- Categories:
- Relationship
- Tags:
- Lifestyle
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every October 17
- Holiday emoji:
- 🤝
National Pay Back a Friend Day arrives every October 17, prompting us to clear outstanding debts with our friends. This day was established by Bank of America after a study revealed that unpaid loans frequently lead to broken friendships. Take action today: open your payment apps and strengthen your bonds by settling up.
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Expected National Pay Back a Friend Day Deals
On National Pay Back a Friend Day, expect financial service providers and payment apps to highlight features that simplify peer-to-peer transactions. While specific 2027 promotions are pending, platforms like Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle often run campaigns encouraging users to settle up. Look for budgeting tools like Mint and You Need A Budget (YNAB) to offer tips on tracking shared expenses. Financial institutions such as Bank of America, the day’s founder, may also share insights on money and friendship. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as October 17 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Pay Back a Friend Day
Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #PayBackAfriendDay. Share insights on financial literacy and friendship in the workplace.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #PayBackAfriendDay. Join the conversation about money etiquette and share your tips for keeping friendships strong.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #PayBackAfriendDay. Post a story about how you’ve successfully navigated lending money to a friend.
National Pay Back a Friend Day Hero
Suze Orman
National Pay Back a Friend Day timeline
​Did you know PayPal started under the name Confinity?
Braintree acquired Venmo for $26.2 million. (PayPal later bought Braintree for $800 million.)
​Zelle, a payment app owned by many of the big banks (Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Chase to name a few), launched a person-to-person payment system.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Pay Back a Friend Day
Local businesses, particularly financial advisors and banks, can use National Pay Back a Friend Day to offer workshops or resources on managing money in relationships. Coffee shops or restaurants could partner with payment apps to offer small incentives for settling tabs among friends. Retailers might promote gift cards as an alternative to cash loans, encouraging thoughtful gestures that don’t strain friendships. The key is to foster a culture of transparent financial dealings.
National Pay Back a Friend Day FAQs
When is National Pay Back a Friend Day?
National Pay Back a Friend Day 2026 falls on Saturday, October 17. It’s the perfect weekend opportunity to clear up any outstanding debts with your friends.
How does money affect friendships?
According to Bank of America’s ‘Friends Again Report,’ a significant 53% of participants admitted to ending a friendship due to an unpaid loan. This highlights the substantial impact financial matters can have on personal relationships.
How many people use mobile payment apps?
Millions of Americans regularly use mobile payment apps like Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle for peer-to-peer transactions. These platforms make it incredibly easy to send and receive money, simplifying the process of settling debts with friends.
Why was National Pay Back a Friend Day created?
National Pay Back a Friend Day was created by Bank of America to combat the issue of friendships ending over unpaid loans. Their research indicated a clear need for a day dedicated to resolving these financial strains.
How to Observe National Pay Back a Friend Day
Pay back a friend (duh)
Obviously, the best way to celebrate National Pay Back a Friend Day is to pay back a friend. And thanks to all the apps out there these days, finding someone is easy — and so is paying them back.
If you can’t pay them back (yet), find other ways
Offer them free babysitting. Or dog sitting. Or whatever. Just be sure to acknowledge that they loaned you money — and thank them for helping you out.
Organize your finances
Use National Pay Back a Friend Day as an opportunity to figure out other debts you may have (credit card, money you may owe to family members, student loans, etc.) and make a proactive plan to get caught up.
4 Reasons To Keep Friends And Money Separate
IOUs can leave a friendship MIA
Nearly 80 percent of Americans feel that owing a friend money is bad for their friendship.
​Millennials have a bad rep
Lots of people believe that millennials are the demographic that will most likely not pay a friend back.
​Apparently there’s a price on friendship
Nearly half of all Americans are willing to terminate a friendship because of money.
​People have lost thousands to friends
​The amount of money people claim they’ve loaned to friends—and were never paid back—averages out to $2,092.
Why National Pay Back a Friend Day is Important
Debts cause stress—this can help alleviate it
Losing a friend over money is stressful. This day puts us on the road to healthier friendships — and finances.
It helps improve your communication skills
Talking about money is hard — especially with a friend. National Pay Back a Friend Day is a reminder to step out of your comfort zone and acknowledge the awkward feelings.
It can help mend lost friendships
If you’re feeling regret about a friendship lost due financial issues, National Pay Back a Day Friend is the perfect time to reach out. And if things don’t go the way you planned, at least you can have peace of mind knowing you tried.
National Pay Back a Friend Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | October 17 | Saturday |
| 2027 | October 17 | Sunday |
| 2028 | October 17 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | October 17 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | October 17 | Thursday |
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