Card payments to grow double digit this year

MANILA, Philippines — Card payments in the Philippines are expected to continue to post double-digit growth this year, as consumer spending increases, according to data and analytics firm GlobalData.

In a statement, GlobalData said card payments in the country are likely to grow by 10.1 percent to reach P2.5 trillion this year.

It said last year’s 12.3 percent growth in card payments in the country was supported by the economic recovery and higher post-pandemic consumer spending.

GlobalData is forecasting card payments in the country will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.5 percent to reach P3.4 trillion by 2027.

In 2022, there were 126 million debit cards in circulation in the country compared to just 10.9 million credit and charge cards.

When it comes to usage, however, consumers in the country preferred credit and charge cards, which accounted for 53.1 percent of the card payments value last year.

GlobalData attributed this to the installment payment option and reward programs offered by credit and charge cards.

“Cash has traditionally been the most popular method of payment among consumers in the Philippines, mainly due to its high unbanked population, inadequate banking infrastructure, and limited consumer awareness of electronic payments. However, following concerted efforts by the Filipino government and improvements in banking infrastructure, the country has seen a rise in card payments over the last few years,” said Kartik Challa, senior analyst banking and payments at GlobalData.

While the Philippines’ card payments value declined by 5.6 percent in 2020 as the economy fell into recession amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the card market posted a 10.9 percent growth in 2021 as the economy recovered and consumer spending picked up.

GlobalData believes the pandemic helped in the growth of non-cash payment methods in the country, as banks and merchants encouraged the use of digital payments to prevent the spread of the virus.

“The Philippine government’s initiatives to support the economy and businesses, coupled with growing awareness of digital payments among consumers and a rise in consumer spending are all expected to further drive the country’s card payments market,” Challa said.

While card payments are back on a growth trajectory following the pandemic, GlobalData said high prices of goods pose a challenge as these affect household spending.

Last March, inflation slowed down to 7.6 percent from February’s 8.6 percent amid slower increases in food and transport prices.

The March inflation rate, however, is still faster than the four percent recorded in the same month last year.

In January, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raised the interest rate on credit cards to three percent per month from two percent per month, making credit costlier.