling agency since 2013. As everyday living expenses continue to strain household budgets, Americans are leaning harder on credit while younger demographics seek professional intervention.

Debt Management Plan Enrollment Reaches Multi-Year Highs

Enrollment in debt management plans surpassed 2,500 new plans in September 2026 alone, marking the highest single-month total since March 2011. Total active repayment plans exceeded 60,000 during the same period, reaching a level not seen since 2017. Ted Rossman, Principal Consumer Finance Analyst at Money Management International, pointed directly to post-pandemic economic pressures as the primary catalyst for the surge.

The story behind the numbers is all about the rising cost of living, Rossman said, noting that average prices have risen 30% since the pandemic while wage growth has frequently lagged behind.

Average unsecured debt among clients reached $40,200 year-to-date through September 2026, representing a 4.8 percent increase from the $38,300 recorded during the same period in 2025. Overall counseling volume rose 9.5 percent year-over-year. Financial health indicators also point to worsening delinquency trends. Information provided by the agency shows that 25 percent of clients possessed at least one charged-off unsecured debt in 2026, marking an increase from 20 percent in 2020. Over that same six-year span, the average collection balance climbed 38 percent to $11,200.

Personal Loan Exposure and Generational Shifts

For new clients in 2026, personal loan exposure reached 46 percent—rising from 42 percent in 2025 and sitting 13 points higher than the 35 percent reported back in 2020. The average personal loan balance among those individuals rose 11.5 percent year-over-year to $19,300.

Many clients have used personal loans for debt consolidation, but paying off debt with more debt is risky, Rossman said. You can end up with more debt than before if you accumulate new credit card debt before the old debt, now in the form of a personal loan, is paid off.

Gen Z represents the agency’s fastest-growing client segment, posting a 31 percent increase year-over-year. While their average unsecured debt of $20,200 remains the lowest among all generations in the client base, it represents a 10.5 percent increase from 2025. Younger consumers are also discovering counseling services through unconventional digital pathways, with clients arriving via AI-generated search tools—primarily ChatGPT—surging 48.8 percent year-over-year.

State-Level Growth and Geographic Disparities

State-level records highlight distinct geographic pockets where financial stress is accelerating rapidly. Among the ten highest-volume states, client growth through September 2026 was fastest in Pennsylvania with a 24 percent increase, followed by Georgia up 17 percent, and Texas up 15 percent.

Average unsecured debt burdens also varied significantly by location. Virginia reached approximately $45,900, marking a 15 percent year-over-year increase, while North Carolina averaged $41,600, reflecting a 10 percent rise.