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Financial cards and payments in 2024: The big picture
While financial cards and payments in Argentina has continued to expand in 2024, volume and current value transaction growth rates look set to be markedly lower than those recorded the previous year. Growth in the number of cards in circulation has also slowed, albeit at a gentler pace.
2024 key trends
The rising use of digital wallets has remained a major growth driver across financial cards and payments in Argentina in 2024. Mercado Pago – the financial services division of e-commerce giant Mercado Libre – retains a commanding lead in this area, as its eponymous platform has played a pioneering role in the development of the local digital payments landscape.
Adoption of NFC payments continues to gain momentum
Having historically been a focal point for investment by Mercado Pago and other early movers in digital wallets, QR codes were still the most widely used contactless payment method in Argentina as of 2024. However, consumers are increasingly embracing NFC payments as cards, smartphones and wearable electronics incorporating this technology become more widely available and awareness of the benefits it provides in terms of convenience and security grows.
Banking system sees greater consolidation as more foreign lenders exit
Although the banking system in Argentina remains quite fragmented as compared to most of its regional neighbours, consolidation is becoming more visible. For instance, Banco Macro completed a deal to buy the local operations of Brazil’s Banco Itaú for USD50 million in late 2023, while Banco de Galicia purchased the Argentinian subsidiary of UK-based giant HSBC for USD550 million in April 2024.
What next for financial cards and payments?
The outlook for financial cards and payments in Argentina over the forecast period is broadly favourable, with volume and current value transactions and card circulation numbers projected to rise consistently. The pace of expansion will be somewhat dependent on how effective and politically palatable the programme of radical reforms adopted by the Milei administration proves to be over the medium term.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Financial Cards and Payments industry in Argentina 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 Financial Cards and Payments industry in Argentina, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Financial Cards and Payments in Argentina 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 Financial Cards and Payments in Argentina?
- What are the major trends key to understanding Financial Cards and Payments in Argentina?
- 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?
Financial Cards and Payments in Argentina - Industry Overview
Financial cards and payments in 2024: The big picture
2024 key trends
Adoption of NFC payments continues to gain momentum
Banking system sees greater consolidation as more foreign lenders exit
What next for financial cards and payments?
Table 1 Number of POS Terminals: Units 2019-2024
Table 2 Number of ATMs: Units 2019-2024
Table 3 Value Lost to Fraud 2019-2024
Table 4 Card Expenditure by Location 2024
Table 5 Financial Cards in Circulation by Type: % Number of Cards 2019-2024
Table 6 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2024
Table 7 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 8 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2019-2024
Table 9 Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 10 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2019-2024
Table 11 Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 12 Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2019-2024
Table 13 M-Commerce by Category: Value 2019-2024
Table 14 M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024
Table 15 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 16 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 17 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 18 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 19 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 20 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2024-2029
Table 21 Forecast Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 22 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2024-2029
Table 23 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 24 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2024-2029
Table 25 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: Value 2024-2029
Table 26 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2024-2029
DISCLAIMER
Summary 1 Research Sources
Charge Cards in Argentina - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Absence of extended credit facility continues to limit appeal of charge cards
American Express is the only operator and issuer present
Charge cards set to remain a niche area in Argentina
Personal charge cards will continue to be the largest category in value terms
Table 27 Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 28 Charge Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 29 Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 30 Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 31 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 32 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 33 Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 34 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 35 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 36 Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 37 Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 38 Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 39 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 40 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 41 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 42 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 43 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 44 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 45 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 46 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 47 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 48 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 49 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 50 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 51 Forecast Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 52 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 53 Forecast Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 54 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 55 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 56 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 57 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 58 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 59 Forecast Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 60 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 61 Forecast Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 62 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Credit Cards in Argentina - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Weakened purchasing power makes many consumers more reliant on credit cards
Ualá and Mastercard launch limited-edition Lionel Messi credit card
Visa still the top operator in credit cards as competition intensifies
Cards from smaller regional issuers should retain a key role in the category
Promotional offers via digital wallets will continue to incentivise credit card usage
Expected entry of Mercado Pago could shake up the competitive environment
