Isle bankruptcies mark 2 years of monthly declines with 25% drop

The downward trend in Hawaii bankruptcy filings entered its second year in February, helped by an improving economy and declining credit card debt.

There were 168 bankruptcy cases filed last month, 25 percent fewer than the 224 cases filed in February 2012, according to a report from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Hawaii. It was the 24th consecutive month that bankruptcy cases have fallen on a year-over-year basis. Bankruptcy filings peaked at an average 330 a month in 2010 in the midst of the economic downturn.

Bankruptcies fell in all counties. In Hono­lulu County the number of cases fell to 106 in February, a 17 percent drop from 127 the same month last year. In Hawaii County, filings fell 53 percent to 27 cases, and in Maui County they fell 43 percent to 27 cases. Filings fell 39 percent in Kauai County, to eight cases.

The biggest drop by category was in Chapter 7 liquidation cases, which fell by nearly 26 percent to 124 cases. The number of Chapter 13 cases, which allow debtors to keep their assets if they set up a plan to pay creditors over time, fell to 43 in February from 53 in the same month a year earlier.

The drop in bankruptcy filings in recent months has been accompanied by declining credit card debt. The most recent data from credit-scoring website Credit Karma showed that average credit card debt outstanding in Hawaii dropped to $6,651 in January, a 12 percent decline from the same month in 2012.

Although Hawaii ranked second highest nationally in average credit card debt outstanding, residents also had the nation’s second-highest average credit score at 673. A high credit score indicates an ability to repay debt.

Strengthening job growth and a declining unemployment rate have contributed to Hawaii’s improving credit picture.

The state added 11,900 jobs in 2012, and the unemployment rate fell to 5.2 percent by year’s end, its lowest level in more than four years.