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Credit Cards in South Africa

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    Report

  • 29 Pages
  • January 2026
  • Region: South Africa
  • Euromonitor International
  • ID: 2516714
High costs of living encouraged heavier use of credit cards in 2025, whilst lower interest rates made credit more accessible to consumers. The rising use of contactless payments and retail e-commerce was a driving force encouraging more consumers to move away from cash out of convenience.

This Credit Card Transactions in South Africa 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.

Table of Contents

KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
  • Strong performance observed in credit cards
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
  • Credit card usage displays growth amidst economic and technological shifts
  • Technological advances make credit card payments easier in South Africa
WHAT’S NEXT?
  • Regulatory reforms that aim to increase financial inclusion are set to drive growth
  • Capitec Bank Holding’s new partnership with accounting software startup indicates a broader shift within banking industry
  • TymeBank and Sanlam set to launch co-branded app to integrate services
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
  • Concentrated competitive landscape is led by major banks
  • Traditional banks focus on loyalty rewards in a highly competitive landscape
CATEGORY DATA
  • Table 1 Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
  • Table 2 Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
  • Table 3 Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
  • Table 4 Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
  • Table 5 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
  • Table 6 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
  • Table 7 Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
  • Table 8 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
  • Table 9 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
  • Table 10 Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
  • Table 11 Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
  • Table 12 Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
  • Table 13 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 14 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 15 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 16 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 17 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 18 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 19 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 20 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 21 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 22 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 23 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 24 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 25 Forecast Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
  • Table 26 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
  • Table 27 Forecast Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
  • Table 28 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
  • Table 29 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
  • Table 30 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
  • Table 31 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
  • Table 32 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
  • Table 33 Forecast Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
  • Table 34 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
  • Table 35 Forecast Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
  • Table 36 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTSFINANCIAL CARDS AND PAYMENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
  • Digital evolution brings innovation to financial cards and payments
KEY DATA FINDINGS
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
  • Lower interest rates support uptick in consumer confidence
  • Digital technologies continue to transform consumer banking services
  • South African Reserve Bank opens national payment system to fintechs under new regulations
  • Postbank continues to encounter challenges with SASSA terminating their contract
WHAT’S NEXT?
  • Bright outlook for the evolving financial cards and payments industry
  • Retailers and foreign banks will reshape the competitive landscape
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
  • Digital-first brands make a play in highly competitive landscape
  • Visa and Mastercard remain dominant card operators
  • Consolidation marks period of strategic expansion amid fintech integration
MARKET INDICATORS
  • Table 37 Number of POS Terminals: Units 2020-2025
  • Table 38 Number of ATMs: Units 2020-2025
  • Table 39 Value Lost to Fraud 2020-2025
  • Table 40 Card Expenditure by Location 2025
  • Table 41 Financial Cards in Circulation by Type: % Number of Cards 2020-2025
  • Table 42 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2025
MARKET DATA
  • Table 43 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
  • Table 44 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2020-2025
  • Table 45 Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2020-2025
  • Table 46 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
  • Table 47 Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2020-2025
  • Table 48 Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
  • Table 49 M-Commerce by Category: Value 2020-2025
  • Table 50 M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
  • Table 51 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 52 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 53 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Operator 2020-2024
  • Table 54 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Issuer 2020-2024
  • Table 55 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
  • Table 56 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2025-2030
  • Table 57 Forecast Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2025-2030
  • Table 58 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
  • Table 59 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2025-2030
  • Table 60 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
  • Table 61 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: Value 2025-2030
  • Table 62 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS
SOURCES
  • Summary 1 Research Sources