Financial Cards in Italy
Euromonitor International's Financial Cards in Italy 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: 106 | Publication date: Mar 2008
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- Get insight into trends in market performance
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- Identify market and brand leaders and understand the competitive environment
Product coverage
Financial cards in circulation; Transactions
Executive summary
The Italian banking system is in flux
In response to the widespread number of specialised/local institutions in the review period, the Italian banking industry recently started a process of full-scale bank consolidation.
European integration and globalisation have become more important and, especially following ABN AMRO’s acquisition of Banca Antonveneta in 2005 and BNP Paribas’ purchase of Banca Nazionale del Lavoro in 2006, pressure for Italian banks to merge has probably increased.
As a consequence, in late 2006 Italy’s second and third-largest banks (Banca Intesa SpA and Grupo San Paolo IMI SpA) merged, creating Intesa San Paolo SpA, Europe's second biggest financial services company, after HBSC. In 2007, UniCredito Italiano SpA, Italy’s biggest bank before the merger of Banca Intesa and San Paolo, took over Grupo Capitalia and became not only the leading Italian bank, but also the second European bank behind HBSC.
Advertising and promotion to stimulate everyday expenditure
As Italians widely prefer to pay cash for everyday expenditure, one of the main focuses of financial cards operators in 2006-7 was the promotion of cards’ use for small purchases. Visa’s “Love Every Day” (Ama ogni giorno) and MasterCard’s “Priceless” (Senza Prezzo) campaigns were just two examples of the efforts made by operators to incentivise daily payments by card. In 2006, Visa made the highest investment ever in advertising in Italy.
International operators aim to launch new products on the Italian market
As Italy is one of the strongest debit markets in Europe, Visa announced it was ready to launch its V PAY chip and PIN debit card in late 2007.
Meanwhile, MasterCard is working with a couple of banks on PayPass, the new "contactless" payment feature, and hopes to launch pilots in the near future.
Large retailers don’t want you to pay... now
Zero-interest rate loans were offered to Italians in 2006-2007. Big retailers took advantage of the higher availability of consumer credit, making agreements with credit institutions and offering loan plans for the purchase of goods at zero interest in 24 instalments.
The consequence of these agreements was the paradox of higher prices in the case of immediate payment, and substantial discounts when consumers chose to pay some months later by using consumer credit facilities. Revolving cards were also given free in association with promotions.
Pre-paid cards are preferred by Italians
Italy is currently one of the leading countries in Europe for pre-paid card issuance, as Italians are used to the pre-paid concept, which was introduced in the mobile phone market many years ago. Moreover, pre-paid cards allow protection against card fraud and are accessible to a wide range of customers, as there is no need to set up a bank account.
The function of pre-paid cards has changed since their launch on the Italian market in 2001, when these cards were initially conceived as being complementary cards, designed for on-line shopping, and mainly available in the “disposable” version. Pre-paid cards are now also used as a substitute for debit cards and credit cards.
Table of contents
FINANCIAL CARDS IN ITALY : MARKET INSIGHT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Italian banking system is in flux
Advertising and promotion to stimulate everyday expenditure
International operators aim to launch new products on the Italian market
Large retailers don’t want you to pay... now
Pre-paid cards are preferred by Italians
KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS
Macro-economic trends
New technology trends
Competitive environment trends
Consumer lifestyles (consumerism and card culture)
Travel and tourism
Changes in the Italian banking system continued in 2007
Ageing population
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
Cards by Type
Cardholder Behaviour
Card Expenditure by Sector
Value Lost to Card Fraud
Consumer Credit
Market Background
Sources
Summary 1 Research Sources
LOCAL COMPANY PROFILES - ITALY
BNL SPA - FINANCIAL CARDS - ITALY
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 2 BNL SpA: Key Facts
Summary 3 BNL SpA: Operational Indicators
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
CARTASI SPA - FINANCIAL CARDS - ITALY
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 4 CartaSi SpA: Key Facts
Summary 5 CartaSi SpA: Operational Indicators
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
FINDOMESTIC BANCA SPA - FINANCIAL CARDS - ITALY
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 6 Findomestic Banca SpA: Key Facts
Summary 7 Findomestic Banca SpA: Operational Indicators
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
INTESA SAN PAOLO SPA - FINANCIAL CARDS - ITALY
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 8 Intesa San Paolo SpA: Key Facts
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
UNICREDIT BANCA SPA - FINANCIAL CARDS - ITALY
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 9 UniCredit Banca SpA: Key Facts
Summary 10 UniCredit Banca SpA: Operational Indicators
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
SMART CARDS IN ITALY
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 24 Smart Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 25 Smart Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 26 Smart Cards: Memory Vs Microprocessor 2004-2007
Table 27 Smart Cards: Contact Vs Contactless 2004-2007
Table 28 Smart Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 29 Smart Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012
ATM TRANSACTIONS IN ITALY
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 30 ATM Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 31 ATM Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 32 ATM Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 33 ATM Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012
DEBIT TRANSACTIONS IN ITALY
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 34 Debit Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 35 Debit Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 36 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006
Table 37 Debit Cards: Number of cards by Operator 2002-2006
Table 38 Debit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006
Table 39 Debit Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006
Table 40 Debit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 41 Debit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012
CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS IN ITALY
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 42 Credit Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 43 Credit Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 44 Personal Credit Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 45 Personal Credit Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 46 Corporate Credit Cards: Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 47 Corporate Credit Cards: Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 48 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006
Table 49 Credit Cards: Number of cards by Operator 2002-2006
Table 50 Credit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006
Table 51 Credit Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006
Table 52 Personal Credit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006
Table 53 Personal Credit Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006
Table 54 Corporate Credit Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006
Table 55 Corporate Credit Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006
Table 56 Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 57 Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012
Table 58 Personal Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 59 Personal Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012
Table 60 Corporate Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 61 Corporate Credit Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012
CHARGE CARD TRANSACTIONS IN ITALY
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 62 Charge Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 63 Charge Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 64 Personal Charge Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 65 Personal Charge Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 66 Corporate Charge Cards: Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 67 Corporate Charge Cards: Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 68 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006
Table 69 Charge Cards: Number of cards by Operator 2002-2006
Table 70 Charge Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006
Table 71 Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006
Table 72 Personal Charge Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006
Table 73 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006
Table 74 Corporate Charge Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006
Table 75 Corporate Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006
Table 76 Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 77 Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012
Table 78 Personal Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 79 Personal Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012
Table 80 Corporate Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 81 Corporate Charge Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012
PRE-PAID CARD TRANSACTIONS IN ITALY
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 82 Pre-paid Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 83 Pre-paid Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 84 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006
Table 85 Pre-paid Cards: Number of cards by Operator 2002-2006
Table 86 Pre-paid Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006
Table 87 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2002-2006
Table 88 Pre-paid Cards by Type 2004-2007
Table 89 Pre-paid Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 90 Pre-paid Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012
STORE CARD TRANSACTIONS IN ITALY
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 91 Store Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 92 Store Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 93 Store Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006
Table 94 Store Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006
Table 95 Store Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 96 Store Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012