Credit Cards in the United Kingdom

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).

This Credit Card Transactions in United Kingdom report establishes the size and structure of the market for ATMs cards, smart cards, credit cards, debit cards, charge cards, pre-paid cards and store cards. It looks at key players in the market (issuers and operators), number of cards in circulation, numbers transactions and value of transactions. It offers strategic analysis of sector forecasts and trends to watch.

Product coverage: Commercial Credit Card Transactions, Personal Credit Card Transactions.

Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Why buy this report?

• Get a detailed picture of the Credit Card Transactions market;
• Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;
• Understand the competitive environment, the market’s major players and leading brands;
• Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.