Real Data, Real Risk The latest numbers don’t lie—U.S. household debt surged to $18.04 trillion in Q4 2024, marking a $93 billion increase over the previous quarter. Even more alarming? Credit card balances alone jumped by $45 billion, reaching an all-time high of $1.21 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. And delinquencies? They’re creeping up fast. …
In today’s regulatory tug-of-war, one thing is becoming clear: paying bills shouldn’t be this hard. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is under fire once again—this time for actions that may make it harder, not easier, for Americans to pay what they owe. As rules tighten and payment systems become more fragmented, the finance industry is facing a new dilemma: …
