Texans are landing in the national top 10 for overdue bills, according to a fresh look at first-quarter credit data that spots clusters of late credit-card, auto and student-loan payments across the state.
According to WalletHub, Texas earned an overall delinquency score of 49.37 and ranked 10th nationwide in WalletHub’s Q1 2026 analysis, with 10.54% of individual tradelines showing late payments and 8.93% of loan balances overdue. The ranking combines the share of accounts reported late and the share of dollars overdue into a 0–100 score, where higher means more delinquency. “Being delinquent on debt can lead to fees, credit‑score damage and increased interest rates,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo wrote, underscoring the stakes for people falling behind.
How Texas Stacks Up Against Its Neighbors
As reported by the Austin American‑Statesman, Mississippi topped the latest ranking, with roughly 13.8% of accounts and 13.6% of debt dollars overdue, while Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee also landed among the worst performers. The Statesman noted Texas sits in the middle of the worst 10 rather than at the very bottom of the list, suggesting Texans’ troubles are more regional than universal across the state.
National Debt Trends Behind The Numbers
The broader national picture points to rising strain. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported aggregate delinquency held near 4.8% in Q1 2026, while student‑loan balances 90+ days past due climbed to about 10.3%. Those category‑level jumps, even as total household debt rose only slightly, help explain why certain states, including parts of Texas, are showing higher late‑payment rates than others.
Where Texans Are Feeling The Squeeze
County‑level briefs from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas highlight how uneven the pressure is inside the state. El Paso and Bexar counties are among those reporting large upticks in serious delinquencies for auto and student loans in recent years. The Dallas Fed’s local analyses tie much of that increase to a higher share of nonprime borrowers and concentrated job and earnings shocks in specific communities.
How Texans Can Try To Stay Ahead Of Bills
For residents already behind, a debt guide from WalletHub lays out options such as negotiating hardship plans with lenders, enrolling in debt‑management programs and working with nonprofit credit counselors to reduce the risk of collections or lawsuits. Local social‑service offices and county agencies can also connect residents with low‑cost counseling and emergency assistance programs for some short‑term relief.
