Financial
Financial Cards

Financial Cards in Sweden

Sweden

Euromonitor International's Financial Cards in Sweden 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: 107  |  Publication date: Mar 2008
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Product coverage

Financial cards in circulation; Transactions

Executive summary

General Increase in Usage of Financial Cards

In 2007, the numbers of cards, transaction value and volume have continued to increase in Sweden. The use of cash is decreasing, while the point-of-sale infrastructure is continuing to develop, facilitating increased card usage. The number of ATM transactions is expected to decrease in the forecast period in favour of financial cards. All types of financial cards showed an increase in both value and volume over the review period.

Fees for Smaller Payments Are Slowing Down the Growth of Financial Cards

While larger shops have adopted the point-of-sale infrastructure allowing the customers to pay freely with financial cards, small shops and kiosks usually do not favour small payments, typically under SEK100, with financial cards. This is due to the cost for the outlet associated with the financial card transaction. Despite the fact that outlets have agreements with the acquirers not to make a charge for a payment with financial card, it became customary for small outlets to do so in Sweden.

Increasing Competition in Credit Cards

The credit cards landscape is likely to be reshaped in the forecast period. The big four Swedish banks started competing with each other more intensely some three years ago. The entrance of international companies into the market, such as EnterCard, shows that these players see the Scandinavian market as an interesting source of potential revenue. The credit cards market in Scandinavia and in Sweden in particular, is underdeveloped due to the population's general scepticism towards borrowing for small purchases at high interest rates which are charged on credit cards. Furthermore, a large percentage of the population is unaware about how credit cards function and the benefits of splitting up the payments, which gives companies issuing credit cards the opportunity to tap into new market segments.

Contactless Cards Mainly Limited to Transportation Companies

The promising RFID technology, which allows payments to be made with smart cards, without any physical contact with a point-of-sale (POS) terminal is now being tested by several public transportation companies, such as Stockholm's public transportation company. Currently, the technology is limited to transportation companies. The main reason is that transportation companies are providing large enough orders for international providers to become interested in implementing the RFID technology.

Debit Cards Remain the Main Instrument of Payment

Debit cards remained the main instrument of choice when it comes to payments with financial cards in Sweden in 2007. Debit cards is the largest financial cards sector in Sweden and still growing. Credit and charge cards remain underdeveloped in comparison with debit cards, due mainly to the general scepticism towards borrowing. Another reason is the way these products are marketed by banks. Credit and charge cards are generally significantly more expensive than debit cards with regard to the annual fee. Debit cards are offered by several banks as a part of a package, which includes a savings account and internet connection. Going forward, credit and charge cards are expected to develop further.

Table of contents

FINANCIAL CARDS IN SWEDEN : MARKET INSIGHT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

General Increase in Usage of Financial Cards

Fees for Smaller Payments Are Slowing Down the Growth of Financial Cards

Increasing Competition in Credit Cards

Contactless Cards Mainly Limited to Transportation Companies

Debit Cards Remain the Main Instrument of Payment

KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS

Credit Cards Market Expects Wave of Foreign Entrants

Internet Shopping Will Fuel Growth in Online Transactions

Fraud Has Minimal Impact on Financial Card Usage

Large Players Benefit the Most in Financial Cards

High Disposable Incomes and Booming Property Prices Fuel Lending

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

Consumer Credit and Lending

Issuer Fraud

Acquirer Fraud

E-commerce

M-commerce

ATM and POS Terminals

Cash Withdrawal versus 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 - SWEDEN

ENTERCARD SVERIGE AB - FINANCIAL CARDS - SWEDEN

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 2 SwedBank AB/EnterCard AB: Key Facts

Summary 3 SwedBank AB/EnterCard AB: Operational Indicators 2005-2006

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

GE MONEY BANK AB - FINANCIAL CARDS - SWEDEN

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 4 GE Money Bank AB: Key Facts

Summary 5 GE Money Bank AB: Operational Indicators 2004-2006

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

SEB KORT AB - FINANCIAL CARDS - SWEDEN

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 6 SEB Kort AB: Key Facts

Summary 7 SEB Kort AB: Operational Indicators 2004-2006

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

SVENSKA HANDELSBANKEN AB - FINANCIAL CARDS - SWEDEN

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 8 Svenska Handelsbanken AB: Key Facts

Summary 9 Svenska Handelsbanken AB: Operational Indicators 2004-2006

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

XPON CARDS AB - FINANCIAL CARDS - SWEDEN

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 10 Xpon Cards AB: Key Facts

Summary 11 Xpon Cards AB: Operational Indicators 2004-2006

COMPANY BACKGROUND

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

SMART CARDS IN SWEDEN

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 SWEDEN

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 SWEDEN

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 SWEDEN

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 SWEDEN

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 SWEDEN

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 SWEDEN

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

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