Bank credit card balances per U.S. household hit $4,260 at the end of 1996 according to the latest issue of Bankcard Barometer. The data are based on total card balances of $404.7 billion and 95 million gross U.S. households. The average household figure approaches $5,200 when spread among a total of 78 million “creditworthy” households. The states with the largest share edged up only 10%.

           LARGEST  STATE  STATS
State          1996  1995    CHNG   PER HH	
California     57.9  52.7    10%    $5,567
New York       34.5  31.5    10%    $5,227
Florida        28.6  25.9    10%    $5,608
Texas          22.6  20.4    11%    $3,767
Illinois       21.0  18.7    12%    $2,958
Ohio           19.7  18.0    9%     $4,925
Pennsylvania   16.4  14.5    13%    $3,644
New Jersey     14.0  12.6    11%    $5,000
Michigan       12.0  10.8    11%    $3,529
Virginia       11.9  10.6    12%    $5,174
National      404.7 360.7    12%    $4,260