Despite a decline in the number of issued cards in 2024, value sales and transaction volumes of charge cards in Germany continued to increase, with the category remaining a significant part of Germany’s payment landscape, particularly for higher-value transactions. The further rise in transactions indicates that users still value the unique benefits charge cards offer for specific, larger purchases. Charge cards are particularly attractive to affluent consumers and frequent travellers due to the

As local households grappled with challenging market conditions in 2024, the transaction value of charge cards in South Africa struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels. This situation was exacerbated by the national prime rate remaining above 11%, despite two consecutive cuts of 25 basis points in the last quarter of the year. High- and mid-income earners were particularly affected, as they faced greater pressure on disposable incomes due to rising repayments on substantial loans, leaving limi

As in credit cards, perhaps the biggest story in the charge cards landscape in the US in 2024 was Capital One’s announcement in February that it was planning to purchase Discover Financial Services. Discover is one of the few truly international networks that plays at major scale, and an acquisition by Capital One would be a blockbuster deal. There are a number of factors that must be taken into account, and it remains possible that regulatory scrutiny will ultimately prove to be too negative fo

Charge cards remained a niche category in the Czech Republic in 2024, and saw volume and current value transactions shrink for a second consecutive year. Circulation numbers also contracted, which was in keeping with the negative trend observed throughout the review period. Stringent application criteria and the requirement to pay off balances in full every month have historically limited the appeal of these instruments in the country, with their use mainly confined to a narrow base comprising l

In 2024, charge cards in Israel was impacted by still-high interest rates. In January the interest rate was reduced by 0.25%, bringing it to 4.5%. Despite this minor decrease, no further reductions are anticipated in the near term, leaving interest rates at historically high levels. This persistent environment of elevated rates is influencing consumer payment behaviours. Further, rising living costs have been prompting Israeli consumers to exercise caution in their spending. Many individuals are

Charge cards affected by the discontinuation of personal charge cards in Greece in 2024. However, this came as no surprise, after a long period of decline. With the agreement between the major systemic bank Alpha Bank (the sole issuer) and Diners Club (the sole operator) ending in 2024 and not being renewed, there remains no active personal charge card scheme in Greece. The first big blow for the category came in 2019 with the withdrawal of American Express from Greece, and the category kept dec

Charge cards is a niche category in Sweden which is mainly comprised of commercial credit cards. The number of charge cards has been declining over the review period, with a notable contraction at the height of the pandemic. Whilst there was a strong rebound in charge card transactions in 2021 and 2022, this trend quickly dissipated. Only marginal growth was evident in 2023 before charge card transactions declined in 2024.

Charge cards remained niche in Hungary in 2024. Currently, only commercial charge cards are offered for top corporate managers and there are no indications to re-launch personal charge cards, as the last products were pulled from the market during 2012 and remain absent. The sales generated by charge cards are also expected to decline, due to the popularity of commercial debit cards over charge cards. This situation is not expected to change over the forecast period.

The charge card category in Romania is dominated by the commercial sector. Leading players have adopted a business-to-business marketing approach to maintain their positions. Banks are hesitant to invest in promoting and expanding the usage of charge cards due to other more profitable products in their portfolios. Personal charge cards face limited prospects as consumers fail to see a clear advantage over credit cards, and issuers are not actively promoting or innovating in this domain.

Charge cards in Italy has fared well in 2024, with volume and current value transactions rising at robust rates and growth in circulation numbers anticipated to be up slightly on 2023. With the recent spike in inflation having now largely subsided and other key macroeconomic indicators remaining broadly favourable, increased confidence and spending among consumers and businesses have had a positive influence on the category’s performance. Moreover, as with financial cards in general, usage level

In 2024 the market size for charge cards in Portugal remained small, with issuers much more focused on credit cards. Only a few players offer charge cards to clients with these cards seen as secondary and complementary products to their main offering. In Portugal, charge cards are only available to businesses, primarily used for employee expenses.

Charge cards in Poland in 2024 saw the continued decline of personal charge cards, which are now becoming a niche. Pekao was a leading issuer in 2023; however, in 2024 personal charge cards are no longer in the bank’s offer for individual clients. In the review period, Pekao offered, for example, Visa Concerto or Eurokarta personal charge cards, but these are no longer available. PKO Bank Polski is another former issuer that has stopped issuing personal charge cards. In other banks, these cards

Charge cards continued to represent a relatively niche payment method in the Netherlands in 2024, as Dutch consumers predominantly prefer debit cards and cash for everyday transactions. This preference is deeply rooted in cultural habits that favour straightforward and low-cost payment methods.

