FICO says UK credit card balances hit record £1,980 in July for second month

• FICO’s July 2026 UK card report showed average credit card spending fell 2% month-on-month to GBP 815.
• Average active balances rose 0.4% to a record GBP 1,980, up 4.7% year-on-year despite softer spending.
• Repayment momentum improved as the share of balance paid increased 0.9% to 33.6%, still 3.6% lower year-on-year.
• Arrears worsened as one-payment misses climbed 11.5% month-on-month to 1.5%; three-payment misses rose 9.6% to 0.2%.
• New FCA BNPL affordability checks from July 15 could push rejected BNPL demand onto cards, adding upward pressure on balances.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Fair Isaac Corporation published the original content used to generate this news brief via Business Wire (Ref. ID: 202609210400BIZWIRE_USPR_____20260921_BW393022) on September 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.