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Insurance and Assistance linked to Payment Cards and Bank Accounts in Southern and Western Europe

Published by: Finaccord Ltd.

Published: Mar. 1, 2009 - 175 Pages


Table of Contents


0.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The regional market was worth around €5.26 billion in gross premiums written in 2008

… with France and the UK combined accounting for almost 70% of this market value

Card protection insurance is the most commonly occurring type of enhancement

Programs are sometimes organised by centralised card issuers rather than individual distributors

Several providers have an identifiably international approach to the market

The market for insurance and assistance enhancements should continue to make progress

… as a consequence of the virtuous combination of a variety of factors…

… including the growing application of insurance and assistance to standard banking products…

… and changes in the demographic structure and general behaviour of consumers as a whole

France is probably the market in which cutting edge innovations are most apparent

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Rationale

Mainstream bancassurance markets are comparatively well documented…

… but less attention has been given to insurance and assistance linked to banking products

Insurance and assistance linked to banking products: Europe’s ‘covert’ bancassurance market?

Methodology

The research program identifies in excess of 7,250 insurance and assistance enhancements…

… attached to over 2,200 banking products offered by the universe of 265 banking entities

The basic units of analysis for the report are the payment cards and bank accounts themselves

Definitions

Finaccord

PartnerBASE™

2.0 REGIONAL OVERVIEW

Introduction

Debit cards

Across all eight countries, debit cards issued advance at an average rate of 2.2% per annum

Debit cards per capita reach high and low points in 2008 in the Netherlands and Italy respectively

Credit and other pay later cards

The UK now accounts for a regional share of less than 30% of credit and pay later cards issued

In terms of credit cards issued per capita, Spain could quite conceivably overtake the UK in 2009

Belgian and Dutch consumers show the least inclination to carry credit and other pay later cards

Average number of insurance and assistance policies per product

Insurance and assistance enhancements are most widespread among French banks

Relative weight of broad categories of insurance and assistance

Insurance and assistance preferences vary somewhat between the eight countries analysed

Penetration rates for insurance and assistance policies

Card and cash cover

Card protection insurance: commonplace in all countries other than Belgium and the Netherlands

ATM cash theft insurance: sometimes offered as an adjunct to wider protection policies

Travel cover

Travel accident insurance: packaged with over a half of banking products analysed in Spain

Travel health insurance: stand-alone policies are limited to a handful of examples in Italy

Travel assistance: penetration rates are close to one third in France and Spain

Travel inconvenience insurance: most CartaSi cards in Italy carry travel inconvenience cover

Comprehensive travel insurance: packaged automatically with many types of card in France

Creditor, accident and health cover

Creditor insurance (life / permanent disability): optional cover is standard in Ireland and the UK

Creditor insurance (temporary incapacity / unemployment): penetration rates are similar

Personal accident insurance: cover is offered for free in a minority of cases in Italy and Spain

Accidental death insurance: the regional average penetration rate reaches 16.5%

Health / hospital cash plans: offered by a number of banking institutions in Italy and Portugal

Health assistance: penetration rates are significant only in Italy and Portugal

Shopping cover

Purchase protection insurance: adopted to a greater or lesser extent by all Dutch card issuers

Price protection insurance: penetration rates lag far behind those for purchase protection cover

Extended warranties: examples of packaging are most visible in France and the UK

Other types of cover

Road assistance: almost 20% of products analysed in Portugal include this form of cover

Home assistance: while absent in four countries, penetration rates are relatively high in Portugal

Personal liability insurance: packaging with banking products occurs only in Italy and Portugal

Legal expenses insurance / assistance: rates of provision are modest in all territories

Mobile telephone insurance: inclusion within card protection cover boosts penetration in France

Identity protection insurance / assistance: subject to significant development only in the UK

Car hire insurance: a minor feature of the market in France, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain

Corporate liability waiver insurance: included with over 25% of all business and corporate cards

Other miscellaneous insurance: numerous other types of enhancement are in evidence…

… ranging from computer laptop theft insurance and computing assistance…

… to Internet delivery insurance and Internet purchase protection insurance…

… and insurance for missed events, mobile gadgets and winter sports

In France, customers with Carrefour’s PASS card can choose from a broad array of policies

