New EY Study: Debt Settlement Delivered $19.8 Billion in Net Savings to 4.3 Million Americans

Independent Big Four Analysis Finds 98% of Settled Clients Realized Net Savings — Reinforcing Beyond Finance's 2025 Client Outcomes Report

CHICAGO, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study from EY provides compelling third-party evidence of the financial impact debt settlement can provide consumers struggling with unmanageable unsecured debt — findings that closely align with the real-world client results reported by Beyond Finance, one of the nation's largest financial wellness and debt consolidation companies.

Commissioned by the Association for Consumer Debt Relief (ACDR), the EY study analyzed data provided by 10 debt settlement companies covering approximately 2.9 million clients and 19.7 million accounts. EY reports that the full 2016–2025 sample represents approximately 8.1 million consumers, 54.1 million accounts and $195.3 billion in enrolled debt.

To evaluate realized outcomes rather than programs still in progress, EY focused its primary outcomes analysis on consumers who enrolled from 2016 through 2022, representing an estimated 4.3 million clients, 30 million accounts and $106.4 billion in enrolled debt.

EY Finds Significant Savings for Consumers Who Reach Settlements

Among the study's key findings:

• Through debt relief settlements, consumers have realized $29.3 billion, after fees, in reduced debt since 2016. 
  
  
• $19.8 billion in estimated net savings across an industry-wide population of 4.3 million Americans enrolled in debt settlement programs between 2016 and 2022, according to an independent EY analysis of outcomes through 2025.
  
  
• Consumers achieved an average 50% reduction in debt balances.
  
  
• After fees, consumers realized average net savings of $6,370 — generating $2.50 in debt reduction for every $1 paid in fees.
           
• Among clients who ultimately reached a first settlement, the average time to that settlement was four months, and 96% did so within eight months.

Findings Reinforce Beyond Finance's Own Client Outcomes

For Beyond Finance, the EY findings provide important industry-wide context for the results the company has documented across its own client population.

Since 2011, Beyond Finance has helped more than 1.3 million Americans and resolved more than $15 billion in client debt. In 2025 alone, the company resolved $4.7 billion in client debt and helped clients save $1.1 billion after program fees.

Beyond Finance documented those results earlier this year in its first-ever 2025 Client Outcomes Report, providing unprecedented transparency into the actual experiences and financial results of its clients.

The report found that individual debts resolved by Beyond Finance in 2025 were settled for approximately 51 cents on the dollar before program fees and 72 cents on the dollar after fees. Clients graduating from the program paid a median of approximately 75% of their outstanding balances, including program fees, and typically completed their programs within 24 to 48 months.

Beyond Finance graduates also saved an average of $21,636 compared with the modeled cost of continuing to make minimum credit card payments.*

"Americans facing overwhelming debt need more than promises — they need solutions supported by measurable results," said Vanessa Hering, client success officer and EVP of strategy and operations at Beyond Finance. "The scale of the EY research provides important third-party evidence of the value debt relief can deliver. When you put those industry findings alongside the actual outcomes we see among our own clients, it reinforces that responsible debt resolution can provide a meaningful path forward for people who need significant relief."

Debt Settlement Can Dramatically Change the Cost and Timeline of Repayment

The EY study also illustrates the potential financial consequences of different approaches to repaying debt.

In an illustrative comparison involving a $3,600 credit card balance at a 22% APR — reflecting today's typical credit card rate — EY modeled debt settlement against continuing to make minimum monthly credit card payments. Debt settlement resolved the account for approximately $2,660 in total out-of-pocket costs, including fees, compared with approximately $8,710 through minimum payments.

Greater Transparency Helps Americans Make Better-Informed Decisions

The EY findings complement Beyond Finance's ongoing effort to bring greater transparency to debt relief and provide consumers with measurable information they can use to understand their options.

Beyond Finance's 2025 Client Outcomes Report found that among Engaged clients,† 70% received their first resolution offer within three months and 92% within six months. Within their first 12 months, Engaged clients had resolved 53% of their enrolled debt, while 98% had at least one debt resolved.

The report also compared Beyond Finance's observed client outcomes with modeled or published costs for other repayment approaches. Beyond Finance clients graduating in 2025 paid a median of approximately 50% of their outstanding balances, including fees, compared with estimated total repayment costs of approximately 110%–130% for credit counseling debt management plans, 130%–187% for debt consolidation loans and 190%–340% for consumers making only minimum credit card payments.‡

Beyond Finance clients graduating in 2025 paid a median of approximately 75% of their outstanding balances, including fees, compared with estimated total repayment costs of approximately 110%-130% of the balance for credit counseling debt management plans, 130%-187% of the balance for debt consolidation loans and 190%-340% of the balance for consumers making only minimum credit card payments.‡

"The more transparent our industry can be about outcomes, the better equipped Americans will be to make informed decisions about their financial futures," Hering said. "The EY study adds an important third-party perspective to that conversation. No single solution is right for everyone, but consumers deserve clear information about how different approaches work, what they cost, and the results they can realistically deliver."    

*The credit-card minimum is based on an APR of 22% and minimum payment of 2% of the balance + monthly interest (floor of $25).

† Engaged clients refers to those who made consistent deposits.

‡ Assumptions: Minimum payments range reflects a favorable (2% of balance + interest, national average 22% APR) scenario and a typical scenario for subprime cardholders (1% of balance + interest, 30% APR). DMP numbers reflect NFCC member agency program terms: 100% principal repayment over 4–5 years at reduced interest rates (NFCC published program guidelines). Consolidation loan assumes 100% of principal plus interest at 18–28% APR over 36–60 months; lower credit scores typically mean higher rates and a higher total. Beyond Finance numbers reflect observed median outcomes against outstanding balances for graduated programs.

The results described in this news release and the reports referenced herein are not a guarantee, promise or prediction of results for any individual customer. Individual results may vary.

About the EY Study

EY was commissioned by the Association for Consumer Debt Relief to analyze debt settlement program outcomes in the United States, including enrollment patterns, settlement timing, financial outcomes, and settlement structure. Ten participating debt settlement companies provided data covering approximately 2.9 million clients and 19.7 million accounts. EY supplemented that information with data from four payment processors representing a large majority of debt settlement payment-processing activity to estimate the broader industry population.

EY notes several limitations to the research. Data supplied by participating debt settlement companies were not independently verified by EY, although EY reviewed the information for internal consistency and reasonableness. The study also does not evaluate potential credit-score effects, tax consequences, litigation risk, or clients' long-term financial health.

About Beyond Finance

Beyond Finance is a leading financial wellness and debt consolidation company that has helped more than 1.3 million Americans and resolved over $15 billion in client debt since 2011. Beyond Finance's financial wellness programming includes the Financial Wellness RESET™ Framework — a proprietary, clinically-informed model developed by Dr. Erika Rasure, PhD, CFT™, chief financial wellness advisor, that addresses the behavioral and emotional dimensions of financial change alongside the practical ones — as well as live financial wellness sessions led by certified financial therapists and available to enrolled clients.

Beyond Finance holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has received recognition including the Organization of the Year award from The Business Intelligence Group's Excellence in Customer Service Awards, the Gold Stevie Award for Outstanding Customer Service Department, the Banking Tech Award for Financial Wellness Champion, the Best in Biz Gold Award and three ConsumerAffairs Buyer's Choice Awards. Beyond Finance has offices in Chicago, Atlanta and Houston. For more information, visit BeyondFinance.com.

SOURCE Beyond Finance