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Pre-Paid Cards in the United Kingdom

Publisher Euromonitor International
Published Jan 16, 2026
Length 26 Pages
SKU # EP20773022

Description

Pre-paid cards saw growth in both transaction value and circulation, and in open loop and closed loop terms in the UK in 2025, with this growth increasingly tied to digital wallets and app-led journeys that allow instant top-ups. Corporate employers prefer closed loop rewards for perceived value and to nudge spend with partner brands. Retailers have reciprocated by bundling bonus points and discounts on gift cards and redemptions.

Euromonitor International's Pre-Paid 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: Closed Loop Pre-Paid Card Transactions, Open Loop Pre-Paid 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 Pre-Paid 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

26 Pages
Pre-Paid Cards in the United Kingdom
Euromonitor International
January 2026
List Of Contents And Tables
PRE-PAID CARDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
KEY DATA FINDINGS
2025 DEVELOPMENTS
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Open loop pre-paid grows on “controlled-exposure” safety and wallet integration
Closed loop pre-paid sees growth thanks to gift cards
Youth and family propositions scale pre-paid with bite-sized literacy
WHAT’S NEXT?
Financial inclusion and gift card momentum will underpin growth, especially in digital formats
Open loop travel pre-paid cards to keep growing, but face a higher bar as banks push for fee-free debit abroad
Transport closed loop cards will continue to decline as contactless PAYG expands beyond London
CATEGORY DATA
Table 1 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 2 Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 3 Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 4 Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 5 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 6 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 7 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2020-2025
Table 8 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2020-2025
Table 9 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 10 Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 11 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 12 Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 13 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 14 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 15 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 16 Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 17 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 18 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 19 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 20 Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transaction Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 21 Forecast Pre-paid Cards: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 22 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 23 Forecast Pre-paid Cards in Circulation: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 24 Forecast Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 25 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 26 Forecast Closed Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
Table 27 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions 2025-2030
Table 28 Forecast Open Loop Pre-paid Cards Transactions: % Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
FINANCIAL CARDS AND PAYMENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
KEY DATA FINDINGS
KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS
INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE
Contactless and mobile wallets cement their dominance
BNPL faces regulatory challenges amid explosive growth
AI and sustainability redefine card innovation
WHAT’S NEXT?
Growth set to be driven by increased transactions for everyday purchases
UK policy will shape the direction of the category
Steady outlook for the years ahead
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Lloyds benefits from partnership with Visa and strong brand equity
Revolut sees rapid expansion in the UK
MARKET INDICATORS
Table 29 Number of POS Terminals: Units 2020-2025
Table 30 Number of ATMs: Units 2020-2025
Table 31 Value Lost to Fraud 2020-2025
Table 32 Card Expenditure by Location 2025
Table 33 Financial Cards in Circulation by Type: % Number of Cards 2020-2025
Table 34 Domestic versus Foreign Spend 2025
MARKET DATA
Table 35 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2020-2025
Table 36 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2020-2025
Table 37 Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 38 Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 39 Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 40 Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2020-2025
Table 41 M-Commerce by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 42 M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 43 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 44 Financial Cards: Number of Cards by Operator 2020-2024
Table 45 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Operator 2020-2024
Table 46 Financial Cards: Card Payment Transactions Value by Issuer 2020-2024
Table 47 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Cards in Circulation 2025-2030
Table 48 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Accounts 2025-2030
Table 49 Forecast Financial Cards Transactions by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 50 Forecast Financial Cards by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 51 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 52 Forecast Consumer Payments by Category: Number of Transactions 2025-2030
Table 53 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 54 Forecast M-Commerce by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
SOURCES
Summary 1 Research Sources

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