Card Activity for Visa and Mastercard Plows Ahead in Q4 Transactions

Card activity in the U.S. for gross transactions (GTX) for Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards grew by 8.6% year-on-year (YOY) in the fourth quarter (4Q/18), compared to an 8.3% YOY gain in 3Q/18 and a 7.5% YOY increase for 4Q/17, according to figures gathered by CardData.

Credit & Debit Cards GTX Growth

U.S. GTX for Visa + Mastercard credit cards jumped 8.2% YOY while U.S. GTX for Visa + Mastercard debit cards increased 8.8% YOY in 4Q/18.

Visa’s U.S. GTX for credit cards rose 6.8% YOY in the fourth quarter as U.S. GTX for debit cards increased 8.2% YOY in 4Q/18.

Mastercard’s U.S. GTX for credit cards soared 11.8% YOY as U.S. GTX for debit cards increased 10.2% YOY in 4Q/18.

Credit & Debit Cards GTX Statistics

In the fourth quarter gross U.S payment card (credit + debit) transactions for Visa and Mastercard came in at 26.4 billion, compared to 25.7 billion for the prior quarter and 24.3 billion in the year ago quarter.

In 4Q/18 gross U.S. credit card transactions for Visa and Mastercard came in at 8.8 billion, compared to 8.5 billion for the prior quarter and 8.2 billion in the year ago quarter.

In 4Q/18 gross U.S. debit card transactions for Visa and Mastercard came in at 17.6 billion, compared to 17.2 billion for the prior quarter and 16.1 billion in the year ago quarter.

Visa U.S. GTX Stats

Visa’s fourth quarter gross U.S. credit card transactions came in at 6346 million, compared to 6163 million for the prior quarter and 5940 million in the 4Q/17.

Visa’s 4Q/18 gross U.S. debit card transactions came in at 12477 million, compared to 12306 million for the prior quarter and 11534 million in the year ago quarter.

Mastercard U.S. GTX Stats

Mastercard’s fourth quarter gross U.S. credit card transactions came in at 2493 million, compared to 2330 million for the prior quarter and 2229 million in the year ago quarter.

Mastercard’s fourth quarter gross U.S. debit card transactions came in at 5079 million, compared to 4937 million for the prior quarter and 4607 million in the year ago quarter.

U.S. GTX Outlook

While, U.S. credit card debt has been slowing, credit and debit card transcations should remain strong in the face of rising consumer confidence.

Of note is credit card cash transactions (CTX) for Visa and Mastercard U.S. credit and debit cards in the U.S. declined by 2.3% year-on-year (YOY) in the fourth quarter (4Q/18). U.S. 4Q/18 credit card cash transactions were flat YOY, while U.S. debit card CTX decreased 2.3% YOY, according to analysis by RAM Research.