The number of credit cards in Colombia saw a return to growth in 2025 after two years of decline. This was supported by an improving economic scenario, lower interest rates and improving consumer confidence. Consumers are increasingly turning to credit cards for payment with this being backed by the digitalisation of the market, increased card acceptance, and the offer of attractive benefits.

Credit cards in the Czech Republic saw rises in cards in circulation and transaction volume and value terms in 2025. The category was dominated by personal credit cards, which tended to be used for higher-value purchases. However, Czech consumers continued to prefer debit cards and other alternative payment types, such as loans or instalment plans for larger purchases. In general, local consumers try to avoid accumulating revolving debt, which militates against the use of credit cards.

Credit cards continued to rebound in 2025 despite apparently unfavourable economic and political conditions. European Central Bank policies, including the reduction of key rates play an important part by making credit conditions more attractive.

The number of credit cards in Sweden is declining as consumers increasingly shift to debit cards, which have come to be seen as a default everyday payment method by many Swedes. Nonetheless, credit card usage is going up amongst those that still hold such cards, with significant room remaining for a further increase in the frequency of use.

The transaction value of credit cards in Mexico increased robustly in 2025 as an ever-expanding percentage of the local population become incorporated into the modern financial ecosystem, with FinTechs playing a key role in onboarding. Meanwhile, inflation and employment instability have led more local consumers to seek credit as a financial buffer, further accelerating the use of credit cards.

Credit cards in Chile saw a rise in the number of cards in circulation in 2025, as the category recovered from declines through most of the review period. This supported strong rises in the number and value of transactions at the end of the review period. The growth in the category was supported by stabilisation in the economy, with a more stable inflation rate. The market also witnessed strong e-commerce penetration and the normalisation of discretionary spending, not only in retail, but also i

Credit card issuers and operators in Germany are focused on providing a fast and frictionless payment journey. Rather than pushing for a share of everyday POS purchases the focus has been on driving digital payments, travel and e-commerce. Improved acceptance at small merchants through Tap to Pay on iPhone and other softPOS options has also been a game changer, with consumers now able to use their credit cards more widely.

Credit cards in the United Arab Emirates witnessed a faster rise in terms of circulation in 2025, compared with the previous years of the review period. This growth was supported by a combination of targeted campaigns by local banks, expanding credit access among younger working professionals, and the rising demand for flexible payment options. Banks also became more aggressive in acquiring new customers, offering attractive sign-up bonuses, cashback programmes and partnerships with major retail

The challenge for players in credit cards is to seek growth opportunities amid a declining population. This is leading to a growing focus on premium credit cards, as companies target high-net-worth individuals. Another area that is attracting attention is commercial credit cards, a much smaller segment than personal credit cards, but one that offers higher spend per card.

In China, credit cards saw declines in both transaction value and cards in circulation in 2025, reflecting cautious consumer spending, tighter oversight of fees and add-ons, and bank-led closures of dormant “sleep accounts”. Usage also weakened as consumers increasingly opted for embedded, point-of-sale credit from platforms such as Huabei and JD Baitiao, while subdued price expectations reinforced a wait-and-see mindset for discretionary purchases. Over the forecast period, credit card transact

In contrast to debit cards, credit cards saw higher transaction value growth than cards in circulation in 2025. Services and experiences are the most commonly purchased through credit cards, rather than everyday items. As with debit cards, contactless is increasingly common across merchants, offering unparalleled convenience. The prominence of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) continues to feature prominently at large UK retailers (e.g., Klarna at Sainsbury’s brands Argos/Habitat/Tu and at Boots), maint

Credit cards is seeing strong growth in terms of cards in circulation and transaction value. This expansion is supported by the fact that, in contrast with many countries, it is common to offer interest-free instalment payment plans for purchases with credit cards in Brazil. The ongoing rise of fintech is also contributing to growth, particularly amongst younger demographics.

