Montana Financial Distress Profile
Household debt and delinquency, bankruptcy filings, unemployment, foreclosure law and county distress scores for Montana and its 56 counties, from federal sources, each shown beside the U.S. figure.
· Data from Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Q4 2025
Behind on your mortgage in Montana? See your options under Montana law →
Montana ranks #47 of 51 jurisdictions on the State Distress Index, in the least distressed fifth: its score of 8 means it is more distressed than 8% of the 50 states and D.C.. County Distress Index details are listed separately for its 56 counties.
How Does Montana Compare With the U.S.?
Montana is above the U.S. figure on 0 of 5 household debt measures from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for Q4 2025. Credit card delinquency is 9.8%, 2.6 percentage points below the U.S. 12.4%; total debt per adult with a credit file is $58,390, $4,810 below the U.S. $63,200.
Credit card delinquency in Montana is up 2.7 percentage points from 7.1% in Q4 2019, and total debt per adult with a credit file is 25.1% higher than in Q4 2019.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: Montana
Movement since 2006
Since 2006, Montana has eased from the 40th-most distressed jurisdiction to the 49th-most distressed, as of 2025 Q1. Its State Distress Index score fell from 22 to 4 over the same span.
Quarter-aligned back-series. Each quarter re-ranks all 51 jurisdictions on that quarter's own data, so a state's position here can sit several spots from the current reading above, which uses each input's latest value.
Domain Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical). The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005. Montana's State Distress Index of 8 (exceptionally low state distress) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, housing-basis debt burden, and labor.
Montana and the U.S.
Delinquency rates measure balances 90 or more days past due as a share of total balances in each loan category. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per adult with a credit file, not per resident.
Download all states (CSV)Montana and the U.S.: 5 Household Debt Measures (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
The states ranked closest to Montana (#47) on the State Distress Index, with the domain that scores highest in each.
Change Since 2019
Q4 2019, the last fourth quarter before the pandemic, is the baseline. Credit card delinquency is higher than in Q4 2019 in 51 of 51 jurisdictions, and auto loan delinquency is higher in 33.
| Metric | Q4 2019 | Q4 2025 | Change | U.S. Q4 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 7.0% | 9.8% | +2.7 percentage points | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 4.0% | 4.0% | No change | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 0.64% | 0.50% | −0.14 percentage points | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Adult With a Credit File | $46,660 | $58,390 | +25.1% | $63,200 |
| Card Balance per Adult With a Credit File | $3,060 | $3,850 | +25.8% | $4,350 |
Montana Foreclosure Law Summary
If you fall behind on mortgage payments, the steps and deadlines depend on state law. Montana mainly uses non-judicial foreclosure, which a lender can carry out without going to court.
Montana has two foreclosure tracks: (1) non-judicial trustee's sale under the Small Tract Financing Act, MCA § 71-1-301 et seq., for trust indentures (deeds of trust) on tracts of 40 acres or less — the standard and most common path for residential f…
- Paying to stop the foreclosure: You can cure the default and reinstate the loan at any time before the time the trustee set for the trustee's sale by paying all past-due amounts, fees, and costs.
How Montana Sits Among the States
Montana's credit card delinquency rate is 9.8%, 2.6 percentage points below the U.S. 12.4%, and ranks #38 of 51. 0 of 5 NY Fed household debt measures are above the U.S. figure, and the State Distress Index reads 8 (exceptionally low state distress). The Household Debt by State roundup covers all 51 jurisdictions.
Distress by County
The County Distress Index scores every county in Montana on a 0-100 scale using five equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden, labor, and safety net and buffer. Montana's 56 counties average 28.3: on average, Montana's counties are more distressed than 28% of U.S. counties. Across all 3,144 counties the average is 50.0, the middle of the scale.
Score Label Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier County | 90 | extreme county distress | Labor |
| Big Horn County | 77 | high county distress | Labor |
| Roosevelt County | 73 | high county distress | Labor |
| Musselshell County | 71 | high county distress | Labor |
| Sanders County | 65 | moderate-high county distress | Labor |
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 1 | exceptionally low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Stillwater County | 2 | exceptionally low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Daniels County | 5 | exceptionally low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Sweet Grass County | 5 | exceptionally low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| Fallon County | 6 | exceptionally low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
The most distressed county in Montana is Glacier County (90, extreme county distress); the least distressed is Jefferson County (1, exceptionally low county distress).
Explore all 56 Montana counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Montana
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 730 mortgage complaints from Montana since 2012, 64.4 per 100,000 residents, 70.6 below the U.S. rate of 135. Montana ranks #43 of 51 on complaints per resident.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 53 | 49 | 39 | 47 | 49 | 49 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: Montana
The filing rate is bankruptcy cases filed in a year, from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, per 100,000 residents. It does not identify household causes, motives, assets, income, or case outcomes. Montana's rate of 73.3 is 95.8 below the U.S. rate of 169.1.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
Credit Distress: Montana
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's Consumer Credit Explorer reports credit health from NY Fed / Equifax credit records. 11.2% of people with a credit file in Montana have debt in collections, 2.7 percentage points below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 11.2% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 31.3% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. Q1 2025. The U.S. average is weighted by state population (our calculation).
