Credit Card Transactions

Banks in Argentina are grappling with a complex situation as the promotion of credit cards has become less lucrative. The regulated interest rates imposed by the Central Bank have limited the profitability of offering credit cards. Both the interest…

Amid the rising cost of living in Australia, credit spend increased significantly in 2022, while the number of transactions has continued to rise in 2023 as consumers use their credit cards for smaller, more frequent purchases. However, the number of…

Driven by a general shift from cash to card payments, which was accelerated by the outbreak of COVID-19, and the continuing travel recovery, credit card transactions saw strong growth in 2023; in both the number of transactions and transition value…

While in Brazil, the number of debit cards in circulation still surpasses that of credit cards, the latter is experiencing a more rapid growth trajectory. This surge in credit card usage is fuelled by the increasing digitisation of financial services…

In the latter half of 2022, Canada opened its doors, discarding travel restrictions and welcoming a surge of new students and workers from overseas. Canada's financial institutions greeted these newcomers with a generous $2,000 credit card limit, and…

Credit cards in Chile are undergoing a fascinating transformation, driven by the increasing digitalisation of consumer finance. A surge in digital transactions, including via credit and debit card operations, has led to a significant shift towards…

The number of credit cards in circulation and credit card current value transactions are expected to increase in 2023, mainly driven by further improvements in mobility and economic conditions after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted at the end of…

In 2023, the issuance of credit cards is expected to remain almost flat, with no significant increase. Growth rates for the number and value of transactions are also expected to decelerate compared to the previous year. The value of transactions,…

While the number of cards in circulation is expected to remain stable, with only a marginal increase, there is expected to be a double-digit increase in total transaction values. This is largely explained by inflation, particularly as the spend on…

Amidst the ongoing economic challenges in Egypt, ranging from currency devaluation to inflation and restricted overseas transactions, credit cards have gained substantial traction. The reliance on credit cards is expected to surge further in the…

Consumer credit is facing a number of challenges in France, to the extent the French Association of Financial Companies is reported to have called credit in 2023 a “serious cold snap”. As such, credit difficulties also affect the performance of…

In 2023, credit cards in Germany witnessed a nuanced recovery characterised by a notable and consistent increase in transaction volume and value. As the nation emerged from pandemic-induced restrictions, industries such as travel and dining -…

In 2023, credit cards are experiencing growth in terms of the number of cards, volume, and value of transactions. After a prolonged period of recovery from the Greek financial crisis of the previous decade, credit cards have found a stable position…

Since the reopening of borders in the fourth quarter of 2022, there has been a surge in enthusiasm among Hong Kong locals to travel abroad after enduring three years of the pandemic. Residents are now showing a strong and sustained interest in…

The loan repayment moratorium for vulnerable borrowers, including credit card owners, to cope with the negative economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic was extended to the end of 2022, but was not renewed in 2023. Meanwhile, high interest…

Credit cards in India witnessed healthy demand in 2023 as consumers looked to bridge their income gap through smart spending. The adoption of credit cards further increased during the year, primarily as responsibilities in the form of expenditure…

In 2023, the credit cards category is again showing positive growth in all terms, cards circulation as well as volume and value transactions, as it did in the previous year. Credit card spending has recovered across categories. Holidays and the end…

In early 2023, the Israeli government is set to mandate Discount Bank to divest its credit card business, Visa Cal, aiming to enhance competition within the credit card market. This move will introduce a new player to the credit market, fostering a…

Despite a decline in the number of cards in circulation, credit cards in Italy registered dynamic growth in terms of both number of transactions and transaction value in 2023, continuing the trend of the previous year. This was driven by the growing…

Credit card is the leading cashless payment method in Japan, and is still responsible for the predominant share of cashless payment transaction volumes and value. Other digital payment instruments are also gaining popularity, but credit cards remain…

The resumption of daily routines as the country emerges out of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has sparked spending on both personal and commercial credit cards. In 2023, the number of commercial credit cards in circulation is rebounding, following…

The number of credit cards in circulation is set to witness remarkable double-digit growth in 2023, accompanied by even stronger surges in transaction volumes and values when compared with the previous year. These impressive performances not only…

Morocco is a country heavily reliant on cash, with consumers historically favouring debit cards to any other types of financial cards; standard credit cards continue to suffer from a negative perception among locals for several reasons. The demand…

