BANKRUPTCY INSIGHTS
September Bankruptcy Filings Rise Against Seasonal Pattern as Q3 Holds Near Q2
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According to AIS bankruptcy filing data, U.S. bankruptcy filings totaled 52,336 in September 2026, up 6.35% from September 2025 and the highest September total since 2019. The monthly increase was modest at 0.46%, but September has declined from August in 16 of the past 20 years, averaging a 5.81% decrease. This year, filings moved higher instead.
September 2026 U.S. Bankruptcy Filings at a Glance
52,336 total September filings | +6.35% YoY | +0.46% MoM | 469,811 YTD | ~626,000 projected for 2026
Through nine months, 2026 filings total 469,811, running 10.93% above the same period in 2025. Q3 finished at 159,177 filings, up 8.42% year over year and just 0.84% below Q2. The two quarters finishing within 1% of each other shows that the higher filing levels reached this spring carried through the summer.
Among consumer filings, the Chapter 7/Chapter 13 mix remained relatively unchanged from August. Chapter 7 accounted for 63.2% of September filings, compared with 63.0% in August, while Chapter 13 represented 36.6%, compared with 36.7%. Subchapter V filings remained well above last year, increasing 39.6% year over year.
Geographically, five of the top ten states by filing volume grew faster than the 6.35% national rate, while three posted slight year-over-year declines. Tennessee and Illinois led the top ten at approximately 14.6% growth, followed by Florida at 11.8% and Georgia at 10.6%.
View the September 2026 Bankruptcy InSights Report for the latest filing data and trends, or read our September bankruptcy analysis for additional commentary and economic context.
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