Approximate market size

It is necessary to make a variety of assumptions when computing the market size

Travel accident insurance and purchase protection insurance are the most common policy types

The regional market was worth approximately €5.26 billion in gross written premiums in 2008…

… and is likely to be growing at an average annual rate of between 5% and 10% overall

Insurance and assistance premiums per capita are highest in the UK and lowest in Belgium

Card-related creditor insurance and card protection insurance are the highest value segments

Consumer metrics

Finaccord’s pan-European consumer research also yields valuable insights into the market

Key consumer metrics for card protection insurance

Card protection insurance paid for separately enjoys the highest penetration in France

Key consumer metrics for creditor (card payment protection) insurance

Insurance protecting credit card payments is most widely held by French consumers…

… although acquisition rates in a paid-for format are most advanced in the UK

Key consumer metrics for travel insurance

French consumers are most likely to rely on travel insurance linked to their credit card

Key consumer metrics for other forms of insurance and assistance

In the UK, the scope exists to increase free packaging with credit cards and current accounts

3.0 BELGIUM

Introduction to the banking and payment card sectors

The aftermath of the ‘credit crunch’ brings about fundamental change to the banking sector

Numerous medium-sized and small banking ventures challenge the four largest institutions

Credit and other pay later cards grow at double the rate of debit cards in Belgium

Insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts

Broad types of cover

Travel-related cover is most commonly packaged with payment cards and bank accounts

Specific cover penetration

… albeit this often appears in the form of travel accident insurance or travel assistance

Operating models

Cardif, ING Insurance and KBC Insurance are active as captive underwriters in Belgium

Partner market shares

AIG Europe is the most prolific partner for both travel accident and purchase protection policies

4.0 FRANCE

Introduction to the banking and payment card sectors

The concentrated French consumer banking market is experiencing further consolidation…

… as a result of the link between the Banques Populaires and the Caisses d’Epargne…

… and the acquisition of the Belgian and French banking arms of Fortis by BNP Paribas

Carte Bleue and MasterCard play a key role in insurance and assistance enhancements

The popularity of co-branded and private label cards boosts credit and other pay later products

Insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts

Broad types of cover

Card and cash protection is the most widespread category of cover in France

Specific cover penetration

… with card protection insurance often embracing forms of mobile telephone insurance

Travel cover of one sort or another is carried by a majority of MasterCard and Visa cards

France also plays host to a variety of innovative enhancements to banking products

Operating models

France is characterised by the utilization of a very diverse range of operating models

Gras Savoye and SPB are influential as affinity brokers of insurance and assistance

Partner market shares

The Groupement Carte Bleue collaborates with several suppliers for travel-related cover

Gras Savoye and SPB are prominent as organisers of card protection insurance

A high number of providers compete in other major areas of insurance and assistance

5.0 IRELAND

Introduction to the banking and payment card sectors

A variety of banking institutions owned by foreign parents challenge the traditional incumbents

Debit cards issued comprehensively outgrow credit and other pay later cards issued in Ireland

Insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts

Broad types of cover

Creditor and other accident and health covers are available most frequently in Ireland…

Specific cover penetration

… although card protection insurance achieves the highest overall rate of penetration

Operating models

Most schemes are organised in conjunction with single, external underwriters…

… although Affinion International is used by Ulster Bank for its ufirst account

Partner market shares

CPP accounts for most of the main relationships available for card protection insurance

Several providers are active in card-related creditor insurance and comprehensive travel cover

6.0 ITALY

Introduction to the banking and payment card sectors

Four, or arguably five, retail banking groups lay claim to a genuinely nationwide network…

… although these are being challenged by an array of ambitious regional competitors…

… as well as several insurer-owned banks and banks falling under foreign ownership

Italy also plays host to a considerable number of specialised lending institutions…

… including central card issuing entities that promote their cards through distributor banks

Credit and other pay later cards issued overtook debit cards issued in Italy in 2007

Insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts

Broad types of cover

Over one third of covers identified fall into the creditor and other accident or health category

Specific cover penetration

Combined insurance and assistance packages boost provision rates for individual types of cover

Operating models

Captive and joint venture underwriters play some part in the insurance and assistance sector…

… although most enhancements to banking products are organised through a single underwriter

