First-quarter credit cards in the U.S. market will likely top 700 million in 2019. Mastercard is leading the charge growing credit/charge cards at least twice as much as the other three.
U.S. credit/charge cards-in-force (CIF) in the first-quarter (1Q/18) for the Major 4 (Visa [V], MasterCard [MA], American Express [AXP] and Discover [DFS]) was up 5.2% year-on-year (YOY), compared to 2.3% YOY growth in the prior year. At the end-of-the-period (EOP) for 1Q/19, there were 693.9 million U.S. credit/charge CIF compared to 688.5 million for 4Q/18, and 659.5 million for 1Q/18, according to figures collected by CardData.
Among the Major U.S. credit/charge card brands, Mastercard added 27 million over the past 12 months, while Visa added three million CIF, American Express added 2.8 million CIF, and Discover added 1.6 million CIF, according to analysis by RAM Research.
Compared to prior years the Major 4 U.S. networks grew by 5.2% YOY at 1Q/19 EOP; 2.3% YOY at 1Q/18 EOP; 0.1% YOY at 1Q/17 EOP; and 4.2% YOY at 1Q16 EOP. Robert McKinley, Senior Analyst for CardFlash, CardTrak and CardData, notes the Major 4 credit/charge CIF is growing at a 2.94% five-year CAGR (compound annual growth rate).
Visa U.S Credit/Charge Cards-in-Force
Visa U.S. credit/charge CIF for 1Q/19 edged up by 0.9% YOY to an estimated 338 million, compared to a revised 337 million in the prior quarter, and a revised 335 million in the year ago quarter. (Visa reports CIF on a one-quarter lag basis.) In the first-quarter of 2015 Visa had 318 million U.S. credit/charge CIF.
Mastercard U.S Credit/Charge Cards-in-Force
MasterCard U.S. credit/charge CIF for 1Q/19 grew 12.8% YOY to 238 million, compared to a revised 234 million in the prior quarter, and a revised 211 million in the year ago quarter. In the first-quarter of 2015 Mastercard had 182 million U.S. credit/charge CIF.
American Express U.S Credit/Charge Cards-in-Force
American Express U.S. credit/charge CIF for 1Q/19 increased 5.5% YOY to 54.1 million, compared to 53.7 million in the prior quarter, and 51.3 million in the year ago quarter. In the first-quarter of 2015 American Express had 54.8 million U.S. credit/charge CIF.
Discover U.S Credit/Charge Cards-in-Force
Discover U.S. credit CIF for 1Q/19 rose 2.6% YOY to an estimated 63.8 million, compared to an estimated 63.8 million in the prior quarter, and an estimated 62.2 million in the year ago quarter. (Discover no longer discloses CIF or account data and is now based on PDV, outstandings, and internal guidance) In the first-quarter of 2015 Discover had an estimated 63.1 million U.S. credit/charge CIF.
CardData Availability
Major 4 U.S. Payment Networks Credit Cards-in-Force
(Visa + MasterCard + American Express + Discover)
1Q/15: 617.9 million
1Q/16: 643.8 million
1Q/17: 644.6 million
1Q/18: 659.5 million
1Q/19: 693.9 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly Major 4 U.S. Credit/Charge CIF Data
Visa U.S. Credit/Charge Cards-in-Force EOP
1Q/15: 318 million
1Q/16: 333 million
1Q/17: 334 million
1Q/18: 335 million
1Q/19:e338 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly Visa U.S. Credit/Charge CIF Data
MasterCard U.S. Credit/Charge Cards-in-Force EOP
1Q/15: 182 million
1Q/16: 192 million
1Q/17: 202 million
1Q/18: 211 million
1Q/19: 238 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly Mastercard U.S. Credit/Charge CIF Data
American Express U.S. Credit/Charge Cards-in-Force EOP
1Q/15: 54.8 million
1Q/16: 57.9 million
1Q/17: 48.2 million
1Q/18: 51.3 million
1Q/19: 54.1 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly American Express U.S. Credit/Charge CIF Data
Discover U.S. Credit Cards-in-Force EOP
1Q/15: e63.1 million
1Q/16: e60.9 million
1Q/17: e60.4 million
1Q/18: e62.2 million
1Q/19: e63.8 million
Additional Current & Historical Quarterly Discover U.S. Credit/Charge CIF Data
CardData Availability
Source: Visa; Mastercard; American Express; Discover; RAM Research; CardData; CardTrak; CardFlash
