This adds to the data of the latest Banks report of the Central Bank which reveals that in March the Money increased 2.8% in Credit cards until you touch your maximum level in three years, while, in personal loans, delinquency exceeded 4% and marked his record in nine months.
In this way, a growing trend of Failure to comply with payments. The accumulation of liabilities is more visible in average and low income homesthat They face higher restrictions and rates.
Credit cards, food purchases and default
A report by the Institute of Social and Economic Statistics and Trends (IETSE) highlights that the 58% of credit card debts are explained by the food fieldwhich marks the centrality of basic purchases in the use of credit.
According to the study, in 2025 the 15% of households took new debtswhile 12% already dragged liabilities since 2023 or before. This reflects one constant debt renewalgiven the impossibility of canceling it. Besides, 65% of households contracted between two and three debtshe 23% only oneand the 12% accumulated more than three. This last segment grew 4 points compared to 2024 (from 8% to 12%), which reveals a greater fragmentation and recurrence of credit as a subsistence strategy.
The over -indebtedness not only grows in volume, but also by relative weight on income: the 56% of households allocate between 40% and 60% or more of their monthly income to the payment of debtsa considerable leap compared to 2024.
A matter of rates
One of the factors that explain this process is High credit cost For natural persons. A survey of Scope In first -line banks it reveals that:
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A personal loan in a Public Bank It has a Total Annual Effective Financial Cost (CFTEA) up to 140% for customersand 160% for no customers.
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In a private bankthe CFTEA for a personal loan amounts to 199.35%well above the current inflation rates.
This contrasts with current monetary policy, aimed at lowering inflation and reference rates, indicating that the transmission of financial relief towards homes is not yet concrete and banks show a certain reluctance to adapt the rates specifically in this area.
In addition, the most affected sectors are average incomewhich still do not show a sustained rebound in consumption. According to a show Day 2025, Only 5% of consumption categories grew in lower income homeswhile in those of medium and high level the growth reached the 79% of the categories. This shows a increasingly segmented mass consumption.
Refinancing, discovered and advances: more hidden costs
Another element that is worth taking into account is the cost of refinancing unpaid balances. In two private banks, if the client does not pay Not even the minimum card paymentthey apply Punitoriums with cftea (with VAT) higher than 100%in some cases it manages to go to 90% but remain high costs. This generates a “snowball” effectwith interests that accumulate rapidly and hinder a refinancing plan.
He Use of the discovery It also represents a frequent source of debt. In credit cards, it refers to the case in which exceeds the available limitwhich in some banks is accepted as exception and Penalized with special positions. In current accounts, the discovery implies an automatic credit line, whose Costs usually exceed 40% of ASDaccording to first -line banks. Although useful in specific situations, use without immediate payment can aggravate indebtedness with the entity.
On the other hand, the salary advancesthat several banks offer customers with a salary account, they have very different conditions. While Some entities offer a 0% rateothers apply a Cftea greater than 200%as verified in public and private banks.
Faced with these costs, people began to adjust your credit consumption habits. This is shown by the data of First Capital Groupwhich reported that in May the card operations in pesos grew a 3.4% monthly in nominal termsreaching an accumulated balance of $ 19.3 billion. Interannual comparison marks an increase in 145% nominalbut if inflation is discounted, the growth was barely 1.6% monthly and 70.1% year -on -year in real terms.
Despite the sustained growth, from the consultant they warn that the rhythm begins to show deceleration signs.
“Plastic financing balances also seem to have reached a limit. For them to rebound, the launch of new sales programs in installments promoted by the private sector is expected, since official plans such as ‘Simple quota’ are coming to an end,” said Guillermo Barbero, partner of First Capital Group. “The commercial strategies of digital platforms also gain relevance, which offer limited quotas and discounts to stimulate consumption”he added.
From financial entities they often justify high rates depending on the “cost-benefit” and the risk premium that involves lending to certain client profiles. That risk is transferred through greater interest rates.
In practice, credit remains more accessible to companies with greater payment capacity, while natural persons – especially those of average income – face greater restrictions and costs. In this scenario, the increase in delinquency, the increase in financing and the fragmentation of consumption They reflect a context that still conditions a sustained recovery of economic activity.
Source: Ambito