Charge cards in Canada faced challenges to growth in 2024. High prices of groceries, as well as gas and rent, most Canadians struggled to meet their monthly financial needs. Credit card outstanding balances soared, despite the efforts of the Bank of Canada to control inflation and reduce interest rates. Given the nature of charge cards, where the balance must be paid in full every month, and the economic strife suffered by many consumers, charge cards lost much of their attraction in terms of pe

Charge cards is a niche category in the Norwegian financial cards and payments landscape where debit cards and credit cards dominate. Charge cards are considered less flexible than credit cards and issuers/operators, with less well-known brands compared to the leading banks, which are household names in Norway. Charge cards were hit hard by the pandemic and thus far have not recovered. Indeed, charge card transactions in 2024 remain well below pre-pandemic levels despite making a moderate recove

Charge cards remained unpopular in Egypt in 2024. Indeed, prospects for charge cards remain unpromising in the country, with cards in circulation decreasing in both commercial and personal terms – although the decline is steeper in personal charge cards than seen in commercial charge cards.

In 2024, charge cards in France showed slightly improved growth in the number of cards in circulation, an appreciable increase in terms of transactions, and a double-digit rise in value sales. A key factor to this ongoing success is local consumers’ growing recognition of private charge card functionality. This was a limited area a decade ago, with low interest and acceptance, although it now shows real promise. All Groupement des Cartes Bancaires (CB) charge cards, whether they are co-badged or

Charge cards in Indonesia turned in another year of positive growth in terms of transactions volume in 2024, driven largely by the expansion of American Express card acceptance in EDC machines throughout Indonesia, and the expansion of e-commerce bill payments using an AMEX card. Also supporting growth was the variety of special promotional offers available; for example, some of those from BCA included attractive discounts for food and beverage purchases as well as discounts on hotel rates and a

American Express (AMEX) remains the sole operator in Thailand’s charge card market. The player offers cards with no pre-set spending limit, catering to high-net-worth individuals. For example, the AMEX Platinum Charge Card, the company’s flagship product in Thailand, is aimed at individuals with an annual income of at least THB1.2 million, with an upfront annual fee of THB40,000. Despite this, AMEX positions the card’s benefits as offering significant value, with rewards and exclusive deals tota

Charge cards in Spain benefit from being popular for use in e-commerce, with growth in e-commerce also influenced by increased spending with charge cards. Charge cards can be attractive to consumers who seek short-term finance for purchases, without falling into the trap of acquiring large debt bolstered by ongoing interest rates. Rather, charge cards require the user to pay off the balance in full each month, instead of charges running on month-by-month with interest added, as per traditional c

Malaysians demonstrate a clear preference for credit cards over charge cards, with the latter seeing relatively low demand by the end of the review period. This trend can be attributed to the limited number of issuers offering charge cards, which restricts their availability and hinders widespread adoption. In fact, many banks have ceased offering charge cards, especially commercial charge cards, due to the lack of demand.

In Taiwan, charge cards are not as widespread or as popular as credit cards and other payment methods. The country predominantly relies on credit cards, debit cards, and digital wallets for everyday transactions. Historically, charge cards have been less popular in Taiwan due to limited merchant acceptance compared with major card networks such as Visa, Mastercard, and JCB.

Charge cards has remained a niche area in Argentina in 2024. These types of cards have never been widely used by consumers or businesses in the country, as annual maintenance fees are high and balances typically have to be paid in full each month. Credit cards are overwhelmingly favoured due to their revolving financing component and greater flexibility. The core base for charge cards consists of more affluent individuals, who are often inclined to see them as status symbols, and larger corporat

The number of charge cards in Saudi Arabia continues to expand, through offering users greater flexibility in purchasing power compared to traditional credit cards. Unlike credit cards, charge cards do not come with a pre-set spending limit, meaning users can access the funds they need even if that amount fluctuates significantly from month to month. This flexibility allows charge cardholders to better manage their purchasing needs without worrying about a fixed credit limit. However, charge car