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PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Debit cards will continue to benefit from boost to financial inclusion
As 85% of South Africa’s population was banked in 2024, of which at least 30% were reported to be social security card holders, and 46% of the population continued to be categorised as underserved, debit cards will continue to benefit from improvements in financial inclusion. Increasing transaction value and volumes will also be supported by improvements in consumer spending confidence due to economic growth and slowing inflation pressures.
Competition will intensify as neobanks expand and new players enter
The momentum gained by digital banks will continue to transform the competitive landscape as they develop new strategies to expand their coverage and attract new users. A prominent example is Tyme Bank, which, since its introduction in 2019, has been leveraging strategic partnerships with leading retailers such as Pick 'n' Pay and The Foschini Group to reach 10 million users by 2024.
PayShap’s expansion could impact demand for debit cards
Following an official launch in March 2023, PayShap, the country's first Rapid Payments Programme (RPP) introduced through a partnership between the South Africa Reserve Bank and BankservAfrica, reported up to 14 million transactions, with a settlement value of over ZAR9 billion by February 2024. Such a performance is remarkable when considering that during its first operating year, PayShap was only equipped with a peer-to-peer payment push functionality, a limit of only ZAR3,000 per transaction and non-standardised applicable fees from major banks, with some even charging higher fees than similar transactions within the app.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Debit 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 Debit 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 Debit 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 Debit Card Transactions in South Africa?
- What are the major trends key to understanding Debit 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
Recovery of charge cards hindered by economic constraints
Competitive landscape of charge cards remains consolidated among two operators
Change in consumer behaviour could create headwinds
Diners Club likely to gain ground as American Express shifts priorities
Table 1 Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 2 Charge Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 3 Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 4 Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 5 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 6 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 7 Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 8 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 9 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 10 Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 11 Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 12 Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 13 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 14 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 15 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 16 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 17 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 18 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 19 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 20 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 21 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 22 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 23 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 24 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 25 Forecast Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 26 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 27 Forecast Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 28 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 29 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 30 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 31 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 32 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 33 Forecast Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 34 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 35 Forecast Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 36 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Credit Cards in South Africa - Category analysis
Credit Cards in South Africa - Company Profile
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Increasing number of households rely on credit cards to meet month-end commitments
Banks extend specific services to entry-level credit cards
Buy Now Pay Later continues to gain share from credit cards
Demand for credit cards will continue to grow over the forecast period
Fintech development will intensify competition as demand from SMEs rises
Buy Now Pay Later will continue to tap into personal credit cards
Table 37 Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 38 Credit Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 39 Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 40 Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 41 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 42 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 43 Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 44 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 45 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 46 Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 47 Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 48 Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 49 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 50 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 51 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 52 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 53 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 54 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 55 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 56 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 57 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 58 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 59 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 60 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 61 Forecast Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 62 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 63 Forecast Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 64 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 65 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 66 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 67 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 68 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 69 Forecast Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 70 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 71 Forecast Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 72 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Debit Cards in South Africa - Category analysis
Debit Cards in South Africa - Company Profile
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Demand for debit cards rises alongside banked population
Capitec looks to strengthen its position as a debit card issuer
Increasing number of South Africans embrace digital wallets
Debit cards will continue to benefit from boost to financial inclusion
Competition will intensify as neobanks expand and new players enter
PayShap’s expansion could impact demand for debit cards
Table 73 Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 74 Debit Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 75 Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 76 Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 77 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 78 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 79 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 80 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 81 Forecast Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 82 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 83 Forecast Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 84 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Pre-Paid Cards in South Africa - Category analysis
Pre-Paid Cards in South Africa - Company Profile
KEY DATA FINDINGS
South African Post Office (SAPO) loses ground as system glitch persists
MTN diversifies offerings as partnership with Mastercard strengthens
PASA starts migrating magnetic stripe fleet to EMV cards
Postbank will reshape competitiveness by taking over SASSA cards
Digitalised remittance cards set to benefit from diversified offerings
Expansion in infrastructure will continue to boost transportation cards
Table 85 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 86 Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 87 Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 88 Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 89 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 90 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 91 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 92 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 93 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 94 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 95 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 96 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 97 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 98 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 99 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 100 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 101 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 102 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 103 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 104 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 105 Forecast Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 106 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 107 Forecast Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 108 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 109 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 110 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 111 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 112 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Store Cards in South Africa - Category analysis
Store Cards in South Africa - Company Profile
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Demand for store cards rises as households remain financially constrained
Increasing number of retailers embrace Buy Now Pay Later
Massmart introduces virtual store cards
Store cards will benefit from strategic positioning
Increasing number of retailers set to join forces with Buy Now Pay Later services
Competition will further intensify among virtual cards
Table 113 Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 114 Store Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 115 Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 116 Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 117 Store Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 118 Store Cards: Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 119 Forecast Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 120 Forecast Store Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 121 Forecast Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 122 Forecast Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Financial Cards and Payments in South Africa - Industry Overview
Financial cards and payments in 2024: The big picture
2024 key trends
PayShap gains momentum as demand for instant payment rises
Market remains consolidated despite intensified competition
What next for financial cards and payments?
Table 123 Number of POS Terminals: Units 2019-2024
Table 124 Number of ATMs: Units 2019-2024
Table 125 Value Lost to Fraud 2019-2024
Table 126 Card Expenditure by Location 2024
Table 127 Financial Cards in Circulation by Type: % Number of Cards 2019-2024
Table 128 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2024
Table 129 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 130 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2019-2024
Table 131 Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 132 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2019-2024
Table 133 Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 134 Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2019-2024
Table 135 M-Commerce by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 136 M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 137 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 138 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 139 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 140 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 141 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 142 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2024-2029
Table 143 Forecast Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 144 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2024-2029
Table 145 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 146 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2024-2029
Table 147 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 148 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029
DISCLAIMER
Summary 1 Research Sources
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Debit Card Transactions
- Commercial Debit Card Transactions
- Personal Debit Card Transactions
Debit Card Transactions
Debit cards merge the functionality of both an ATM card and direct payment from a bank account (a check substitute in some markets). A debit card allows the cardholder to receive cash and monitor account activity at an ATM machine, as well as pay for goods and services via a point-of-sale terminal. A debit card payment transaction involves the automatic withdrawal of funds from the cardholder’s demand deposit bank account (checking or giro). Since the funds are removed from a bank account, no interest is charged on payments. Payments are tracked based on the country of residence / account issuance and include outbound spend while excluding inbound spend.
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This report originates from Passport, our Debit Card Transactions research and analysis database.
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