Financial
Financial Cards

Financial Cards in Canada

Canada

Euromonitor International's Financial Cards in Canada report establishes the size and structure of the market for ATMs, credit cards, debit cards, store cards and smart cards. It looks at key players in the market (issuers and operators), number of cards in circulation, numbers transactions and value of transactions. It offers strategic analysis of sector forecasts and trends to watch.

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Tables: 102  |  Publication date: May 2008
Cost: 
GBP800.00

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  • Get insight into trends in market performance
  • Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change
  • Identify market and brand leaders and understand the competitive environment

Product coverage

Financial cards in circulation; Transactions

Executive summary

National economy buoyed consumer spending

Canada’s strong economy has been an essential factor in the spending and financial habits of its citizens. The labour market over the past five years has developed more jobs and greater income rates with unemployment rates reaching 30-year lows. The tightening of the national labour market has resulted in healthy hikes in employee wages. These factors, coupled with greater wealth from sectors, such as real estate, has left Canadians with more money to spend and more confidence in borrowing and accumulating debt. As a result the use of credit cards has seen more usage for larger purchases which are normally not evident during a sluggish economic period. Canadians are also spending more are other moderate items, such as clothes and entertainment, which has increased debit and charge card transactions, as consumers have more disposable income available in their bank accounts. There is more confidence in the economy and individual spending methods.

Canadians are travelling more

While fewer tourists have been coming into Canada in recent years, the number of Canadians who are travelling domestically and abroad has increased significantly. As more people have the means to travel, as a result of higher spending money and more travel options with cheaper fares, the number of financial card transactions for this sector has also increased. Credit cards are the most popular form of payment for flight and accommodation arrangements, which is customary for purchases that range in the hundreds to thousands. Travel is one of the highest growing sectors for online purchases in Canada and has developed a growing market of consumers looking to book their travel arrangements over the internet. This provides convenient and a large number of options at different fares and rates. The majority of online purchases for travel and tourism are done using credit cards.

Debit cards making headway against fraud

Canadians can feel safer about using their debit cards at the pump as establishments, mainly petrol/gas stations, have reduced debit fraud by around 60%. Interac Association is the main player in this development, with its Project Protect programme which was started two years ago and is seeing good results today. The programme is in conjunction with law enforcement agencies which educate store employees and management on how to prevent debit card fraud and card skimming. While the programme is still in early stages, with most of the implementation concentrated in Ontario, the locations where the programme has been conducted have seen great success. So far the end result leading into 2007, has been an estimated C$15 million in possible fraud losses which were avoided due to the Interac plan. The programme will be more widely placed across the country to cover other high-traffic locations, not only petrol/gas stations.

Full implementation of chip technology gaining steam

Visa has provided new reports showing the benefits associated with the transition to the new Chip and PIN technology in the Canadian market. Merchants have been worried that the new system will cost too much for them to viably implement, yet the report shows the benefits outweigh the costs. It is predicted that merchants will see a total return on their investment with integrated point-of-sale (POS) systems within 21 to 35 months. The Visa report says that there will also be reduced costs in store supplies and administration-related issues, a reduction in fraud and charge back transactions to the card and a faster rate of processing. The new security measures which come with the new technology will also lead to greater customer satisfaction and confidence in the purchasing and payment process.

Rural areas looking to e-commerce

Bank branches and ATMs have been sacrificed in rural areas because of the small populations and the overhead costs of keeping them working. This poses a problem for those looking to use banking cards to withdraw money, make deposits or payments electronically. On the other hand, internet capabilities are even more far-reaching and a larger number of the rural population are turning online in order to make their payments, do their financing and even their shopping. With banks and popular store chains being out of convenient range, there is a greater need for internet availability, which is being made the most of by people looking to make purchases at brand name stores, but do not have the time or means to travel to these locations in person.

