Pre-Paid Card Transactions

Pre-paid cards in Hong Kong continues to be mainly driven by the open loop format, with number of transactions, number of cards issued, and value transactions of the latter all continuing to rise in 2024. This is in contrast to the niche of closed…

In 2023, pre-paid cards in Germany displayed a remarkable ability to adapt to post-pandemic changes. This was in contrast to 2022, when pre-paid cards witnessed a decline in transactions and value due to extraordinary circumstances, such as the…

Pre-paid card transactions witnessed healthy double-digit growth in transaction volumes over 2021-2022. However, in 2023, the category witnessed a decline in volume of transactions as consumers became increasingly inclined to choose alternative…

2023 is likely to go down as the first generally “normal” year of the 2020s. While 2022 saw most companies return to at least some form of hybrid working, the emergence of the Omicron variant early in the year had a significant effect on the overall…

Closed loop pre-paid card transactions in Austria are essentially merchant-issued gift cards, and demand for these continued to increase in 2023. In a time of persistently high inflation with increased prices of essentials such as food and petrol,…

Pre-paid cards in the United Arab Emirates is experiencing a surge in innovation and growth, driven by evolving consumer preferences, technological advances, and the increasing popularity of digital payments. Mobile reloading options, such as bank…

In 2022, South Korea witnessed growth in both the issuance and usage of pre-paid cards in line with greater mobility outside of the home. Shinhan Card, in particular, played a role in driving this growth, reporting a remarkable increase in the retail…

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to a series of government aid initiatives distributed through pre-paid cards. This contributed to rising awareness among consumers about these financial products and their convenience, especially for…

Pre-paid cards are largely used for commuting and travelling in Thailand, with a considerable amount of closed loop pre-paid card usage accounted for by electronic ticketing on the Thai capital’s public transportation systems BTS and MRT. During the…

Pre-paid cards are benefitting from the Kingdom’s move towards a cashless society – especially so in certain areas. For example, as seen with the uptake of pre-paid cards for the payment of workers’ salaries, notably so for domestic workers. In this…

Despite increased competition from other payment methods, pre-paid cards retains the potential for growth as Malaysia continues to shift towards a cashless society. With the use of cash in long-term decline, a trend accelerated by the Coronavirus…

Pre-paid cards continued to be one of the most popular types of financial card in Italy, particularly in the case of young adults or those without a bank account. However, as with other financial cards, the rise of contactless payments expanded usage…

The performance of pre-paid cards is supported by the growth of e-commerce – notably since the era of the pandemic. In fact, prior to 2020, transaction numbers in pre-paid cards were showing a negative performance, in sharp contrast to what is seen…

Turkey is witnessing dynamic growth in social media and gaming expenditure. While consumers above the age of 18 and those in the workforce have the option to obtain credit or debit cards to access their wages, a different consumer profile is emerging…

A significant shift is underway in the realm of Dutch public transport, as the familiar OV chipkaart is being gradually phased out and replaced with a more versatile system known as OVpay. Since the start of 2023, travellers on public transport have…

Pre-paid cards continued to perform well in 2023, with the number of cards in circulation rising steadily and transaction values registering double-digit growth. Digital solutions are performing well in pre-paid cards with Revolut, for example, using…

Despite the rise of digital wallets, physical credit cards and pre-paid cards still play a significant role in payments. Notably, digital wallets often cannot link to popular pre-paid cards like EasyCard, the largest transportation card in Taiwan,…

Pre-paid cards remain relatively strong in terms of the number of cards, but hold a very marginal share of all card payment transactions in 2023. Bank account penetration is almost universal in Sweden, with the result that pre-paid cards are…

Pre-paid cards are experiencing significant growth in 2023, encompassing a surge in the number of cards in circulation, the volume of transactions, and their overall value. This surge is primarily attributed to the remarkable growth potential…

Against the backdrop of double-digit inflation in Poland, employees are increasingly interested in non-wage benefits that can help mitigate the rising cost of living. Many companies are responding to this pressing need by expanding the range of…