Partner market shares

CPP possesses an extensive client list although Affinion’s Sentinel is the partner of CartaSi

Providers owned ultimately by French banks are most prominent in card-related creditor insurance

Four main providers are visible in the market for purchase protection insurance

Several important packages are managed by Assicurazioni Generali and Europ Assistance

7.0 NETHERLANDS

Introduction to the banking and payment card sectors

The integration of ABN AMRO and Fortis Bank brings about further market concentration…

… albeit a number of smaller institutions offer an element of competition to the ‘big three’

Most Dutch consumers remain apparently reluctant to carry credit and other pay later cards

Insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts

Broad types of cover

The Dutch market is characterised by the relatively high presence of covers related to shopping

Specific cover penetration

Purchase protection insurance is the most commonly occurring enhancement to payment cards

Operating models

ABN AMRO elects to continue its joint venture arrangement with Aviva

Partner market shares

The Warranty Group benefits from its links with Comfort Card, LaSer Cards and Prime Line

The protagonists in comprehensive travel insurance are familiar international competitors

8.0 PORTUGAL

Introduction to the banking and payment card sectors

For a relatively small market, Portugal’s retail lending sector remains comparatively fragmented…

… although Cetelem and Groupe LaSer have agreed to combine their local subsidiaries

Credit and other pay later cards are gradually eroding the share of debit cards in Portugal

Insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts

Broad types of cover

Banking products in Portugal are well-endowed with insurance and assistance enhancements

Specific cover penetration

Provision rates are significant across a range of different types of policy

Operating models

Captive underwriters are more influential in Portugal than in any other country reviewed…

Partner market shares

… although non-captive providers also account for a number of significant relationships

9.0 SPAIN

Introduction to the banking and payment card sectors

The main wave of consolidation in Spanish retail banking has now taken place

Many of Spain’s savings banks are characterised by an independent, entrepreneurial spirit

A number of overseas entrants play a significant role in the consumer finance sector

Spanish consumers shift decisively towards credit and other pay later cards

Insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts

Broad types of cover

The Spanish market is oriented most strongly to insurance for card and cash protection…

Specific cover penetration

… although many payment cards also carry a free general accident insurance policy

Operating models

Several banking institutions make partial or exclusive use of captive underwriting entities…

Partner market shares

In terms of its raw number of relationships, Caser benefits from its ties with many savings banks

MBNA makes blanket use of ACE European Group for several types of cover

At least eight assistance companies compete for travel assistance mandates

Niche providers such as Autoclub Mutua, Legálitas and Reparalia are also visible

10.0 UNITED KINGDOM

Introduction to the banking and payment card sectors

The financial crisis is the main driver of rationalization of the UK consumer banking market

Credit and other pay later cards peak in 2005 although debit cards issued continue to grow

Insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts

Broad types of cover

The ratio of covers to products analysed is higher in the UK than any other country considered

Specific cover penetration

Forms of insurance that must be paid for separately by customers are the most widespread

Operating models

Captive underwriters account for a significant proportion of all relationships identified

Partner market shares

CPP and Sentinel account for the vast majority of relationships for card protection insurance…

… with CPP also emerging as the most prolific partner in the domain of identity theft cover

At least eight non-captive underwriters are active in the market for card-related creditor insurance

GRAPHICS / TABLES

Banks and other entities covered by the research segmented by country

Payment cards and bank accounts covered by the research segmented by country, marque and type

Debit cards issued in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2004-8

Debit cards issued in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2004-8 (data)

Debit cards issued per capita in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2004-8

Debit cards issued per capita in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2004-8 (data)

Credit and other pay later cards issued in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2004-8

Credit and other pay later cards issued in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2004-8 (data)

Credit and other pay later cards issued per capita in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2004-


Credit and other pay later cards issued per capita in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2004-

(data)

Credit and other pay later cards issued as a % of all payment cards issued in Southern and Western Europe,

segmented by country, 2004-8

Credit and other pay later cards issued as a % of all payment cards issued in Southern and Western, segmented by

country, 2004-8 (data)

Average number of insurance and assistance covers per product analysed in Southern and Western Europe,

segmented by country, 2009

Relative weight of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Southern and

