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Financial Cards and Payments in China

Publisher Euromonitor International
Published Jan 19, 2026
Length 48 Pages
SKU # EP20808075

Description

Financial cards and payments in China expanded in 2025, with debit cards driving growth in both cards in circulation and transactions as financial inclusion progressed and digital wallets largely relied on linked debit accounts. Credit cards and pre-paid cards declined further as consumers shifted to real-time app payments and as tighter oversight, including new rules on prepaid consumption disputes, raised compliance pressure. Credit card asset quality improved as banks strengthened monitoring...

Euromonitor International's Financial Cards and Payments in China 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: Financial Cards in Circulation, Mobile Payments, 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 Financial Cards and Payments 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

48 Pages
Financial Cards and Payments in China
Euromonitor International
January 2026
List Of Contents And Tables
FINANCIAL CARDS AND PAYMENTS IN CHINA
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Debit-led mobile payments drive progress, while credit and prepaid lose relevance
KEY DATA FINDINGS
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Debit cards remain favoured within financial cards and payments
Credit cards and pre-paid cards continue to lose ground
Non-performing loan (NPL) rate of credit cards sees improvement, while international payments are easier for inbound tourists
WHAT’S NEXT?
Debit cards to remain on top
Credit cards will see positive growth in forecast period
Pre-paid cards will record slight improvement
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
China UnionPay dominates landscape
China Merchant Bank benefits from direct foreign transactions, as newer players continue to rise
MARKET INDICATORS
Table 1 Number of POS Terminals: Units 2020-2025
Table 2 Number of ATMs: Units 2020-2025
Table 3 Value Lost to Fraud 2020-2025
Table 4 Card Expenditure by Location 2025
Table 5 Financial Cards in Circulation by Type: % Number of Cards 2020-2025
Table 6 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2025
MARKET DATA
Table 7 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 8 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2020-2025
Table 9 Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 10 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 11 Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 12 Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 13 M-Commerce by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 14 M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 15 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 16 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 17 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 18 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 19 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 20 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2025-2030
Table 21 Forecast Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 22 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 23 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 24 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 25 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 26 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
SOURCES
Summary 1 Research Sources
DEBIT CARDS IN CHINA
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Debit cards extend reach as everyday payments stay wallet-led
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Debit cards sees further growth as rural access expands
Debit card transactions lead in China, with consumers combining card functions
WHAT’S NEXT?
Debit cards likely to remain preferred option within consumer payments
Multi-currency debit card set to gain traction
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Competitive environment remains stable despite entry of American Express and Mastercard
Potential for rural-bank expansion
CATEGORY DATA
Table 27 Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 28 Debit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 29 Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 30 Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 31 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 32 Debit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 33 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 34 Debit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 35 Forecast Debit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 36 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 37 Forecast Debit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 38 Forecast Debit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
CREDIT CARDS IN CHINA
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Digital wallets and point-of-sale credit erode credit card relevance
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Cautious consumer sentiment undermines progress for credit cards in China
Chinese consumers unconvinced by value of credit cards
WHAT’S NEXT?
Credit card transactions set to resume growth over the forecast period
Credit card non-performing rate set to alleviate, while inbound travel card payments rise
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Competitive landscape remains steady, with Mastercard accelerating product offerings
China Merchant Bank boasts most credit cards in circulation, and tourists benefit from digital wallets
CATEGORY DATA
Table 67 Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 68 Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 69 Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 70 Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 71 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 72 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 73 Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 74 Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 75 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 76 Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 77 Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 78 Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 79 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 80 Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 81 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 82 Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 83 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 84 Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 85 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 86 Commercial Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 87 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 88 Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 89 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 90 Personal Credit Cards Payment Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 91 Forecast Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 92 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 93 Forecast Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 94 Forecast Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 95 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 96 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 97 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 98 Forecast Commercial Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 99 Forecast Personal Credit Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 100 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 101 Forecast Personal Credit Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 102 Forecast Personal Credit Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
PRE-PAID CARDS IN CHINA
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
Digital wallets and tighter oversight subvert growth for pre-paid cards
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Pre-paid card market faces contraction in 2025
Pre-paid cards see limited use in China, despite increased personalisation
WHAT’S NEXT?
Pre-paid card transaction volumes to see marginal increase going forward
Regulatory environment likely to remain restrictive
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Competitive landscape remains largely unchanged
Transport players as biggest operators in pre-paid cards
CATEGORY DATA
Table 39 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 40 Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 41 Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 42 Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 43 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 44 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 45 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 46 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 47 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 48 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 49 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 50 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 51 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 52 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 53 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 54 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 55 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 56 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 57 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 58 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 59 Forecast Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 60 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 61 Forecast Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 62 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 63 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 64 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 65 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 66 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER

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