Consumer Finance

Online payments have seen a significant surge in popularity, continuing through 2023, with an increasing number of e-commerce transactions being finalised through online payment methods. Electronic direct transfers and ACH (Automated Clearing House)…

Debit cards remain the most popular type of financial card in Sweden in 2023 in terms of the number of cards in circulation, and current value and volume transactions. The popularity of debit cards is attributable to the high share of digital…

Debit card transactions experienced a noticeable decline in transaction value in 2022, a trend that commenced during the pandemic in 2021. This decline was primarily attributed to the increased prevalence of digital wallet transactions and the…

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,…

Contactless payments, whether using a debit card or a mobile device linked to a debit card, have become an increasingly popular method of payment at physical merchant locations in the United Kingdom. This surge in popularity can be attributed to the…

The COVD-19 pandemic hampered the use of cash in Turkey, with consumers also opting to use a debit card over credit cards in 2023. The availability of contactless debit cards encouraged consumers to use their debit cards for small purchases, while…

Cashless payment trends are being boosted by both government and issuer initiatives in Vietnam, along with support from retailers in various industries and channels across the country. This, in turn, is helping to boost the performance of financial…

The credit card business has become less lucrative for banks, primarily serving as a means to entice customers to deposit their salaries into banking institutions. The prevalent monthly inflation in Argentina has soared to alarming levels. Banks face…

In the wake of Covid-19 there was a notable shift away from cash transactions, while in 2023 (as in 2022) the retail value of personal cash transactions is rising rapidly. However, the surge has been fuelled by the inflation surges of 2022 and 2023.…

2023 has witnessed another marginal rebound in personal cash usage in Chile, despite a further decline in the overall value of this payment type. Cash usage tends to be higher among individuals over 60 years of age, those from lower socio-economic…

The use of debit cards continues to grow strongly in Colombia, supported by increased online purchases and cautious consumer behaviour. While credit card issuance remains stagnant, pre-paid cards, particularly closed loop transportation cards, are…

In terms of financial cards, Denmark is a saturated market and the number of cards in circulation is not expected to increase significantly across debit, credit, pre-paid or store cards.

Financial cards and payments in Egypt has seen a remarkable year in 2023, characterised by a notable shift from cash to card usage, larger transaction amounts, and a surge in new account openings. Government initiatives to boost financial inclusion…

Financial cards continues its progress in 2023, however, with mixed results. Global inflation continues to create an uncertain economic climate and an increasing price-sensitivity around sales of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), leading to…

The Greek financial card and payments market experienced robust growth in 2022, fuelled by post-pandemic recovery and the impact of inflation. This growth trend persists into 2023, albeit at a slower pace, attributed to the positive economic outlook…

Total card transactions in Hong Kong, along with electronic direct/ACH transactions and mobile payments, are recording double-digit growth rates in 2023 as consumption recovers from the pandemic. This is mainly being driven by overseas consumption…

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced payment habits in Hungary, leading to an increased reliance on cards, online payments and smartphone applications. This trend continued as pandemic-related restrictions were gradually lifted…

Electronic payment has been the fastest growing mode of payment in Indonesia in 2023. The very high use of digital wallets, QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesia Standard - a QR code standard developed by Bank Indonesia and Indonesian Payment System…

In 2023, Israel is experiencing a notable surge in the use of digital wallets, largely driven by the rising number of providers and the inherent convenience they offer. The entry of major players like Apple Pay in late 2021 significantly boosted the…

Japan’s transition to a cashless society has been accelerating in 2023. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) developed the “Cashless Vision” in 2018, aiming to increase the cashless payment ratio to 40% by 2025. Due to COVID-19,…

Financial cards and payments in Mexico in 2023 has been marked by growth, and adaptation to consumer needs. Post-pandemic economic recovery has been playing a pivotal role in boosting card usage and transaction volumes and values. This recovery,…

Morocco’s commitment and investments in financial inclusion are paying off, with the nation having recorded double-digit growth in account ownership since 2017; this makes Morocco one of only four countries worldwide to achieve this. According to the…

Nigeria continues to be a cash economy, though debit cards in particular are growing in popularity. Also, in 2023, this growth was further amplified, due to a cash shortage, as there was insufficient supply of the newly designed naira. As a result,…

