Financial Cards and Payments in South Africa

January 2026
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Overview:

Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Financial Cards and Payments 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 Financial Cards and Payments 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 Financial Cards and Payments 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 Financial Cards and Payments in South Africa?
  • What are the major trends key to understanding Financial Cards and Payments 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?

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 1 Number of POS Terminals: Units 2020-2025
Table 2 Number of ATMs: Units 2020-2025
Table 3 Value Lost to Fraud 2020-2025
Table 4 Card Expenditure by Location 2025
Table 5 Financial Cards in Circulation by Type: % Number of Cards 2020-2025
Table 6 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2025
Table 7 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 8 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2020-2025
Table 9 Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 10 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 11 Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 12 Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 13 M-Commerce by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 14 M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 15 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 16 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 17 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 18 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 19 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 20 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2025-2030
Table 21 Forecast Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 22 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 23 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 24 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 25 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 26 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

Summary 1 Research Sources

Charge Cards in South Africa - Category analysis

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 27 Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 28 Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 29 Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 30 Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 31 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 32 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 33 Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 34 Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 35 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 36 Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 37 Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 38 Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 39 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 40 Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 41 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 42 Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 43 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 44 Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 45 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 46 Commercial Charge Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 47 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 48 Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 49 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 50 Personal Charge Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 51 Forecast Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 52 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 53 Forecast Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 54 Forecast Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 55 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 56 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 57 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 58 Forecast Commercial Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 59 Forecast Personal Charge Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 60 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 61 Forecast Personal Charge Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 62 Forecast Personal Charge Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030

Credit Cards in South Africa - Category analysis

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 63 Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 64 Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 65 Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 66 Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 67 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 68 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 69 Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 70 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 71 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 72 Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 73 Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 74 Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 75 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 76 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 77 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 78 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 79 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 80 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 81 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 82 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 83 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 84 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 85 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 86 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 87 Forecast Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 88 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 89 Forecast Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 90 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 91 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 92 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 93 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 94 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 95 Forecast Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 96 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 97 Forecast Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 98 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030

Debit Cards in South Africa - Category analysis

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 99 Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 100 Debit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 101 Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 102 Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 103 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 104 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 105 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 106 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 107 Forecast Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 108 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 109 Forecast Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 110 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030

Pre-Paid Cards in South Africa - Category analysis

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 111 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 112 Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 113 Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 114 Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 115 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 116 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 117 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 118 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 119 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 120 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 121 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 122 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 123 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 124 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 125 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 126 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 127 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 128 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 129 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 130 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 131 Forecast Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 132 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 133 Forecast Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 134 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 135 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 136 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 137 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 138 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030

Store Cards in South Africa - Category analysis

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 139 Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 140 Store Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 141 Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 142 Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 143 Store Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 144 Store Cards: Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 145 Forecast Store Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 146 Forecast Store Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 147 Forecast Store Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 148 Forecast Store Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030

COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

Download table of contents
The following categories and subcategories are included:

Financial Cards and Payments

    • ATM Cards
      • Commercial Charge Cards
      • Personal Charge Cards
      • Commercial Credit Cards
      • Personal Credit Cards
      • Commercial Debit Cards
      • Personal Debit Cards
      • Closed Loop Pre-Paid Cards
      • Open Loop Pre-Paid Cards
    • Store Cards
      • Commercial Card Payment Transactions
      • Commercial Electronic Direct/ACH Transactions
      • Commercial Paper Payment Transactions
      • Personal Card Payment Transactions
      • Personal Electronic Direct/ACH Transactions
      • Personal Paper Payment Transactions
        • Commercial Electronic Direct/ACH Transactions
        • Personal Electronic Direct/ACH Transactions
          • Commercial Cash Transactions
          • Commercial Other Paper Transactions
          • Personal Cash Transactions
          • Personal Other Paper Transactions
      • Mobile Proximity Payments
      • Mobile Remote Payments

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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