Western Europe

Pre-paid cards continued to be one of the most popular types of financial card in Italy, particularly in the case of young adults or those without a bank account. However, as with other financial cards, the rise of contactless payments expanded usage…

Financial cards and payments performed well in Italy in 2023, both in terms of the number of cards in circulation and the value of transactions. Growth was underpinned by the growing trend towards cashless payments, even for smaller amounts, thanks…

The enduring consumer preference for debit cards over credit cards continued throughout 2023, with the former accounting for the more than 10 times the value of the latter in terms of transactions. Such cards are easy to obtain in Italy, as well as…

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…

The growth of gross lending in consumer lending for 2023 is moderate and slower than what was anticipated a year ago. Factors such as surging inflation, an escalating energy crisis exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine (with its effects…

In 2023, gross lending in the primary category of other personal lending is experiencing a slowdown in growth due to inflation and reduced disposable incomes. Rising prices, coupled with stagnant salaries, have instilled a sense of insecurity in…

Charge cards continued to register a healthy performance in 2023, with a rise in the number and value of transactions. This was linked to the growing popularity of cashless transactions, as consumers become increasing confident about making digital…

There were no store cards with “pay later” options available in Turkey at the end of the review period. All cards issued by retailers are closed loop pre-paid cards that enable payment in specific retail outlets. Over the forecast period, prospects…

Store cards are registering further decline in terms of both the number and value of transactions in 2023 as they are perceived to be old-fashioned, plus other financial card types and instruments offer greater flexibility. In contrast to credit…

While Norway is one of the most advanced societies in the world regarding card payments, the digitalisation trend has had little impact on store cards. As a result, store cards have become increasingly marginalised in Norway and represent less than…

From many years, there has been a decline in the number of store cards in France, along with a lowering of the average spend. The economic context and inflationary pressures are notable factors here, along with the fact that French consumers…

Store cards continue to lose popularity in Denmark, with the number of cards in circulation expected to fall slightly, with total transaction value falling significant. This is in spite of rising inflation. Store cards have not kept up with…

Turkey is witnessing dynamic growth in social media and gaming expenditure. While consumers above the age of 18 and those in the workforce have the option to obtain credit or debit cards to access their wages, a different consumer profile is emerging…

A significant shift is underway in the realm of Dutch public transport, as the familiar OV chipkaart is being gradually phased out and replaced with a more versatile system known as OVpay. Since the start of 2023, travellers on public transport have…

Pre-paid cards remain relatively strong in terms of the number of cards, but hold a very marginal share of all card payment transactions in 2023. Bank account penetration is almost universal in Sweden, with the result that pre-paid cards are…

Although they are still a popular option in Norway, the volume of pre-paid cards has dropped significantly since the pandemic. Both open loop and closed loop pre-paid cards continue to decline in 2023, albeit at a slower rate than previous years.…

In 2023, open-loop pre-paid cards have seen a mild increase in the number of cards, transaction volume, and transaction value. This uptick is part of the general momentum in card transactions driven by the proliferation of digital wallets,…

The growth seen in pre-paid cards in 2023 is being supported by the popularity of closed loop pre-paid cards allocated for gifts. The number of such cards has increased in recent years, with the era of the pandemic seeing consumers allocate a part of…

While there is a significant number of pre-paid cards in Denmark, the spend is not significant. That being said, there is expected to be a modest increase in value spend in 2023, largely driven by rising inflation. With debit cards having significant…

A significant shift is underway in the realm of Dutch public transport, as the familiar OV chipkaart is being gradually phased out and replaced with a more versatile system known as OVpay. Since the start of 2023, travellers on public transport have…