Financial cards and payments in Norway is witnessing a moderate performance in 2023, with flat volume growth and steady growth in card transactions. There has been a steady recovery in transaction spend since 2021, following the heavy declines…

Financial cards and payments have indeed witnessed substantial growth in 2023. However, this growth has seen a notable slowdown due to consumers adopting a more cautious approach to spending. Factors contributing to this caution include the sluggish…

Financial cards and payments in Poland is undergoing substantial change with the continued increase in non-cash transactions in 2023. Card operators are focused on providing access to a variety of payment methods so that the consumer and merchant can…

Romania lags behind in financial inclusion compared to other nations, showcasing a lower uptake of basic financial services, primarily due to a trifecta of factors: low financial literacy levels, a significant grey economy, and a widespread…

The two pandemic years boosted the use of financial cards in Sweden. While the use of cash in the country was already exceptionally low by global standards at the start of the review period, its role diminished further during the pandemic due to…

In 2023, electronic and mobile payments have taken centre stage, greatly reducing reliance on cash transactions in Taiwan. Local residents have enthusiastically adopted various digital payment options, particularly digital wallets, which have emerged…

Cash remains an important mode of payment in the Czech Republic, especially in rural areas, although modernisation is driving growth in financial cards and payments. The expansion of POS terminals in retail stores is driving financial card…

In 2023, the Netherlands is experiencing its first full year without COVID-19 restrictions, leading to significant shifts in the payments landscape. For offline payments, this has resulted in a notable increase in card payments and proximity mobile…

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…

2023 is witnessing a substantial increase in both the volume and value of financial cards overall, primarily driven by government initiatives aimed at encouraging cashless payments. Debit cards, credit cards, and pre-paid cards are all seeing healthy…

Open loop pre-paid cards initially gained significant traction, targeting individuals without a financial history to access traditional credit cards, particularly those in lower socioeconomic levels. However, the momentum of this segment has…

Pre-paid cards is seeing continued robust rises across all metrics in Canada in 2023, with growth in some areas outshining that of 2022. This is in large part thanks to a wave of innovation from card issues that is redefining the landscape. One of…

The Payment Means Law in Chile has been a driving force behind the remarkable growth of pre-paid card transactions in the country. These financial cards have gained significant traction towards the end of the review period, with both banks and…

In 2023, the number of pre-paid cards in circulation is expected to grow steadily. Closed loop pre-paid cards, particularly transportation cards, will remain the most important. This growth is driven by increased mobility as hybrid work schemes lose…

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…

Amid a concerted government focus on financial inclusion and extensive banking initiatives tailored to citizens of all age groups, the category of pre-paid cards remains on a robust growth trajectory within the Egyptian financial market. The…

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…

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,…

Octopus has established itself as the most widely used and popular open loop pre-paid card in Hong Kong, offering a myriad of convenient features and services. Recognising the growing interest among local residents to explore the mainland during…

In January 2023, the previously separate pockets - accommodation, hospitality and leisure - were consolidated; therefore, the charges associated with these sectors are now aggregated and considered together. Also, in order to expedite the use of…

The pre-paid cards category has continued its strong performance in 2023, with the category seeing positive growth in terms of both volume and value transactions, as in the previous year. Pre-paid cards has been particularly impacted by the revival…

In 2023, closed loop pre-paid cards witnessed a decline in transaction value and volume, consistent with a continuing trend as consumers increasingly shift towards payment apps. Despite some consumers still having significant value loaded onto their…

In the review period, pre-paid cards showed progression to online (mobile, smart watch, etc...) payment, especially within transportation pre-paid cards such as Suica and PASMO cards. More people opted to use smartphone app versions of pre-paid cards…

Pre-paid cards is a form of payment, whether in physical or digital format, that closely resembles conventional debit and credit cards. In 2023, pre-paid cards is set to experience a positive performance, largely thanks to the rise of e-commerce, and…

There are no open-loop pre-paid cards in Morocco, and the number of closed-loop pre-paid cards (and the value of transactions made using them) was in decline even before the onset of the pandemic. The increased use of debit cards was the main driver…

Nigeria remains a mainly cash-driven society, though debit card usage is growing. Pre-paid cards, however, are not a popular option, and while the number of cards is expected to increase, constant transaction value is expected to fall in 2023, as…

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.…