Consumer Finance

In the past, debit cards were not prevalent in Japan, with alternative payment methods such as credit cards or cash dominating the market. Furthermore, Japanese banks typically issued “cash cards” to their customers, which were primarily intended for…

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…

In 2023, Israel experienced a notable surge in debit card usage as more individuals opted to pay with credit cards instead of cash. The number of debit cards in circulation increased remarkably. Furthermore, the volume of transactions using debit…

In 2023, the debit cards category has again experienced positive growth in both volume and value transactions, as it did in the previous year. The increase in people’s mobility following the lifting of restrictions imposed to limit the spread of…

A government-led financial inclusion initiative is enticing a burgeoning population to embrace the formal banking sector, which is acting in favour of further driving debit card penetration. The government’s financial inclusion initiative, also known…

With the merger of Takarékbank and MKB Bank, a new financial service provider was formed, MBH Bank. MBH Bank leads in the personal and commercial segments, including current accounts and debit cards, and is especially dominant in smaller towns and…

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

Debit cards continue to dominate the Greek financial cards and payments landscape, showing further growth in 2023. They are growing in terms of the number of cards, volume and value of transactions, and increasingly accounting for smaller, everyday…

In 2023, debit cards in Germany maintain their upward trajectory, building on the momentum gained in previous years. The waning impact of the pandemic has accelerated the transition from cash to digital payments, particularly debit cards. This shift…

The first news in debit cards is the ongoing growth of their number and transactions – despite the gloomy economic context. This is attributed to the following reasons.

The Central Bank of Egypt reported a noteworthy 15% overall growth in the total number of electronic cards in Egypt by the end of 2022. Specifically, the number of debit cards in the market witnessed a substantial 12% growth. The government's ongoing…

Denmark is mostly a cashless country, and debit cards continue to be the most popular payment method, both in terms of number of transactions and total transaction value, The number of cards is only expected to increase slightly in 2023, as the…

The use of debit cards continues to grow and they remain the most important payment method behind cash. Further robust growth is expected in 2023 both in the number of cards in circulation and value of transactions. The performance of debit cards has…

In 2023, debit card spending is expected to see year-on-year growth both in terms of payment transactions and payment values, derived from pent-up demand over the last three years, which has been released in this year. Many consumers have taken the…

The latest “National Survey on Cash Usage and Preferences” from Chile’s Central Bank reveals intriguing shifts in payment preferences post-pandemic. In 2022, despite another decline in value, the number of personal cash transactions rebounded to…

Canada's labour force shortage has placed mounting pressure on smaller businesses. Traditional checkouts are giving way to efficiency as s retailers scramble to optimise checkout speeds, and there is a growing trend of merchants leaning into…

Debit cards in Brazil have enjoyed continuous growth as an increasing number of Brazilians shift away from traditional paper-based payment methods such as cash and cheques. This transition is driven by the ongoing digitisation of financial services…

Debit card transactions remained the main driver behind the shift from cash to card payments in 2023. Every bank account holder in Austria owns at least one debit card, which is heavily favoured for payments at the POS, with debit card consumers…

The decline of cash was already evident in Australia prior to the pandemic, with the tough regulations imposed during this period causing the decline to rapidly accelerate. Cash usage has failed to rebound with many consumers and businesses having…

The high inflation rate in Argentina has led to a significant increase in the use of debit cards. The government has refrained from printing higher denomination bills, and the highest available denomination is ARS2000, roughly equivalent to USD8 at…

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…

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 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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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 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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…