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The Daily Insight

What percentage of people do not repay a loan to a friend?

Author

Andrew Mclaughlin

Published Apr 07, 2026

Nearly half (46 percent) of adults who lent money to friends or family reported having a negative outcome, 37 percent said they lost money and 21 percent experienced a damaged relationship with the borrower, according to a recent survey by Bankrate.com.

How do I stop paying back someone?

When You Can’t Pay Back Money Borrowed From a Friend

  1. Don’t Avoid Them.
  2. Don’t Take It for Granted.
  3. Be Upfront About Your Situation.
  4. Negotiate a New Repayment Plan.
  5. Hold Off on Fancy New Things.
  6. Pay the Debt ASAP.
  7. Tactfully Deal With Consequences.

What happens if you lend money to a friend?

A 2009 survey by CNN Money reported that 27% of people who lent money to family or friends didn’t receive any money back and 43% were not paid in full. In other words, most of the time loans between family and friends don’t work and destroy relationships.

How much money is loaned to friends each year?

Every year, over $89 billion is loaned between friends and families in the US, according to the Federal Reserve Board Survey of Consumer Finances. It takes a lot of courage or desperation to ask for money so before you decide upon whether to lend it to them or not, take some time to think about how it may affect the relationship.

How long does a friend have to pay off a loan?

For example, suppose your friend has five years to pay off the loan. For two years she pays on time as agreed; however, something comes up and you need the money immediately.

Can You charge interest on a loan to a friend?

If you could invest the money that you lent to friends and family members, even through peer-to-peer lending networks like Lending Club and Prosper, you could have received interest. Pro Tip: Charging your friends or family members interest on loans might seem awkward, but it isn’t unreasonable.