---
title: "Consumer Trends: What Personal Loans Look Like Today"
description: What does personal loan usage look like among your customer segments or within your footprint?
image: https://info-profiles.kantar.com/hubfs/FSG_Loans.jpg
---

- <https://www.facebook.com/LightspeedGMI>
- <https://twitter.com/LightspeedGMI>
- <https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-gmi>
- [mailto:info@gmi-mr.com](mailto:info@gmi-mr.com)

[![Kantar-Logo-Small-Use-Black](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logos/Kantar-Logo-Small-Use-Black.png?width=119&name=Kantar-Logo-Small-Use-Black.png)](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com)

- [Home](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/)
- [Sample Audiences](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/sample-audiences/) 
    - [Quality Suite](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/sample-audiences/quality-suite/)
    - [Panel Profiling](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/sample-audiences/panel-profiling/)
    - [B2B Panels](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/sample-audiences/business-to-business-panels/)
    - [Custom Panels](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/sample-audiences/custom-panels/)
    - [Millennial Panel](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/sample-audiences/vice-voices/)
- [Research Solutions](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/research-solutions/) 
    - [Quick Turn Surveys](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/research-solutions/lightspeed-quick-turn-surveys/)
    - [Survey Design](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/research-solutions/survey-design/)
    - [Tracking Research Design](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/research-solutions/tracking-research-design/)
    - [Integrated Technology Solutions](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/research-solutions/integrated-technology-solutions/)
    - [Data Processing](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/research-solutions/data-processing/)
    - [Ad Tracker](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/research-solutions/ad-tracker/)
    - [Survey Programming](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/research-solutions/ad-tracker/)
    - [Sample Only Services](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/research-solutions/sample-only-services/)
- [Data Services](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/data-services) 
    - [Data Appends](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/data-services/data-appends/)
- [Mobile](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/mobile/) 
    - [Mobile Solutions](http://http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/mobile/)
- [Resource Center](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/resource-center/) 
    - [Events](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/resource-center/events/)
    - [Demos](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/resource-center/demos/)
    - [Case Studies](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/resource-center/case-studies/)
    - [Blog](https://blog.lightspeedresearch.com/)
    - [General Inquiries](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/contact-us/general-inquiries/)
- [About Us](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/about-us/) 
    - [Leadership Team](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/about-us/leadership-team/)
    - [Press Releases](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/about-us/news-press-releases/)
    - [Why Lightspeed](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/about-us/why-lightspeed/)
    - [Careers](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/about-us/careers/)
    - [Regions](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/about-us/regions/)
    - [Awards](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/awards/)
    - [Contact Us](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/contact-us/)

# Kantar's Profiles Blog

# Consumer Trends: What Personal Loans Look Like Today

Posted by [Rebecca Koppie](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/author/rebecca-koppie) on Sep 13, 2017

![](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/hubfs/rebecca.jpg)

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

What does personal loan usage look like among your customer segments or within your footprint? In the latest [Lightspeed Financial Services Group](http://www.lightspeedfsg.com/) post, we look at consumer trends across secured and unsecured loans. 

As of Q4 2016, 7% of U.S. consumers have an unsecured personal loan, according to Lightspeed’s tracking panel. 12% of consumers with risk scores below 660 or between 660 and 719 have personal loans; ownership is lower among those with scores of 720 and up (just 4%).

The average personal loan balance is $8,611. Loan balances average $6,220 for those with risk scores under 660, while they average over $10,000 for those with higher risk scores.

Over the past several years, unsecured personal loan ownership has increased from 4.7% to 7.1% overall (blue line). While all risk score segments have seen an uptick in owning personal loans, the increase is far more pronounced among those with scores under 660 and between 660 and 719 – both have seen an increase of about five percentage points between Q4 of 2011 and Q4 of 2016.

**Trend in unsecured personal loan ownership**

 ![PersonalLoans_Image1.png](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PersonalLoans_Image1.png?width=666&height=315&name=PersonalLoans_Image1.png)

While personal loan ownership is trending up, average loan balances have also increased over time.

Consumers with scores in the 660-719 range have the highest observed increase in loan balances with a 40% jump between Q4 2011 and Q4 2016.

**Trend in unsecured personal loan balances**

**![PersonalLoans_Image2.png](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PersonalLoans_Image2.png?width=739&height=335&name=PersonalLoans_Image2.png)**

[![Contact Lightspeed FSG for more information. ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/641505/685fa533-1890-4b65-953b-bc765fd659a4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/641505/685fa533-1890-4b65-953b-bc765fd659a4)

 

 Topics: [Data Driven Marketing](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/data-driven-marketing), [Market Research Trends](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/market-research-trends), [Financial Services](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/financial-services)

