Closing the credit gap: 2026 outlook study

How credit shapes shopping behaviors, personal finances, and expectations for the year ahead – and what it means for your business.

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Tablet displaying a financial report titled "Closing the Credit Gap" with graphs on consumer financial confidence and credit scores.

Key insights from new Snap Finance research

Among consumers with credit scores below 670:

41%

say their current financial situation is unstable or very unstable

86%

have delayed a major purchase due to finances or the economy

66%

expect their financial situation to improve in 2026 but still have concerns

Takeaways for your business

Credit shapes major purchase decisions

Consumers, especially those with subprime credit, often delay making major purchases. Inclusive lease-to-own financing and loan options through Snap Finance can help shoppers get what they need now – and help you recapture that business.

39% of consumers with lower credit scores are not very or not so confident they could pay for a $300 unexpected expense.

Man thinking with hand on chin, surrounded by financial icons. A chart shows 39% with graphs and currency symbols on a blue background.

Man in denim shirt thinking beside a pie chart showing 39%, surrounded by icons of graphs and coins on a blue background.

Financing can bridge the credit gap

When shoppers can’t pay upfront and don’t qualify for traditional financing, Snap Finance can help you close the sale. More than half of consumers with credit scores under 670 expect to use financing more often in 2026.

29% of consumers with lower credit scores used lease-to-own financing in 2025.

A woman using a laptop, surrounded by shopping and percentage icons, with a 29% display.

Woman using a laptop, surrounded by shopping icons and a 29% graphic on a blue background.

Economic concerns drive purchasing decisions

Although Snap found more than half of consumers expect their financial situation to improve in 2026, consumers have overriding concerns about the current economy. That’s especially true for those with lower credit scores, who may not be able to get what they need without inclusive financing options.

74% of consumers with lower credit scores are worried about inflation in 2026.

Woman using a laptop next to a large 74% graphic, with shopping and payment icons on a dark blue background.

Woman using a laptop next to a circular graphic showing 74%, with icons of a shopping cart, chat bubble, and credit card.

Disclosures

Snap-branded product offering includes retail installment contracts, bank installment loans, and lease-to-own financing. For more detailed information, please visit snapfinance.com/legal/products

Findings based on Snap Finance’s proprietary research conducted through SurveyMonkey’s panel with 1,423 U.S. adults who are household financial decision makers. Respondents’ answers were categorized by their self-identified credit scores above or below 670. Snap Finance, December 2025.

¹Not all applicants are approved. Approvals subject to underwriting qualification criteria.

²Merchant Pulse Study. Snap Finance, 2023.