Consumer Finance

There are currently no store cards in circulation in Hungary. Magyar Cetelem Bank stopped offering store cards in 2008 and no retailers have since signalled any intention to relaunch such services. Instead, retailers are collaborating with banks to…

During 2022, there remained no store cards in circulation in Poland as the entire store cards concept is seen as obsolete and there are currently no issuers or operators with any interest in offering store cards to consumers. Previously, Sygma Bank…

Only commercial charge cards are available in Hungary in 2023, with personal charge cards no longer available. Moreover, commercial charge cards are only offered to top corporate executives and senior managers and there are no indications that this…

The post-pandemic return to normal lifestyles is helping to revive the charge card category, with transactions rising alongside the recovery in travel. Nevertheless, charge cards issued by banks continue to be infrequently utilised and the number in…

Charge cards experience sluggish growth due to rising inflation and a low economic performance, leading companies to optimise expenditures by reducing spending limits. However, charge cards lack digital options that are flourishing in other card…

The most common type of charge card in the Czech Republic is commercial fleet cards which are offered to top corporate managers. Charge card transactions continued to rise by double-digits in 2023, due to the bounce back in corporate spending, as…

As inflation continues to rise, an increasing number of households find themselves in a financially precarious situation at the end of the month or salary payment periods. The impact of inflation bites into monthly budgets, leading to higher expenses…

In the face of economic slowdown, there has been a clear decline in private consumption in Poland. Banks have tightened lending criteria for all types of loans to protect their business revenues. At the start of 2023, the criteria for granting…

Consumer lending in 2023 is experiencing a slowdown due to the rapid rise in interest rates and the prevailing economic uncertainty. There is a notable increase in interest in quick loans from non-banking institutions and card lending. The surge in…

The cost of living crisis remains a pressing issue for Czech consumers in 2023, with higher energy and grocery bills squeezing disposable incomes. People are still struggling to pay their bills and are therefore taking out loans or buying on credit…