Western Europe, segmented by broad type of cover, 2009

Relative weight of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Southern and

Western Europe, segmented by broad type of cover, 2009 (data)

Penetration rates for card protection insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for ATM cash theft insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for travel accident insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for travel health insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for travel assistance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for travel inconvenience insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country,


Penetration rates for comprehensive travel insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country,

2009

Penetration rates for creditor insurance (life / permanent disability) in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by

country, 2009

Penetration rates for creditor insurance (temporary incapacity / unemployment) in Southern and Western Europe,

segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for personal accident insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for accidental death insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for health / hospital cash plans in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for health assistance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for purchase protection insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country,


Penetration rates for price protection insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for extended warranties in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for road assistance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for home assistance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for personal liability insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for legal expenses insurance / legal assistance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by

country, 2009

Penetration rates for mobile telephone insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for identity protection insurance / assistance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by

country, 2009

Penetration rates for car hire insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2009

Penetration rates for corporate liability waiver insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country,

2009

Penetration rates for other miscellaneous insurance in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country,


Approximate number of payment cards and bank accounts carrying insurance and assistance policies in Southern

and Western Europe, segmented by specific type of cover, 2009

Approximate gross written premiums for insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts in

Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2008

Approximate gross written premiums for insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts per

capita in Southern and Western Europe, segmented by country, 2008

Approximate gross written premiums for insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts in

Southern and Western Europe, segmented by type of cover, 2008

Approximate gross written premiums for insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts in

Southern and Western Europe, segmented by type of cover, 2008 (data)

Percentage of cardholders in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK in possession of card protection insurance,

2008

Percentage of cardholders in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK in possession of card protection insurance,

2008 (data)

Percentage of cardholders in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK in possession of creditor (card payment

protection) insurance, 2006

Percentage of cardholders in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK in possession of creditor (card payment

protection) insurance, 2006 (data)

Types of travel insurance protecting respondents in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, 2004-6

Types of travel insurance protecting respondents in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, 2004-6 (data)

Percentage of consumers in the UK with other forms of insurance and assistance included for free on a credit card or

within a current account, 2007

Number of debit and credit / pay later cards in Belgium, 2004-8

Key metrics for debit and credit / pay later cards in Belgium, 2004-8

Relative weight of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Belgium,

segmented by broad type of cover, 2009

Penetration of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Belgium, segmented

by specific type of cover, 2009

Operating models used for insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in

Belgium, segmented by specific type of cover, 2009

Partner market shares for insurance and assistance linked to bank accounts and payment cards in Belgium,

segmented by type of cover, 2009

Number of debit and credit / pay later cards in France, 2004-8

Key metrics for debit and credit / pay later cards in France, 2004-8

Relative weight of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in France,

segmented by broad type of cover, 2009

Penetration of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in France, segmented

by specific type of cover, 2009

Operating models used for insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in France,

segmented by specific type of cover, 2009

Partner market shares for insurance and assistance linked to bank accounts and payment cards in France,

segmented by type of cover, 2009

Number of debit and credit / pay later cards in Ireland, 2004-8

Key metrics for debit and credit / pay later cards in Ireland, 2004-8

Relative weight of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Ireland,

segmented by broad type of cover, 2009

Penetration of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Ireland, segmented

by specific type of cover, 2009

Operating models used for insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Ireland,

segmented by specific type of cover, 2009

Partner market shares for insurance and assistance linked to bank accounts and payment cards in Ireland,

segmented by type of cover, 2009

Number of debit and credit / pay later cards in Italy, 2004-8

Key metrics for debit and credit / pay later cards in Italy, 2004-8

Relative weight of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Italy, segmented

by broad type of cover, 2009

Penetration of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Italy, segmented by

specific type of cover, 2009

Operating models used for insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Italy,

segmented by specific type of cover, 2009

Partner market shares for insurance and assistance linked to bank accounts and payment cards in Italy, segmented

by type of cover, 2009

Number of debit and credit / pay later cards in the Netherlands, 2004-8

Key metrics for debit and credit / pay later cards in the Netherlands, 2004-8

Relative weight of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in the Netherlands,

segmented by broad type of cover, 2009

Penetration of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in the Netherlands,

segmented by specific type of cover, 2009

Operating models used for insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in the

