Credit card additions, record high loans hint at pick-up in consumption

The banking industry added 1.7 million cards in May, the highest in 27 months. Outstanding loans on credit cards were the highest ever, breaching the ₹1.54-lakh-crore mark.

“Latest data reveal that credit card spends have been very strong, touching an all-time high level (up 8% MoM) in May 2022,” said Suresh Ganapathy, associate director, Macquarie Capital. “Bounce rates by value are also at three-year low levels. These data points are indicating that the retail economy is strong.”

To be sure, a reversal in the rate trends could impact spending on borrowed funds. India’s central bank has raised rates twice in the space of a month beginning early May to restrain inflation.

“However, with interest rates expected to rise rapidly in the next few quarters we need to see whether current trends are sustainable,” Ganapathy said.

The latest trend in credit card expenditure patterns indicates rising consumer confidence.

Spends through credit cards soared, both in terms of volume and value, among popular retail payment channels in April. Value rose nearly four-fifths in April to ₹1.05 lakh crore, compared with a 22% growth in NEFT transactions and 16% growth in debit card spends.

Even in volume terms, credit card spends rose 42%, compared with 30% growth in NEFT transactions and 16% growth in debit card spends. The only exception was UPI transactions, which more than doubled during the period.

Credit card outstandings, or amount due to banks after the credit period is over, jumped about a fifth to ₹1.54 lakh crore, compared with ₹1.28 lakh crore in the same period a year ago. Credit card spends grew a strong 8% on a sequential basis and 118% year-on-year to ₹1.14 lakh crore in May 2022.

As per an analysis by

, and saw the highest spends growth sequentially. American Express saw a decline of 2% in its spends as compared to April.

“Spends remained strong and continued their healthy momentum led by the rising share of e-commerce transactions, which will keep growth in spends buoyant,” said Nitin Aggarwal, head-BFSI research,

. “Players such as , and will continue their strong performance, while is witnessing a strong recovery that is likely to continue.”

HDFC Bank emerged as the largest acquirer with 385,000 new cards, followed by Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and SBI Cards that sold more than 200,000 cards each. Kotak Mahindra Bank, too, sold 181,000 new cards.