The increasing number of issued payment cards

Table of contents

1. Statistics

2. Payment cards growth analysis

3. Reasons for the increase in the number of payment cards

In Poland, the payment card market is experiencing dynamic growth, and the number of issued cards is steadily increasing year by year.

Data from the past five years shows that Poles are using payment cards more and more frequently, which is the result of several key factors, including digitalization, changing consumer habits, and the development of payment technologies.

Statistics on the number of issued payment cards in Poland (2020–2024)

How did it look like past years?

The table presents the number of payment cards at the end of each year from 2020 to 2024, broken down into debit, credit, prepaid, and charge cards.

Year	Debit cards (mln)	Credit cards (mln)	Prepaid cards (mln)	Charge cards (mln)	Total (mln)
2020	35,0	4,8	1,5	0,2	41,5
2021	36,5	4,9	1,6	0,2	43,2
2022	37,8	4,9	1,6	0,2	44,5
2023	38,6	5,0	1,7	0,2	45,5
2024*	39,0	5,0	1,7	0,2	45,9

*Data for the first quarter of 2024

Source: Narodowy Bank Polski (NBP), Cashless.pl

Analysis of the growth in the number of payment cards

Debit cards:The number of debit cards increased from 35.0 million in 2020 to 39.0 million in 2024. These cards dominate the market, accounting for over 85% of all issued payment cards.

Credit cards:Since 2020, the number of credit cards has grown from 4.8 million to 5.0 million in 2024. Although this growth is not as significant as that of debit cards, it indicates a stable development of this segment.

Prepaid cards:Prepaid cards have also seen growth, from 1.5 million in 2020 to 1.7 million in 2024. They represent a smaller share of the total number of payment cards, but their popularity is steadily increasing.

Charge cards:Charge cards remain the least numerous category, with their number staying at 0.2 million from 2020 to 2024.

What are the reasons for the increase in the number of payment cards?

Digitalization and development of payment technologies:Contactless technologies and mobile payments have gained popularity, contributing to the increase in the number of issued payment cards. In 2024, as many as 97.2% of payment cards in Poland are contactless.

Increased trust in cashless payment methods:The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of cashless payment methods, forcing consumers to use payment cards more frequently than before.

Bank promotions and loyalty programs:Banks offer various promotions and loyalty programs that encourage customers to own and actively use payment cards.

The future of the payment card market in Poland appears promising. Growing trust in cashless payment methods, technological support, and bank marketing strategies will continue to support the increase in issued cards. As recent years have shown, payment cards are becoming an integral part of Poles’ daily transactions. In the face of ongoing innovation in the financial sector, it can be expected that the number and variety of payment cards will continue to grow, contributing to further digitalization and modernization of the Polish economy.