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Argentina’s Household Loan Delinquency Hits Record 8.8%, Driven by Consumer Credit

Expanding non‑bank lending paired with stricter bank terms is reviving calls for debt relief.

Overview

  • The Central Bank reports household loan past‑due rates reached 8.8% in November 2025, versus 2.3% for companies, with overall private‑sector irregularity at 5.2%.
  • The deterioration is centered on credit cards and personal loans used for everyday expenses rather than on mortgages or long‑term financing.
  • Non‑bank credit expanded sharply in 2025, with fintech clients owing an average ARS 985,000 in July, 6.2 million individual debtors, and a 25% rise in personal loans.
  • Outside the banking system, delinquency is much higher, with a 22.8% irregularity rate estimated for December 2025 and this segment now near one quarter of consumer credit.
  • Banks tightened household lending standards in late 2025 as risk rose, with provisions covering 97% of irregular loans, and editorials urging Brazil’s Desenrola‑style debt renegotiations.