Table of contents

FINANCIAL CARDS IN CANADA : MARKET INSIGHT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

National economy buoyed consumer spending

Canadians are travelling more

Debit cards making headway against fraud

Full implementation of chip technology gaining steam

Rural areas looking to e-commerce

KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS

Convenience of card payments is important to time-pressed Canadians

Increasing home values underpin consumer confidence

Travel and tourism continues to drive new cards and card uses

EMV smart cards are coming to Canada

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

Consumer credit and lending

Issuer Fraud

Acquirer fraud

E-commerce

M-commerce

ATM AND POS TERMINALS

CASH WITHDRAWAL VS. CARD PURCHASE

GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION AND LEGISLATION

MARKET INDICATORS

Table 1 Number of POS Terminals 2004-2007

Table 2 Number of ATMs 2004-2007

Table 3 Disposable Income 2002-2007

Table 4 Consumer Credit 2002-2007

Table 5 Value Lost to Fraud 2002-2007

MARKET DATA

Table 6 Financial Cards: Transactions 2002-2007

Table 7 Financial Cards: Value 2002-2007

Table 8 Financial Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2002-2007

Table 9 Financial Cards: Number of Accounts 2002-2007

Table 10 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2007

Table 11 Card Expenditure by Sector 2007

Table 12 Card Expenditure by Location 2007

Table 13 Financial Cards: Number of Internet Transactions 2002-2007

Table 14 Financial Cards: Internet Transaction Value 2002-2007

Table 15 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006

Table 16 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2002-2006

Table 17 Financial Cards: Point of Sale Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 18 Financial Cards Forecast: Transactions 2007-2012

Table 19 Financial Cards Forecast: Value 2007-2012

Table 20 Financial Cards Forecast: Number of Cards in Circulation 2007-2012

Table 21 Financial Cards: Forecast Number of Accounts 2007-2012

Table 22 Financial Cards Forecast: Number of Internet Transactions 2007-2012

Table 23 Financial Cards Forecast: Internet Transaction Value 2007-2012

DEFINITIONS

Summary 1 Research Sources

LOCAL COMPANY PROFILES - CANADA

BANK OF MONTREAL FINANCIAL GROUP - FINANCIAL CARDS - CANADA

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 2 Bank of Montreal: Key Facts

Summary 3 Bank of Montreal: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA (RBC) - FINANCIAL CARDS - CANADA

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 4 Royal Bank of Canada: Key Facts

Summary 5 Royal Bank of Canada: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

SCOTIABANK - FINANCIAL CARDS - CANADA

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 6 Scotiabank: Key Facts

Summary 7 Scotiabank: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

TORONTO-DOMINION BANK - FINANCIAL CARDS - CANADA

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 8 Toronto-Dominion Bank: Key Facts

Summary 9 Toronto-Dominion Bank: Operational Indicators

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

SMART CARDS IN CANADA

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 24 Smart Cards: Memory Vs Microprocessor 2004-2007

Table 25 Smart Cards: Contact Vs Contactless 2004-2007

Table 26 Smart Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 27 Smart Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

ATM TRANSACTIONS IN CANADA

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 28 ATM Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 29 ATM Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 30 ATM Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 31 ATM Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

DEBIT TRANSACTIONS IN CANADA

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 32 Debit Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 33 Debit Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 34 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006

Table 35 Debit Cards: Number of cards by Operator 2002-2006

Table 36 Debit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 37 Debit Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006

Table 38 Debit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 39 Debit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS IN CANADA

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 40 Credit Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 41 Credit Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 42 Personal Credit Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 43 Personal Credit Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 44 Corporate Credit Cards: Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 45 Corporate Credit Cards: Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 46 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006

Table 47 Credit Cards: Number of cards by Operator 2002-2006

Table 48 Credit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 49 Credit Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006

Table 50 Personal Credit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 51 Personal Credit Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006

Table 52 Corporate Credit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 53 Corporate Credit Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006

Table 54 Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 55 Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

Table 56 Personal Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 57 Personal Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

Table 58 Corporate Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 59 Corporate Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

CHARGE CARD TRANSACTIONS IN CANADA

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 60 Charge Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 61 Charge Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 62 Personal Charge Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 63 Personal Charge Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 64 Corporate Charge Cards: Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 65 Corporate Charge Cards: Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 66 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006

Table 67 Charge Cards: Number of cards by Operator 2002-2006

Table 68 Charge Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 69 Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006

Table 70 Personal Charge Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 71 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006

Table 72 Corporate Charge Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 73 Corporate Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006

Table 74 Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 75 Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

Table 76 Personal Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 77 Personal Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

Table 78 Corporate Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 79 Corporate Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

PRE-PAID CARD TRANSACTIONS IN CANADA

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 80 Pre-paid Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 81 Pre-paid Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 82 Pre-paid Cards: Number of cards by Operator 2002-2006

Table 83 Pre-paid Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 84 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006

Table 85 Pre-paid Cards by Type 2004-2007

Table 86 Pre-paid Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 87 Pre-paid Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

STORE CARD TRANSACTIONS IN CANADA

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 88 Store Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007

Table 89 Store Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007

Table 90 Store Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006

Table 91 Store Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006

Table 92 Store Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012

Table 93 Store Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012

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