U.S. bank credit card active accounts (accounts with sales activity), among the top six U.S. issuers, will likely notch up 1.5% year-on-year (YOY) in the third quarter, according to RAM Research. In the second quarter active accounts among the Big 6 grew 1.4% YOY and flat quarter-to-quarter (QOQ), according to CardData.
Japan’s JCB continues this year to expand its worldwide acceptance and issuance with new deals in Europe, as well as the LAC, ME and AP regions. Based on current metrics JCB is expected to surpass the US$500 billion in annual transaction value milestone by end-of-year (EOY) 2019. JCB racked up US$223 billion in transaction value last year, according to CardData.
U.S. bank credit card active accounts (accounts with sales activity), among the top six U.S. issuers, grew 1.4% year-on-year (YOY) and flat quarter-to-quarter (QOQ) in the second quarter. This comes despite the slight erosion in gross accounts by Bank of America and Citibank.
American consumers continue in the healthy buying mode after ratcheting up revolving credit by $39.1 billion or 5.7% year-on-year (YOY) in May. Total revolving credit for March preliminarily posted $901.0 billion, compared to a revised $899.4 billion for the prior month and $860.9 billion for the prior year.
American consumers are back in the buying mode after ratcheting up revolving credit by $4.3 billion or 5.9% year-on-year (YOY) in March. Total revolving credit for March preliminarily posted $889.4 billion, compared to a revised $885.1 billion for the prior month and $887.5 billion for January.
Total U.S. consumer debt hit $9.99 trillion in the first quarter, down 1.1% from Q1/14. While credit card debt remains robust, the slight year-on-year (YOY) decline is driven by a contraction in first and second mortgage debt.
Cards-in-Force (CIF) for Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB and UnionPay is expected to approach seven billion by end-of-year (EOY) 2019. According to forecaster RAM Research, CIF for the global debit card industry is growing at a CAGR of 8.88%.
The total U.S. credit card outstandings market of $884 billion at EOY 2014, rose nearly 5% YOY, with most of the robust growth coming from smaller banks and credit unions. Two of the largest issuers grabbed double digit shares: Chase with 14.4% and Bank of America with 10.4%.
As expected U.S. revolving consumer credit outstanding declined $3.7 billion or 5.0% year-on-year (YOY) in February as consumers cleared-off holiday debt. Total revolving credit for February preliminarily posted $884.8 billion, compared to a revised $888.5 billion for the prior month and $889.5 billion at end-of-year (EOY) 2014.
U.S. bank credit card rates edged down slightly in February, 15 basis points (bps) from the prior month of 13.68%, however the stage is set for substantial rate hikes this year due to anticipated rate hikes by the FOMC in the second half. RAM Research forecasts U.S. bank credit card rates for accounts assessed interest will hit 13.77% at mid-year, then climb to 14.24% by end-of-year (EOY) 2015.
U.S. credit card outstandings for the four major networks rose 4.9% last year with American Express leading the charge with a 7.2% year-on-year (YOY) increase. U.S. card loans (including securitized receivables) hit $878.0 billion at end-of-year (EOY), according to CardData.
The number of U.S. bank credit cards-in-force (CIF) will nearly double between now and 2020. Forecaster RAM Research projects, based on current growth rates, the number of U.S. credit cards with the Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover brands will top 1 billion by 2020.