Total U.S. household debt increased by $185 billion to hit $18.39 trillion in Q2 2025,1 with the average American household carrying over $105,000 across mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and credit cards.2 But debt itself isn’t inherently negative; lack of debt management education is. Loans are tools that help people build their lives, so it’s critical that people understand how to use them to their advantage.
Unfortunately, most credit union members are navigating debt without the support they need to manage it strategically. In the absence of clear, contextual guidance, they turn to short-term fixes, high-cost credit, or avoidance entirely.
This is especially true for younger generations:
- Gen Z has the highest average personal debt at $94,1013
- Nearly one-third of Americans spend more than $1,000 per month on credit card payments alone
- Nine in 10 Americans are actively working to reduce debt in 2025,4 yet only 4.2% of respondents have used tools like home equity to consolidate.5
Members Don’t Need More Apps, They Need a Strategy
Many credit unions offer budgeting tools or credit monitoring dashboards, but few offer actual behavior-changing education. Budgeting alone can’t fix:
- Decision paralysis about which debts to pay down first
- Misconceptions about good vs. bad debt
- Lack of awareness around interest, refinancing, and repayment options
What members need is debt management education that builds confidence, not shame.
Enrich: Your Partner in Debt Management Education and Behavior Change
The Enrich platform helps members understand, prioritize, and proactively manage their debt with:
- Interactive tools to visualize total debt and forecast repayment timelines
- Personalized learning paths based on age, financial goals, and credit profile
- Gamified content and goal-setting support to reinforce progress
- Access to 1:1 coaching for deeper guidance
We help your members move from damage control to strategy – and your credit union move from product provider to trusted partner.
Lead With Guidance, Not Just Products
The data is clear – Americans are overwhelmed by debt, but not because they’re irresponsible. It’s because they’re not supported.
Credit unions are uniquely positioned to fill this gap.
With Enrich, you can offer more than just access to loans. You can offer the financial education that helps members use debt as a stepping stone, not a stumbling block.
Schedule a call to learn how Enrich can help your credit union lead with strategic, data-driven debt management education.
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York. “Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit 2025 : Q2 (Released August 2025).”
- Business Insider. “Average American Debt: Household Debt Statistics.”
- Newsweek. “Gen Z Has a Debt Problem”
- CFP Board. “Reducing Debt Is Americans’ No. 1 Financial Priority for 2025, CFP Board Research Finds.”
- AmeriSave. “How Americans Feel About Debt – And How They’re Dealing With It in 2025.”
