Credit card lending offers a fascinating glimpse into how banks view borrowers right now, and the latest Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data provides plenty to chew on. The numbers show a credit card market that keeps moving, but not every borrower stands in the same line for new credit.
The CFPB tracks card originations, hard inquiries, credit-score groups, borrower ages, neighborhood income levels, and geographic changes. Put those pieces together, and a clearer picture emerges of who gets access to new cards and how lenders have adjusted their approach in 2026.