### Subscribe to Email Updates

### Recent Posts

### Posts by Topic

- [Marketing Research (46)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/marketing-research)
- [Market Research (28)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/market-research)
- [Marketing Research Data (28)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/marketing-research-data)
- [modern surveys (27)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/modern-surveys)
- [Mobile (26)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/mobile)
- [Data Driven Marketing (21)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/data-driven-marketing)
- [Market Research Trends (18)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/market-research-trends)
- [Consumer Insights (17)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/consumer-insights)
- [Online Sampling (15)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/online-sampling)
- [Survey Design (15)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/survey-design)
- [Blog Post (13)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/blog-post)
- [Data Quality (13)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/data-quality)
- [Digital Data Collection (12)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/digital-data-collection)
- [Financial Services (11)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/financial-services)
- [APAC (10)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/apac)
- [Healthcare Research (10)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/healthcare-research)
- [data series (10)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/data-series)
- [Video (9)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/video)
- [Digital Consumer (8)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/digital-consumer)
- [data append (8)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/data-append)
- [marketing research best practices (8)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/marketing-research-best-practices)
- [mobile first (8)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/mobile-first)
- [mobile marketing research (8)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/mobile-marketing-research)
- [Research Quality (7)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/research-quality)
- [marketing research technologies (7)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/marketing-research-technologies)
- [marketing research trends (7)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/marketing-research-trends)
- [thought leadership (7)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/thought-leadership)
- [Ask the Expert (6)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/ask-the-expert)
- [Context (6)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/context)
- [Panels (6)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/panels)
- [Social Media (6)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/social-media)
- [data enrichment (6)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/data-enrichment)
- [Innovation (5)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/innovation)
- [MRX Trends (5)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/mrx-trends)
- [Sourcing (5)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/sourcing)
- [behavioral data (5)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/behavioral-data)
- [Big Data (4)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/big-data)
- [Honesty Detector (4)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/honesty-detector)
- [Lightspeed FSG (4)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/lightspeed-fsg)
- [Millennials (4)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/millennials)
- [Online access panels (4)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/online-access-panels)
- [Privacy (4)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/privacy)
- [Respondent experience (4)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/respondent-experience)
- [media buying (4)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/media-buying)
- [mobile surveys (4)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/mobile-surveys)
- [questionnaire design (4)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/questionnaire-design)
- [Brand Advertisting (3)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/brand-advertisting)
- [Infographics (3)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/infographics)
- [Survey Engagement (3)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/survey-engagement)
- [data search (3)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/data-search)
- [disABILITYincites Partnership (3)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/disabilityincites-partnership)
- [gdpr (3)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/gdpr)
- [qualitative research (3)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/qualitative-research)
- [quant vs. qual (3)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/quant-vs-qual)
- [validation (3)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/validation)
- [Amazon (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/amazon)
- [Communities (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/communities)
- [Customized Advertising (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/customized-advertising)
- [Dynamic Sourcing (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/dynamic-sourcing)
- [Emerging Markets (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/emerging-markets)
- [Emotional Insights (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/emotional-insights)
- [Holidays (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/holidays)
- [Marketing & Insights Event (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/marketing-insights-event)
- [Mobile Advertising (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/mobile-advertising)
- [Mobile Banking (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/mobile-banking)
- [Mobile Purchasing (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/mobile-purchasing)
- [Prediction (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/prediction)
- [Survey Health Score (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/survey-health-score)
- [Survey Length (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/survey-length)
- [Trackers (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/trackers)
- [Voice Technology (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/voice-technology)
- [facial coding (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/facial-coding)
- [minipoll (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/minipoll)
- [online surveys (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/online-surveys)
- [panelist engagement (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/panelist-engagement)
- [research on research (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/research-on-research)
- [smart speaker (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/smart-speaker)
- [visualization (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/visualization)
- [weighting data (2)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/weighting-data)
- [Clients (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/clients)
- [Data Breach (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/data-breach)
- [Device Agnostic (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/device-agnostic)
- [Ecommerce (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/ecommerce)
- [Empathetic Questioning (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/empathetic-questioning)
- [Multicultural Research (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/multicultural-research)
- [PCs (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/pcs)
- [Political Profiler (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/political-profiler)
- [Predictive Analytics (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/predictive-analytics)
- [Research Skills (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/research-skills)
- [Science of Prediction (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/science-of-prediction)
- [Talent Management (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/talent-management)
- [US election (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/us-election)
- [audience targeting (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/audience-targeting)
- [eWallets (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/ewallets)
- [emerging talent (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/emerging-talent)
- [esomar (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/esomar)
- [health tech (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/health-tech)
- [location services (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/location-services)
- [nonprobabliity samples (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/nonprobabliity-samples)
- [probability samples (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/probability-samples)
- [social listening (1)](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/topic/social-listening)

see all

© 2018, Lightspeed LLC

- [Site Map](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/site-map/)
- [Privacy Policy](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/privacy-policy/)
- [Terms of Use](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com/terms-of-use/)

[![Lightspeed](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Lightspeed-Sep2016/images/logo_orange_footer.png?width=124&name=logo_orange_footer.png "Lightspeed")](http://www.lightspeedresearch.com)[![](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logos/LightspeedHealth_Footer_Logo_orange_rollover.png?width=200&name=LightspeedHealth_Footer_Logo_orange_rollover.png)](http://www.lightspeed-health.com)[ ![](https://info-profiles.kantar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logos/FSG_Footer_1.png?width=201&name=FSG_Footer_1.png)](http://www.lightspeedfsg.com)