Debit card circulation and transaction activity increased in the Philippines in 2025 as banks and digital players simplified onboarding and expanded access through app-led issuance and partnerships, including government-linked rollouts. Spending shifted further towards day-to-day use cases such as groceries, bills and online purchases, supported by rebates, rewards and improved in-app controls that made card use more visible and easier to manage. Mobile wallets and contactless acceptance reinfor

In 2025, debit cards in Romania are experiencing strong growth driven by mandatory merchant acceptance laws, a rapid shift toward contactless payments via mobile wallets, and increased competition from fintechs—making digital transactions increasingly the choice for everyday purchases.

While cash is still popular, debit cards are an increasingly accepted payment method in Peru in 2025, featuring strong, growing adoption via Visa/Mastercard, especially in urban areas and through digital wallets.

2025 marked a year where traditional card payments were increasingly blended with, or replaced by, mobile wallets in Poland.

Debit cards saw expansion in 2025, with spending increasingly going contactless and these cards being used for smaller, everyday transactions such as coffee and public transportation. Debit cards are notably increasingly being linked to digital wallets, while cash withdrawals using these cards are declining.

Debit cards continue to perform strongly in Saudi Arabia in 2025, supported by government initiatives promoting a cashless society, expanding payment infrastructure, and rising consumer preference for secure, debt-free payment methods. The growing penetration of contactless payments, widespread acceptance of Mada-enabled cards, and increasing integration with mobile wallets are further reinforcing debit cards as the primary digital payment method. In addition, strong growth in e-commerce

Debit cards in Vietnam witnessed a strong performance in 2025, aided by digitalisation, the expansion of e-commerce retailing and general urbanisation in the country. Debit cards are now directly linked to VNeID, the country’s national digital ID system, cementing their importance in everyday transactions. Access to debit cards has also broadened to younger demographics, providing a further boost to debit card usage.

Debit card circulation in Taiwan rose in 2025, driven by digital wallets, mobile banking, and contactless infrastructure. Cathay was the leading issuer, thanks to inclusive and technology-forward solutions, while Visa and Mastercard focused on expanded partnerships and security innovations. Government-backed initiatives and youth-focused products are boosting financial inclusion, paving the way for broader, everyday debit card adoption across retail, transport, and online transactions.

Debit cards in Denmark registered another solid performance in 2025, with circulation numbers and volume and current value transactions increasing steadily. It remained the primary beneficiary of the ongoing migration away from cash among consumers and businesses, as these instruments are easily accessible, incur comparatively low fees and enjoy near-universal acceptance. Favourable economic conditions and demographic trends also continued to support the positive development of the category.

In 2025, US debit card usage continued to grow, partly driven by younger consumers’ preference for debit over credit. Transaction volumes rose alongside the ongoing decline in cash and cheque usage. Regulatory shifts, including potential adjustments to interchange fees and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) oversight, are expected to shape the market. Visa retained market leadership by transaction value, while JPMorgan Chase led issuers by the number of cards in circulation.

In 2025, debit card usage in Ukraine continued to grow, supported by expanded POS infrastructure and mandatory cashless acceptance for merchants. Contactless functionality and mobile wallet integration further strengthened everyday use. During the forecast period, Open Banking and planned SEPA integration are set to enhance functionality and cross-border efficiency, while the government-backed Diia.Card is promoting debit card adoption through consolidated social payments and digital integration

Debit cards continue to grow strongly in Turkey in 2025 as consumers increasingly choose them over cash for everyday spending. The widespread adoption of contactless technology and the convenience of tap-and-go payments, particularly for low-value purchases, are key drivers of this shift. Banks are supporting growth through targeted loyalty campaigns, cashback offers, and by highlighting enhanced security features, such as real-time monitoring and fraud protection.

Debit cards in Greece registered both healthy growth in transaction value, as well as increase in the number of debit cards in circulation in 2025. Over the last decade, Greece has experienced a significant shift away from cash to debit cards. This received a further boost in April 2024 when a universal merchant-acceptance mandate was implemented that eliminated remaining exemptions for electronic payments across all sectors of the economy. This reform requires all businesses and professionals t

Debit card volumes in Hungary continued to grow in 2025, driven by rising uptake among younger consumers and increasing adoption by older users seeking a secure alternative to cash. Transaction growth remained robust despite approaching maturity, supported by wider everyday usage, strong POS coverage, and the expanding role of neobanks. Looking ahead, virtual debit cards and mobile-first experiences are set to reinforce debit cards’ role as a gateway to broader digital financial engagement.

In 2025, debit cards saw modest growth as consumers became more cautious about debt and aimed to limit spending to available account balances. Challenging economic conditions and geopolitical disruptions increased reliance on debit cards for online and everyday purchases, particularly among displaced households. While valued for budgeting and spending control, debit cards faced competition from credit cards offering lower interest rates and attractive rewards.

The number of debit cards in Morocco continued to grow in 2025, driven by government inclusion programmes, regulatory reforms, and improvements in infrastructure. Contactless adoption, e-commerce, and mobile wallet integration are boosting transactions, while fintech partnerships with Visa, Mastercard, and local banks have accelerated innovation. Banque Centrale Populaire remains the leading issuer, though smaller players like CIH Bank are gaining traction with value-added services and mobile in

In 2025, the number of debit cards in the Netherlands increased modestly, supported by new current account openings and the replacement of Maestro and V Pay with Debit Mastercard and Visa Debit. Transaction volumes rose due to widespread adoption of mobile wallets, contactless payments, public transport via OVpay, and e-commerce. ING led the competitive landscape, leveraging digital innovation, customer-centric services, and expanded online functionality, while iDEAL remains a dominant alternati

Debit cards continue to see growth in Portugal, with commercial debit cards in circulation increasing by almost a fifth in 2025. This was due to the extension of the mandate to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of the use of electronic invoicing for business-to-government (B2G) transactions, following the requirement for large businesses in 2021.

The debit card landscape is highly mature in Norway in 2025, with little room for further growth. However, a significant move that will accelerate the shift to mobile NFC payments is that in 2024 the national debit system BankAxept integrated with mobile payment app Vipps to allow the debit system to function via digital wallets, especially in-store.

Although debit card transaction values declined in Hong Kong in 2025, volumes increased, as did the number of accounts and, marginally, the number of cards in circulation. Government initiatives such as Faster Payment systems are encouraging more consumers and businesses to turn to digital-first solutions, such as mobile wallets.

Debit cards in Malaysia recorded rising circulation and higher transaction activity in 2025, supported by deeper cashless adoption, stronger mobile banking usage and continued rollout of DuitNow and QR interoperability. Debit cards remained the default instrument for routine payments, with contactless penetration and broader merchant acceptance lifting usage more quickly than credit cards. Solid domestic demand and low unemployment also supported account ownership, helping debit cards stay centr

Debit cards in South Korea are facing growing competition from BNPL financial services, which are proving attractive financial cards among young adults. Travel debit cards are adding some value to category performance.

While debit cards in Nigeria showed another positive performance in 2025, circulation numbers and volume and current value transactions grew at slower rates than in 2024. This was partly because cash shortages in the country eased somewhat, particularly over the latter half of the year. The slowdown also reflected the enduring tendency of households and businesses to rein in spending amidst still-elevated inflationary pressures. Nonetheless, the pace of the category’s expansion remained impressi

While 2025 presented challenges due to fluctuating consumer confidence, debit cards was positively impacted by improving economic indicators, which boosted spending, particularly on essential goods. The use of AI to boost fraud detection and enhance the consumer experience also had a positive effect on debit card usage during the year.