Economic Context: Montana
SNAP enrollment and unemployment give context for the debt figures above. The unemployment rate measures joblessness among people in the labor force. SNAP enrollment reflects each state's program rules and reach as well as need, which is why it is not part of the State Distress Index.
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: Montana
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. Montana scores 30.4 out of 100 (Weak), ranking #43 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, June 2026), state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in Montana?
The credit card delinquency rate in Montana is 9.8% as of Q4 2025, ranking #38 among the 51 states and DC, 2.6 percentage points below the U.S. 12.4%. It is up 2.7 percentage points from 7.1% in Q4 2019.
How does Montana's household debt compare with the U.S.?
The NY Fed reports a $58,390 total debt balance per adult with a credit file in Montana, $4,810 below the U.S. $63,200 on the same basis. That is 25.1% higher than in Q4 2019. Montana ranks #27 on that basis.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Montana?
Auto loan delinquency in Montana is 4.0% as of Q4 2025, 1.2 percentage points below the U.S. 5.2%. This ranks #30 of 51. The rate is the same as in Q4 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does Montana use?
Montana mainly uses non-judicial foreclosure, which a lender can carry out without going to court. See our Montana foreclosure guide for the timeline, homeowner protections and where to get free help.
What is Montana's State Distress Index score?
Montana scores 8 on the State Distress Index (exceptionally low state distress), which means it is more distressed than 8% of the 50 states and D.C.. It ranks #47 of 51 jurisdictions, in the least distressed fifth. The score is built from 4 equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden on a housing basis, and labor. It ranks states against each other at one time. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical) for the country over time. The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Montana?
The CFPB has received 730 mortgage complaints from Montana since 2012, 64.4 per 100,000 residents, 70.6 below the U.S. rate of 135. That ranks #43 of 51. Companies responded to 97.3% of Montana complaints on time.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Montana?
Montana had 830 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, 73.3 per 100,000 residents, 95.8 below the U.S. rate of 169.1. This ranks #45 of 51. Chapter 7 filings account for 80.6% and Chapter 13 for 15.8%. That is 7.2% more filings than in 2024.
What percentage of people in Montana have debt in collections?
11.2% of people with a credit file in Montana have debt in collections, 2.7 percentage points below the U.S. average of 13.9%. This ranks #31 of 51. 11.2% have subprime credit scores (below 620), 5.7 percentage points below the U.S. average of 16.9%. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax), Q1 2025.
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Montana?
72,094 residents of Montana received SNAP benefits in June 2026, an enrollment rate of 6.3%, 4.5 percentage points below the U.S. rate of 10.8%. This ranks #44 of 51. That is 10% fewer people than in June 2025. The rate is 2.9 percentage points below the October 2019 to February 2020 average.
How strong is Montana's financial safety net?
Montana scores 30.4 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #43 of 51 (Weak). The score combines Medicaid coverage (17% enrollment rate, expansion state), SNAP enrollment (6.3%), and foreclosure legal protections. That is below the state average of 43.6.
Which Montana counties have the highest financial distress?
Glacier County is the most distressed county in Montana with a County Distress Index score of 90 · extreme county distress. Big Horn County (77 · high county distress), Roosevelt County (73 · high county distress), Musselshell County (71 · high county distress) are next. Jefferson County is the least distressed at 1 · exceptionally low county distress. See all 56 counties at /counties/montana/.
How long can foreclosure take in Montana?
Montana mainly uses non-judicial foreclosure, which a lender can carry out without going to court. The timeline varies by county and case. Paying to stop the foreclosure: You can cure the default and reinstate the loan at any time before the time the trustee set for the trustee's sale by paying all past-due amounts, fees, and costs. Homestead exemption: $350,000 in 2021, rising 4% every calendar year after 2021, so the limit varies by year (the Department of Revenue sets it by rule). Protects up to that amount of equity in your primary residence from judgment creditors. Does NOT stop mortgage or trust indenture foreclosure. Full details at /help/foreclosure/montana/.
Where does Montana rank for financial distress?
Montana scores 8 on the State Distress Index (exceptionally low state distress), which means it is more distressed than 8% of the 50 states and D.C.. It ranks #47 of 51 jurisdictions, in the least distressed fifth. 0 of 5 NY Fed household debt measures are above the U.S. figure. The State Distress Index domain with the highest score is Default & Legal. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #43 (Weak).
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Published once a year with fourth-quarter figures.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five equal-weighted domains. National score as of the latest available quarter.
Montana Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (latest month), and state foreclosure legal protections.