Indiana Tops List for Most Credit Cards Per Person in New Study
Credit cards can feel like magic. With a quick swipe, they make purchases instant, from coffee to vacations. But behind the convenience is a double-edged sword. For some, they bring rewards and freedom. For others, they lead to debt. Each card represents both opportunity and risk, pushing us to consider what it really means to live on borrowed money.
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A new study from MarketWatch Guides reveals that Indiana ranks first in the U.S. for the most credit cards per person.
According to the research, the average Indiana resident holds 4.7 credit cards, higher than the national average of 3.9.
The states with the most credit cards per-person:
| Rank | State | Credit Cards Per Person (Jul-Aug 2023) |
| 1 | Indiana | 4.7 |
| 2 | New Jersey | 4.5 |
| 3 | Florida | 4.3 |
| 4 | Delaware | 4.2 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 4.2 |
This high number of plastic can be a sign of financial stress or a tendency toward overspending. Having multiple cards often makes it easier to accrue debt that becomes difficult to manage. With household debt nationwide rising by $109 billion to reach $17.8 trillion, concerns about debt management have become even more critical.
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The MarketWatch study looked at several factors, including personal and business bankruptcies, FICO and Vantage credit scores, consumer debt levels, and average annual salaries. Indiana’s high number of credit cards per person indicates a potentially risky trend, especially when paired with rising national debt.