Credit cards is seeing growth supported by a digitally connected population. Transaction value is being driven by higher-value purchases across a range of categories, as well as inflationary pressure and changing consumption patterns.

While the number of credit cards in circulation in Australia decreased in 2025, transactions increased, as local consumers continue to value cashless payments and welcome the option to pay full payment for goods during times of financial constraint. Moreover, credit card issuers increasingly offer rewards and loyalty programs as added incentives.

In 2025, credit cards in Singapore saw a rise in the number of cards in circulation, driven by a combination of strong consumer demand and a well-established digital payments infrastructure. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) reported that credit card debt saw a double-digit increase in Q1 2024 to reach SGD14.6 billion. Such growth reflects an increased reliance on credit cards for everyday transactions, especially as consumers continue to shift away from cash. Additionally, the widesprea

Transaction value of credit card transactions continued to increase in Austria in 2024. This is in line with the general, ongoing trend from cash to card payments, where there is still a lot of open potential in Austria in comparison to many other Western Europe countries. Credit cards are also supported by the popularity of contactless payments in general, whereby even smaller cash payments are increasingly being made with cards, as well as the increasing popularity of mobile wallets such as Ap

In 2024, credit cards in South Africa continued to perform positively across all indicators. An increasing number of South African households have started relying on credit cards to meet month-end commitments, a scenario exacerbated by rising electricity and fuel prices having an accumulative effect on essentials such as groceries. The trend has been noticeable among low- and mid-income earners due to many experiencing difficulties in repaying asset-backed debts such as mortgages and vehicle fin

Morocco is a country heavily reliant on cash, and those consumers who do want a financial card historically favour debit cards to any other type of financial cards. Credit cards therefore remains significantly underpenetrated, partly due to limited consumer awareness, but also continues to suffer from a negative perception amongst locals due to fear of falling into financial difficulty, and concerns over fraud when transacting online. The application process for a credit card also remains length

2024 had barely rung in when Capital One made an enormous splash. Capital One, an enormous credit card issuer in the US, announced in February 2024 that it intended to purchase US credit card network and banking services provider Discover Financial Services. The domestic and international implications of this deal, if it is successful, will be broad and long-lasting. From an international perspective, Discover runs one of only a handful of truly global payment card networks, The Discover Global

The Danish credit card market enjoyed a strong year in 2024, with both transaction volumes and retail sales value continuing their strong growth trajectory. Credit card usage already surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with 2022 marking the point at which transactions volume and value exceeded 2019 figures, and further expansion has been recorded since. Despite this positive development, the number of credit cards in circulation continued its gradual but steady decline - a trend observed over several

Credit cards continued to record a steady increase in the volume of cards in circulation, mainly due to the relatively low penetration of such cards in Nigeria. Credit card transaction values saw strong growth as households battled against challenging economic conditions, with existing cardholders using their credit cards to meet their financial obligations. Nevertheless, overall performance was hampered by rising interest rate in response to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s more restrictive moneta

Credit cards in Israel struggled amid rising economic uncertainty and high interest rates in 2024. A noticeable shift has emerged among locals towards safer payment methods, and debit and charge cards are increasingly favoured as they provide a straightforward and reliable means of managing expenses without accruing unnecessary debt. The stability and control offered by these methods are particularly appealing in an environment marked by financial unpredictability.

Credit cards recorded a promising performance in Greece in 2024, thanks to relative stability and the start of economic growth in the country. This relates to transaction values and volumes and the number of cards in circulation. However, as seen in debit cards, an increase in everyday usage means smaller transactions per spend, in line with the increased frequency of use.

The rising number of credit cards and transactions in Turkey is primarily driven by the influx of new consumers entering the banking system and obtaining credit cards as they transition into the job market after graduation. There is also a strong correlation between inflation and credit card expenditure in Turkey, as consumers are more reliant on this payment method during an economic downturn. Whilst consumers are spending more on credit cards in 2024, inflation has directly impacted retail pri