Financial Cards in South Africa
Euromonitor International's Financial Cards in South Africa 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: 96 | Publication date: May 2008
Why buy this report
- 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
Economic overview
South Africa has had a fairly productive financial year with government spending being relatively high due to the capital outlay for the FIFA World Cup preparations. However, there are a number of factors that have affected the economy negatively and it seems as though working towards 2010 is one of the biggest factors driving the economy at present. Apart from the South African rand losing strength against major currencies due to a close relationship with the dollar, consumer inflation has increased significantly and the South African Reserve Bank stubbornly put off raising interest rates until mid 2007. Furthermore, the market has been in a downward turn in the business cycle and only gained momentum going into the third financial quarter of 2007. However, on a more positive note, consumer spending is at an all time high and although there could be longer-term negative credit implications, the financial cards industry has benefited significantly from this spree.
New National Credit Act
The new National Credit Act, which came into effect from 1 June 2007, is a fairly significant piece of legislation that governs and regulates consumer credit in South Africa. The old National Credit Act had to be revised due to growing consumer debt as well credit regulators taking advantage of uneducated citizens. In the long run, the new National Credit Act will have a negative impact on the financial cards industry due to more stringent measures applied to credit-seeking consumers. However, just before the new Act came into effect, financial cards recorded considerable growth as issuers took a last opportunity to tempt consumers with enticing products.
Banks target lower-income groups
Although banks have always catered for lower-income groups, there is a more recent trend to target previously disadvantaged black South Africans into opening card-linked accounts. Unfortunately, due to apartheid and its concomitant socio-economic structures and class-based discrepancies, there is a huge lack of technological understanding amongst many (particularly older) black South Africans. This generally affects the use of financial cards amongst lower-income groups but is a problem that has been identified and is being addressed by commercial banks in the country. Banks are proving to customers, generally through better customer support and service, financial education and appropriate products, that having a bank account and being able to access ATMs can be accessible to everyone.
ABSA overtake FNB due to successful new products
Over 2007, ABSA bank performed extraordinarily well to move into second place in terms of share of the financial cards industry in South Africa. This is due mainly to a multitude of new innovative products launched over 2007 that cater to a wide variety of consumers. It now has over 50 products with the majority of new card launches being co-branded credit cards, such as Virgin Money. This success has been attributed to new management that came from Barclays Bank UK after it bought a majority stake in ABSA.
Co-branded credit cards prove popular
Co-branded credit cards have become hugely popular due to increased consumer credit usage in South Africa. Over 2007 30 new credit card products had been launched which were generally joint ventures with major stores or medical aid schemes. The main reason for the co-branding is the consolidated nature of the credit card industry, which is characterised by only six registered institutions allowed to issue credit cards. These cards are aimed at the middle-to-upper income brackets, as it is these demographics that comprise the stores or medical aid schemes’ client bases.
Table of contents
FINANCIAL CARDS IN SOUTH AFRICA : MARKET INSIGHT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Economic overview
New National Credit Act
Banks target lower-income groups
ABSA overtake FNB due to successful new products
Co-branded credit cards prove popular
KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS
Macro-economic trends
New technology trends
OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
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
Summary 1 Research Sources
LOCAL COMPANY PROFILES - SOUTH AFRICA
AMALGAMATED BANKS OF SOUTH AFRICA (ABSA) - FINANCIAL CARDS - SOUTH AFRICA
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 2 Amalgamated Bank of South Africa (ABSA): Key Facts
Summary 3 Amalgamated Bank of South Africa (ABSA): Operational Indicators
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
EDGARS CONSOLIDATED STORES LTD - FINANCIAL CARDS - SOUTH AFRICA
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 4 Edgards Consolidated Stores Limited (EDCON): Key Facts
Summary 5 Edgards Consolidated Stores Limited (EDCON): Operational Indicators
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
FIRSTRAND LTD - FINANCIAL CARDS - SOUTH AFRICA
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 6 FirstRand Group Ltd: Key Facts
Summary 7 FirstRand Group Ltd: Operational Indicators
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
NEDBANK GROUP LTD - FINANCIAL CARDS - SOUTH AFRICA
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 8 Nedbank Group Ltd: Key Facts
Summary 9 Nedbank Group Ltd: Operational Indicators
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA - FINANCIAL CARDS - SOUTH AFRICA
STRATEGIC DIRECTION
KEY FACTS
Summary 10 Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd: Key Facts
Summary 11 Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd: Operational Indicators
COMPANY BACKGROUND
COMPETITIVE POSITIONING
SMART CARDS IN SOUTH AFRICA
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 SOUTH AFRICA
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 SOUTH AFRICA
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 SOUTH AFRICA
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 SOUTH AFRICA
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 SOUTH AFRICA
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
STORE CARD TRANSACTIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
HEADLINES
TRENDS
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
PROSPECTS
SECTOR DATA
Table 80 Store Cards Sector Performance: 2002-2007
Table 81 Store Cards Sector Performance: % Growth 2002-2007
Table 82 Store Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2002-2006
Table 83 Store Cards Transactions by Acquirer 2002-2006
Table 84 Store Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: 2007-2012
Table 85 Store Cards: Forecast Sector Performance: % Growth 2007-2012