Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Argentina’s Household Loan Delinquency Hits 16-Year High as Non‑Bank Defaults Surge

Fresh official data point to a credit boom that is losing steam because households are struggling to service debt.

Overview

  • The central bank reports overall private‑sector irregularity at 5.5% in December 2025, up from 1.5% a year earlier after a sharp second‑half deterioration.
  • Household delinquency reached 9.3%, a series high, led by consumer lines: personal loans near 12%, credit cards 9.3%, prenda 5.8% and mortgages about 1.2%.
  • Risk diverges by channel, with non‑bank lenders at roughly 24.6% irregularity versus 11.1% in banks, and smaller loans showing around 20.4% delinquency.
  • Banco Provincia’s CENDEU notes more than 2 million loans fell into arrears in 2025 and estimates about one in four debtors has some payment irregularity.
  • Two million people took new credit in 2025 as banks shifted toward private lending, which rose to 43.9% of assets while public financing fell to 27.8%, and lenders have since tightened lines and boosted provisions.