However the proportion of people that mentioned they had been prequalified for a private mortgage to consolidate debt or refinance bank cards fell in 2020. These are among the many solely causes NerdWallet members have chosen much less typically, together with the vacations. .

In the beginning of the pandemic, many lenders slowed down their loans and tightened their credit score requirements. On the similar time, debtors have tightened their budgets.

Shoppers have turn out to be “remarkably financially accountable” over the previous 12 months within the face of financial uncertainty, Tambor says.

“Individuals are paying off their bank cards, they’re paying off their debt, so that you simply see rather less debt consolidation,” he says.

Though debt consolidation borrowing declined over the previous 12 months, it was nonetheless the preferred motive NerdWallet members gave after they prequalified. Greater than half (55%) mentioned they wished to consolidate their debt. About 7% mentioned they wished to refinance their bank card with a private mortgage.

About 7% of NerdWallet pre-qualified customers selected residence enchancment as their motive for borrowing in 2020, which is per the earlier 12 months.

Regardless of the consistency, many shoppers noticed residence orders triggered by the pandemic as a possibility to sort out tasks they did not have time for or hadn’t considered earlier than, Walsh says.