Last year, though, banks had to write off an average of 6 percent per quarter on outstanding credit-card balances, according to the Fed.

Analysts said Federated's average credit-card balances increased slightly during the quarter, sending interest income up.

Technological evolution, as everyone knows, is rapid and unpredictable and can result in high credit-card balances.

Apparently no one expects the Year 2000 bug to wipe out their credit-card balances.

So Mr. Miller, who recently received a large tax refund, paid down his credit-card balance to about $15,000.

What's bad for the bedroom might be good for the credit-card balance.

Last year, Connecticut passed a law requiring a cap of 15 percent on the interest charged on credit-card balances.

And their credit-card balance is about $2,000.

Almost two years after the crash, Americans are still paying off credit-card balances and home-equity lines.

Do we have an ethical obligation to pay any outstanding bills like credit-card balances or medical expenses not covered by insurance?