Most banks perceive credit cards as high risk due to experiencing frequent default rates in the past. As such, credit cards continue to be relatively scarce in Nigeria, with mainly high net-worth individuals owning credit cards. Also, due to the…

While the number of credit cards in 2023 is well below the peak seen pre-pandemic in 2019, credit card transaction are witnessing record levels in 2023. Credit card transaction surged in 2022, fuelled by the return to offline retailers and a return…

The landscape of credit cards in 2023 exhibits a dynamic where growth, while still apparent, has tapered in comparison to preceding years. This slowdown is a result of heightened prudence exercised by users, stemming from their concern over the…

The number of personal credit cards in circulation has been falling over the review period. Due to the high interest rates on credit cards, some consumers are paying off balances and closing credit card accounts. This trend can also be linked to the…

After a robust rise in 2022, credit cards continues to enjoy positive growth in 2023, boosted by local consumers’ increasing expenditure and higher levels of penetration. However, and in contrast to 2022, in 2023 credit cards is seeing slower growth…

The growth in credit card transactions is slowing down as a result of persisting inflation and escalating consumer prices, prompting a return to higher levels of budget-consciousness and financial uncertainty. Economic instability has led to reduced…

Credit cards are not as popular as debit cards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, however, the category still shows a fair performance. One main issue which credit cards face in the KSA is a question mark around their compliance with Sharia Law.…

Credit card transactions in Singapore have sustained considerable growth in both total retail value and transaction volume, owing to the resurgence of the travel industry in Asia Pacific. This revival of travel has become the key growth driver for…

As more middle-income households are struggling to reach month-end, due to the combined effects of rising interest rates, which have put pressure on existing vehicle and mortgage loans, as well as inflationary pressures, which have affected…

In 2022, the relaxation of pandemic-related restrictions, including the easing of social distancing rules, heralded a significant shift in local consumers’ behaviour. With a newfound freedom to venture outdoors, a growing number of individuals opted…

The buy now, pay later (BNPL) trend has taken hold in Spain, particularly among younger consumers, and is rapidly gaining share in Spain. Consumers choose BNPL for a variety of reasons, including the lower APR (in most cases 0%, as opposed to 18% for…

After the pandemic, there has been much pent-up demand for activities which were restricted, including going out and travelling abroad. Also, many Swedes managed to make significant savings during COVID-19 and have been able to spend more…

At the close of 2022, Taiwan witnessed a significant reshuffle in its credit card issuance landscape. The top five credit card issuers, ranked by the number of active cards, were Cathay United Bank with 5.77 million, CITIC Bank with 5.34 million, E…

Thai consumers have been spending more on credit cards in 2023 in line with an increase in the consumer confidence index and a marked improvement in the Thai economy. Expenditure on various products and services, including shopping, restaurants,…

Debit cards are generally preferred to credit cards in the Czech Republic. In 2023, debit card transaction growth is being driven by the decline in cash transactions and the growing number of point-of-sale (POS) terminals in retail stores. In 2023,…

In the Netherlands, credit card usage is on the rise, despite starting from a relatively small base. The key catalyst for this growth in 2023 is the resurgence of outbound travel. While travel experienced rapid growth in 2022, 2023 marked a further…

According to the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP), the Q1 2023 growth rate in credit cards, the highest since the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, reflects local consumers’ resurgence in terms of shopping,…

The credit cards category in the United Arab Emirates is set to experience strong growth by all measures in 2023, fuelled by a combination of favourable economic conditions, evolving consumer preferences, and the adoption of new technologies. The…

In 2022, there was double-digit growth in terms of credit card spending for both personal and commercial credit cards. High inflation and the rising cost of living, which have also been affecting Britons in 2023, were amongst the main causes. In…

Credit cards in the US is set to continue to see robust growth by all measures in 2023. While inflation in the country has generally been at lower levels than in the extreme outlier year of 2022, prices have still grown considerably, and some US…

Credit card transactions continue to exhibit triple-digit current value growth in 2023, aligning with the extremely high inflation rate in Turkey. The rising number of credit cards and transactions is primarily driven by the influx of new consumers…

Credit cards are also benefitting from the ongoing government and finance industry efforts to promote a cashless payment society. As such, we are seeing a robust performance in credit cards in 2023, thanks to a growing awareness among consumers about…

Consumer mobility is evolving as urbanisation, sustainability and growing technological savviness are driving demand for travel supported by dynamic payment solutions. Euromonitor International introduces the Digital Payments in Mobility Index to…