Discover Reports Fewer Uncollectible Loans in January

Discover (NYSE:DFS) wrote off less credit-card debt last month, according to a SEC filing on Monday.

The company’s net charge-off rate, or percentage of loans considered uncollectible, fell to 2.2% in January after checking in at 2.5% a month earlier. In the year-earlier period, the rate was 2.9%.

Discover’s delinquency rate fell to 1.8% from 2.3% a year ago, largely consistent with historic lows seen across the industry. The falling delinquency rate is an indication that Discover customers are increasingly paying bills on time.

Card loans for the Illinois-based company were $49.9 billion at the end of January. That reflects a decline from $51.1 billion in December and an increase from $47.2 billion year-over-year.

According to Fitch Ratings, U.S. credit card delinquencies tied to securitized loans closed out 2012 at a rate of 1.63%, the lowest level recorded by the firm since it started its Prime Credit Card Index in 1991.

Shares of Discover were down 7 cents to $39.81 shortly after Monday’s opening bell.