Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Kansas Tops WalletHub’s Distressed State Rankings 2026

7/18/2026

22 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Kansas rose from 43rd in 2024 to 1st in 2026, making it the most financially distressed state per WalletHub.
3.9% of Kansas residents had accounts in forbearance and the state ranked 14th for distressed accounts per person.
Non-business bankruptcies rose 12% from March 2025 to March 2026, the 27th-largest increase nationwide.
Chip Lupo said the surge reflects higher demand for debt help and a shift to its own credit-score data.

1 of 1

Story summary

Kansas rose from 43rd in 2024 to 1st in 2026, making it the most financially distressed state per WalletHub.
3.9% of Kansas residents had accounts in forbearance and the state ranked 14th for distressed accounts per person.
Non-business bankruptcies rose 12% from March 2025 to March 2026, the 27th-largest increase nationwide.
Chip Lupo said the surge reflects higher demand for debt help and a shift to its own credit-score data.