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COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Concentrated competitive landscape is led by major banks
South Africa’s credit card landscape remained highly competitive in 2025, with Standard Bank of South Africa, Absa Bank, and FirstRand Bank Ltd holding almost three-quarters of value share in terms of card circulation. These banks continue to dominate through scale, brand trust, and extensive infrastructure, but face growing pressure from other players, such as Capitec Bank Holdings, which has steadily gained market share through its mass-market, low-fee approach and digital-first strategy.
Traditional banks focus on loyalty rewards in a highly competitive landscape
In response, the so-called traditional banks have significantly enhanced their loyalty programs to retain customer engagement. FNB’s eBucks remains one of the most generous, offering up to 15% back on fuel, groceries, and online purchases, with additional perks such as discounted travel, tech vouchers, and access to lifestyle rewards for higher-tier customers.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Credit Card Transactions industry in South Africa with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
If you're in the Credit Card Transactions industry in South Africa, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Credit Card Transactions in South Africa report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Credit Card Transactions in South Africa?
- What are the major trends key to understanding Credit Card Transactions in South Africa?
- How has COVID-19, recession and macroeconomic volatility impacted the market?
- How long will the market take to recover? What are the opportunities now?
- How will political context and shifting cultural values shape future growth?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Charge Cards in South Africa - Category analysis
Charge Cards in South Africa - Company Profile
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Limited demand for charge cards
Charge cards lose popularity in the personal segment
Challenges prevail as more attractive payment methods emerge
Further challenges amid the development of new products
Diners Club will continue to innovate and adapt within the forecast period
Charge card landscape remains consolidated due to its niche appeal
Efforts of Diners Club unlikely to reverse negative prospects
Table 1 Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 2 Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 3 Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 4 Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 5 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 6 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 7 Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 8 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 9 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 10 Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 11 Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 12 Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 13 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 14 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 15 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 16 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 17 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 18 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 19 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 20 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 21 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 22 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 23 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 24 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 25 Forecast Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 26 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 27 Forecast Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 28 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 29 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 30 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 31 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 32 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 33 Forecast Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 34 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 35 Forecast Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 36 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Credit Cards in South Africa - Category analysis
Credit Cards in South Africa - Company Profile
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Strong performance observed in credit cards
Credit card usage displays growth amidst economic and technological shifts
Technological advances make credit card payments easier in South Africa
Regulatory reforms that aim to increase financial inclusion are set to drive growth
Capitec Bank Holding’s new partnership with accounting software startup indicates a broader shift within banking industry
TymeBank and Sanlam set to launch co-branded app to integrate services
Concentrated competitive landscape is led by major banks
Traditional banks focus on loyalty rewards in a highly competitive landscape
Table 37 Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 38 Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 39 Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 40 Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 41 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 42 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 43 Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 44 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 45 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 46 Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 47 Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 48 Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 49 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 50 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 51 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 52 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 53 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 54 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 55 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 56 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 57 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 58 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 59 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 60 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 61 Forecast Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 62 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 63 Forecast Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 64 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 65 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 66 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 67 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 68 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 69 Forecast Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 70 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 71 Forecast Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 72 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Debit Cards in South Africa - Category analysis
Debit Cards in South Africa - Company Profile
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Positive performance for debit cards
Demand for debit cards rises with new regulations and increasing fintech integration
Lower barriers to entry attract fintech and wallet providers
Debit cards set to benefit from increasing financial inclusion and digital innovation
Nedbank Group enters into an agreement to acquire fintech player iKhokha
Grocery retailer Shoprite set to enter the banking sector
Capitec Bank Holdings continues to lead in debit cards
Digital-only banks see strong growth in a highly competitive landscape
Table 73 Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 74 Debit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 75 Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 76 Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 77 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 78 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 79 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 80 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 81 Forecast Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 82 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 83 Forecast Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 84 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Pre-Paid Cards in South Africa - Category analysis
Pre-Paid Cards in South Africa - Company Profile
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Rising use of transportation pre-paid cards
Supply issues create challenging period for open loop pre-paid cards
Beneficiaries transition to private banks
Uncertainty over social grant payments with South African Postbank (SOC) Ltd at odds with SASSA
South African Reserve Bank looks to overhaul the regulatory framework around gift cards
Expansion of transport infrastructure throughout major South African cities set to benefit closed loop pre-paid cards
Transportation cards witness consistent growth
Leading issuer South African Postbank (SOC) Ltd continues to lose share
Table 85 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 86 Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 87 Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 88 Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 89 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 90 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 91 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 92 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 93 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 94 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 95 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 96 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 97 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 98 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 99 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 100 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 101 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 102 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 103 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 104 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 105 Forecast Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 106 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 107 Forecast Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 108 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 109 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 110 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 111 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 112 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Store Cards in South Africa - Category analysis
Store Cards in South Africa - Company Profile
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Store cards remain very popular in South Africa
Store cards continue to display modest growth supported by economic improvements
Omnichannel integration and digital engagement improves store card appeal
Store cards set to experience steady growth, even as BNPL emerges
Buy Now Pay Later will continue to revolutionise the retail credit market
Retailers will look to innovate product features and utilise technology and digital adoption
Truworths International and The Foschini Group lead store cards
Payment gateways and store card alliances becoming common practice
Table 113 Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 114 Store Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 115 Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 116 Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 117 Store Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 118 Store Cards: Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 119 Forecast Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 120 Forecast Store Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 121 Forecast Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 122 Forecast Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Financial Cards and Payments in South Africa - Industry Overview
Digital evolution brings innovation to financial cards and payments
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Lower interest rates support uptick in consumer confidence
Digital technologies continue to transform consumer banking services
South African Reserve Bank opens national payment system to fintechs under new regulations
Postbank continues to encounter challenges with SASSA terminating their contract
Bright outlook for the evolving financial cards and payments industry
Retailers and foreign banks will reshape the competitive landscape
Digital-first brands make a play in highly competitive landscape
Visa and Mastercard remain dominant card operators
Consolidation marks period of strategic expansion amid fintech integration
Table 123 Number of POS Terminals: Units 2020-2025
Table 124 Number of ATMs: Units 2020-2025
Table 125 Value Lost to Fraud 2020-2025
Table 126 Card Expenditure by Location 2025
Table 127 Financial Cards in Circulation by Type: % Number of Cards 2020-2025
Table 128 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2025
Table 129 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 130 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2020-2025
Table 131 Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 132 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 133 Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 134 Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 135 M-Commerce by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 136 M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 137 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 138 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 139 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 140 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 141 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 142 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2025-2030
Table 143 Forecast Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 144 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 145 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 146 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 147 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 148 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
Summary 1 Research Sources
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Credit Card Transactions
- Commercial Credit Card Transactions
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- Average Personal Credit Card Balance
- Average Personal Credit Card Limit
- Personal Credit Card Utilisation
Credit Card Transactions
Credit cards allow for purchases against a preapproved line of credit. The account holder has the choice of whether to pay off the entire balance each month or opt for monthly instalments with the balance serving as revolving credit. If the cardholder decides to revolve a balance, the consumer pays interest. Credit cards can include affinity cards, reward cards and types of co-branded cards. Co-branded retailer cards—issued by retailers acting as financial institutions and without usage restrictions—are included in this category. Cards issued by a retailer with usage limited to a specific store within a predefined retail group fall under the store cards definition. Debit cards with an overdraft function are not counted as cards with a credit function. Payments are tracked based on the country of residence / account issuance and include outbound spend while excluding inbound spend.
See all of our definitions
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This report originates from Passport, our Credit Card Transactions research and analysis database.
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