Table 63 Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 64 Credit Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 65 Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 66 Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 67 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 68 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 69 Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 70 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 71 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 72 Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 73 Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 74 Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 75 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 76 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 77 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 78 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 79 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 80 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 81 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 82 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 83 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 84 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 85 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 86 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 87 Forecast Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 88 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 89 Forecast Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 90 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 91 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 92 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 93 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 94 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 95 Forecast Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 96 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 97 Forecast Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 98 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Debit Cards in Argentina - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Growth in volume and value transactions slows amidst challenging economic climate
Lack of high denomination bills continues to encourage payment via debit cards
Visa remains the leading debit card operator in Argentina
Ualá well placed to profit from increasing integration of debit cards into digital wallets
Debit card-based BNPL services set to become more popular and widely available
More merchants expected to introduce cashback facilities for debit card payments
Table 99 Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 100 Debit Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 101 Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 102 Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 103 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 104 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 105 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 106 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 107 Forecast Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 108 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 109 Forecast Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 110 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Pre-Paid Cards in Argentina - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Downturn in open loop category softened by increase in Alimentar card spending
Penetration of virtual products remains high in open loop pre-paid cards
Nacion Servicios continues to dominate closed loop pre-paid cards
Competitive pressures likely to spur innovation in open loop pre-paid cards
End of Previaje scheme will further limit growth potential of open loop category
Closed loop category will be greatly affected by deregulation of transport fares
Table 111 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 112 Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 113 Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 114 Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 115 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 116 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 117 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 118 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 119 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 120 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 121 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 122 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 123 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 124 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 125 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 126 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 127 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 128 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2019-2023
Table 129 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 130 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2019-2023
Table 131 Forecast Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 132 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 133 Forecast Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 134 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 135 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 136 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 137 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 138 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
Store Cards in Argentina - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Interest in store cards continues to wane as consumers favour more versatile options
Regional supermarkets chains account for lion’s share of circulation numbers
Coto remains the outright leader in store cards
Negative trend in circulation numbers and volume transactions set to persist
Coto anticipated to remain the top player in the category
Discounts and instalment plans will remain key drivers of store card usage
Table 139 Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2019-2024
Table 140 Store Cards Transactions 2019-2024
Table 141 Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 142 Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2019-2024
Table 143 Store Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 144 Store Cards: Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2019-2023
Table 145 Forecast Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2024-2029
Table 146 Forecast Store Cards Transactions 2024-2029
Table 147 Forecast Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2024-2029
Table 148 Forecast Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2024-2029
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Financial Cards and Payments
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- ATM Cards
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- Commercial Charge Cards
- Personal Charge Cards
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- Commercial Credit Cards
- Personal Credit Cards
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- Commercial Debit Cards
- Personal Debit Cards
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- Closed Loop Pre-Paid Cards
- Open Loop Pre-Paid Cards
- Store Cards
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- ATM Transactions
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- Commercial Charge Card Transactions
- Personal Charge Card Transactions
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- Commercial Credit Card Transactions
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- Average Personal Credit Card Balance
- Average Personal Credit Card Limit
- Personal Credit Card Utilisation
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- Commercial Debit Card Transactions
- Personal Debit Card Transactions
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- Closed Loop Pre-Paid Card Transactions
- Open Loop Pre-Paid Card Transactions
- Store Card Transactions
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- Commercial Card Payment Transactions
- Commercial Electronic Direct/ACH Transactions
- Commercial Paper Payment Transactions
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- Personal Card Payment Transactions
- Personal Electronic Direct/ACH Transactions
- Personal Paper Payment Transactions
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- Commercial Electronic Direct/ACH Transactions
- Personal Electronic Direct/ACH Transactions
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- Commercial Cash Transactions
- Commercial Other Paper Transactions
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- Personal Cash Transactions
- Personal Other Paper Transactions
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- Mobile Proximity Payments
- Mobile Remote Payments
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Financial Cards and 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 Financial Cards and Payments research and analysis database.
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