Netherlands, segmented by specific type of cover, 2009

Partner market shares for insurance and assistance linked to bank accounts and payment cards in the Netherlands,

segmented by type of cover, 2009

Number of debit and credit / pay later cards in Portugal, 2004-8

Key metrics for debit and credit / pay later cards in Portugal, 2004-8

Relative weight of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Portugal,

segmented by broad type of cover, 2009

Penetration of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Portugal, segmented

by specific type of cover, 2009

Operating models used for insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in

Portugal, segmented by specific type of cover, 2009

Partner market shares for insurance and assistance linked to bank accounts and payment cards in Portugal,

segmented by type of cover, 2009

Number of debit and credit / pay later cards in Spain, 2004-8

Key metrics for debit and credit / pay later cards in Spain, 2004-8

Relative weight of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Spain,

segmented by broad type of cover, 2009

Penetration of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Spain, segmented

by specific type of cover, 2009

Operating models used for insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Spain,

segmented by specific type of cover, 2009

Partner market shares for insurance and assistance linked to bank accounts and payment cards in Spain,

segmented by type of cover, 2009

Number of debit and credit / pay later cards in the UK, 2004-8

Key metrics for debit and credit / pay later cards in the UK, 2004-8

Relative weight of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in the UK,

segmented by broad type of cover, 2009

Penetration of insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in the UK, segmented

by specific type of cover, 2009

Operating models used for insurance and assistance policies linked to payment cards and bank accounts in the UK,

segmented by specific type of cover, 2009

Partner market shares for insurance and assistance linked to bank accounts and payment cards in the UK,

segmented by type of cover, 2009

Abstract

Finaccord’s report titled Insurance and Assistance linked to Payment Cards and Bank Accounts in Southern and Western Europe investigates the market for insurance and assistance policies linked to banking products in Southern and Western Europe. Composed of a series of niche covers designed to enhance the revenues derived by banks from their payment card and current account operations, Finaccord’s research indicates this market in Southern and Western Europe to have been worth some €5.26 billion in 2008.

Moreover, with insurance and assistance providers showing creativity in structuring new types of policy to cater for emerging customer segments, the sector seems to be destined for continuing growth. Drawing on the results of an investigation covering some 265 banking institutions and other issuers and distributors of credit cards in eight countries in Southern and Western Europe (Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the UK), the report analyses the provision of a variety of different types of insurance and assistance policy in the broad categories of card and cash protection, travel cover, creditor, accident and health cover, shopping cover and other policies.

Moreover, the PartnerBASE™ database that accompanies the report details each of more than 7,250 insurance or assistance enhancements to the c. 2,200 payment cards and bank accounts analysed. Indeed, specific policy types investigated include each of the following: card and cash protection policies - card protection insurance, ATM cash theft insurance; travel policies - travel accident insurance, travel health insurance, travel assistance, travel inconvenience insurance, comprehensive travel insurance; creditor, accident and health policies - creditor insurance - life / permanent disability, creditor insurance - temporary incapacity / unemployment, personal accident insurance, accidental death insurance, health and hospital cash plans, health assistance; shopping policies - purchase protection insurance, price protection insurance, extended warranty; other policies - road assistance, home assistance, personal liability insurance, legal expenses insurance and assistance, mobile telephone insurance, identity protection insurance and assistance, car hire insurance, corporate liability waiver insurance, and miscellaneous other insurance. Hence, this report and the PartnerBASE™ that accompanies it can be used in one or more of the following ways: appreciate the magnitude of the opportunity in insurance and assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts in Southern and Western Europe: in aggregate, this is a significant market; gain access to a single comprehensive source of information that provides both the detail and analysis surrounding over 7,250 individual insurance or assistance enhancements; identify opportunities to develop new forms of insurance or assistance linked to payment cards and bank accounts in line with the marketing strategies of banking institutions and other card issuing entities in Southern and Western Europe; understand the supply structure for insurance and assistance enhancements and how the market segments between international specialists, local providers and captive underwriters; gain insight into the international presence of leading protagonists in this sector including ACE, AIG, AXA Assistance, BNP Paribas Assurance, CPP, Europ Assistance and Genworth Financial.

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