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After a bumpy two years, financial cards and payments in the UK stabilised in 2025, but remained volume-led, with modest transaction values outpacing cards in circulation. Headline inflation hovered near the target for much of the year, and policy rates began to ease, helping normalise day-to-day spending. The effect was most evident in more frequent, lower-value transactions. Consumers tapped for coffees, transport and top-up grocery runs rather than consolidating purchases. As a result, transa
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Financial Cards and Payments industry in United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom?
- What are the major trends key to understanding Financial Cards and Payments in United Kingdom?
- 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 the United Kingdom - Industry Overview
KEY DATA FINDINGS
KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS
Contactless and mobile wallets cement their dominance
BNPL faces regulatory challenges amid explosive growth
AI and sustainability redefine card innovation
Growth set to be driven by increased transactions for everyday purchases
UK policy will shape the direction of the category
Steady outlook for the years ahead
Lloyds benefits from partnership with Visa and strong brand equity
Revolut sees rapid expansion in the UK
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 the United Kingdom - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Usage contracts as consumers prioritise flexibility and cost control
Commercial charge card marginalised by digital efficiency and corporate controls
Personal charge cards towards gradual decline in a digital-dominant landscape
Commercial charge cards will be sidelined by integrated expense platform
Consolidation and strategic retrenchment set to continue
Consolidation deepens as innovation bypasses charge cards
UK Banks continue to channel investment into credit and debit cards
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 the United Kingdom - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Experiences underpin personal credit card growth, with 2025 momentum steady and ticket sizes higher
BNPL usage remains widespread at checkouts, with regulatory oversight ahead
BNPL regulations expected to encourage card-funded instalments and steadier e-commerce volumes and value
Card rails to remain spine of UK payments, but PSR remedies on scheme and processing fees could reshape pricing and acceptance
Future opportunities cluster around wallets and tokenised card credentials rather than displacement
Issuers concentrated among ‘big four’
American Express benefits from increased merchant acceptance
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 the United Kingdom - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Growth for the category across metrics in 2025
Debit cards strengthen their dominance in the UK
Cash and cheque usage continues to fade as electronic options hold sway
AI-based acceleration behind debit card innovations
Soft POS and tap-to-pay to unlock the long tail for debit
Regulatory dynamics set to play a key role in growth of segment
AI innovation will continue apace, with a focus on security
Power players of UK debit payments continue to expand
Barclays vies for share with superior user experience
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 the United Kingdom - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Open loop pre-paid grows on “controlled-exposure” safety and wallet integration
Closed loop pre-paid sees growth thanks to gift cards
Youth and family propositions scale pre-paid with bite-sized literacy
Financial inclusion and gift card momentum will underpin growth, especially in digital formats
Open loop travel pre-paid cards to keep growing, but face a higher bar as banks push for fee-free debit abroad
Transport closed loop cards will continue to decline as contactless PAYG expands beyond London
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 the United Kingdom - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Retailer credit consolidates as store cards migrate to digital credit under looming BNPL rules
Debit card issuers offer auto-earn rewards
Gift cards cement their lead over store cards as pre-paid, digital-first budgets rule
Store cards set to decline steeply as digital credit and BNPL dominate
BNPL will continue to present further threat
Consolidation will deepen as store card issuers retreat and retailers pivot towards digital credit
Competitive landscape consolidates as category continues to lose appeal
Notable decline even for primary issuer of store cards
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
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.
See all of our definitions
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This report originates from Passport, our Financial Cards and Payments research and analysis database.
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