Interactive: Americans Are Hiding Financial Secrets — Here’s What They’re Keeping Quiet

A new survey of 2,000 Americans shows how financial secrets are quietly affecting relationships, dating choices, and major life decisions nationwide.

You may think you know your partner's finances, but odds are you do not have the full story. A large new survey found that money-related secrecy is much more common than many people assume, influencing everything from who people date to what they keep from their own relatives.

See how your answers compare — and what the results reveal about how Americans manage money in their closest relationships.

• 59% — Have kept a financial secret
• 30% — Hid something from a partner or family
• 72% — Factor finances into dating

Money remains one of the biggest taboos in American relationships. Many people will discuss past romances or work problems, but admitting to poor credit or concealed credit card debt is far less comfortable. In the survey of 2,000 Americans, financial secrecy was not unusual; it was common.

The most frequent secret was a bad credit score, followed by large credit card debt and gambling. Although keeping quiet may seem like a way to shield a partner from worry, experts say the silence can create its own strain on relationships, major decisions, and self-confidence.

How Well Do You Know Americans' Financial Secrets?

Four questions based on a survey of 2,000 Americans. How closely were you paying attention?

What share of Americans admit to keeping some kind of financial secret from others?

• About 1 in 4 (25%) — The real figure is much higher. The survey found 59% — nearly 6 in 10 Americans — have kept a financial secret from someone in their life.
• About 4 in 10 (40%) — Close, but financial secrecy is even more widespread than that. The correct figure is 59% — a majority of the 2,000 Americans surveyed.
• Nearly 6 in 10 (59%) — Correct. The survey found 59% of Americans have kept some kind of financial secret from others — making it a majority behavior, not an outlier.
• More than 8 in 10 (82%) — Not quite. The survey found 59% — a significant majority, but not that high. The bigger story is how common secrecy is even at that level.

According to the survey, what is the MOST common financial secret Americans keep?

• Hidden credit card purchases — Hiding purchases is common — 30% admitted to it — but it's not the top secret. The survey found a bad credit score ranks as the most common financial secret Americans keep.
• A bad credit score — Correct. Among financial secrets, a bad credit score topped the list in the survey, followed by significant credit card debt and gambling.
• Gambling losses — Gambling does appear on the list, but it ranks third — behind a bad credit score and significant credit card debt, which are the top two secrets Americans keep.
• An unpaid loan to a family member — The survey didn't rank this as the most common. A bad credit score topped the list, followed by credit card debt and gambling.

What percentage of Americans say financial stability is a key consideration when looking for a romantic partner?

• About half (50%) — Financial compatibility matters even more broadly than that. The survey found 72% of Americans consider financial stability a key factor when choosing a partner.
• 72% — Correct. Nearly three-quarters of Americans — 72% — say financial stability is a key consideration when looking for a partner, according to the survey.
• About 85% — The actual figure is 72% — still a commanding majority, but notably, 6% said they don't consider a partner's finances at all.
• Just over a third (35%) — Financial compatibility is a much bigger priority than that. The survey found 72% say financial stability is a key factor when choosing a partner.

What share of Americans admitted to specifically hiding a purchase or financial decision from a spouse, partner, or family member?

• About 1 in 10 (10%) — The real share is three times higher. The survey found 30% — roughly 1 in 3 Americans — admitted to hiding a purchase or financial decision from a spouse, partner, or family member.
• About 1 in 5 (20%) — Close, but the actual figure is 30% — meaning nearly 1 in 3 Americans has hidden spending or a financial choice from someone they're close to.
• About 1 in 3 (30%) — Correct. 30% of Americans admitted to hiding a purchase or financial decision from their spouse, partner, or family member — a strikingly high share given how common the survey found full financial secrecy to be.
• Nearly half (45%) — The survey found 30% admitted to hiding a specific purchase or decision from someone close to them. The broader secrecy figure — 59% — includes all types of financial secrets, not just hidden spending.

Financial secrecy affects more than couples; it can spread through the wider family network as well. The survey found that most respondents have given financial help to a relative or loved one, often to cover everyday costs. That support can be generous, but it can also create tension if it is not fully discussed or if it puts pressure on the giver's own finances.

TD Bank experts say the best way to reduce money stress in relationships is not having a perfect credit score, but communicating openly. Knowing your own financial situation and being willing to talk honestly with the people closest to you can build confidence and reduce the urge to keep secrets.

With 2,000 Americans surveyed, the findings are difficult to dismiss as mere anecdotes. Financial secrecy is not just the habit of a few worried individuals; it is a defining part of how many Americans handle money in relationships. The bigger question is not whether secrets exist, but what it costs to keep them.

Researchers and financial professionals increasingly say the answer is not shame or pressure to reveal everything at once. Instead, they point to financial literacy and communication skills that make honest conversations feel less intimidating — and less necessary to avoid.

How to Start the Financial Honesty Conversation

1. Start with yourself — Before bringing finances into a relationship conversation, get clear on your own situation — credit score, debt, spending habits. Confidence in your own understanding makes the conversation easier to start.
2. Pick a low-stakes moment — Avoid bringing up financial topics during a stressful or emotionally charged moment. A calm, planned conversation lands better than one sparked by a discovered credit card statement.
3. Lead with goals, not numbers — Opening with what you're working toward — paying off debt, building an emergency fund, saving for a home — is less threatening than leading with the raw numbers.
4. Make it a habit, not a confession — Regular, brief financial check-ins with a partner or family member normalize money conversations. When they're routine, there's less pressure on any single discussion.

About This Survey

The findings reported here come from a survey of 2,000 Americans commissioned by TD Bank U.S. The survey examined how money influences relationship decisions, what kinds of financial information people keep private, and how financial considerations factor into dating and family dynamics.

Marc Womack serves as Head of Client Experience, Strategy and Governance at TD Bank U.S. Mandy Kelso is Head of Financial Education at TD Bank U.S. Both were cited in connection with the survey's findings.