Card Culture Climbs: Bangladesh Sees 156% Surge in Five Years

The number of payment cards in Bangladesh has grown nearly two and a half times in the past five years, while card-based transactions have more than tripled, according to the Bangladesh Bank’s latest report for July 2025. The report highlights the usage of credit, debit, and prepaid cards, transaction trends, and spending patterns across different sectors.

As per the central bank’s data, at the end of August 2020, there were about 22.2 million debit, credit, and prepaid cards in circulation. By the end of July 2025, that number had soared to approximately 56.9 million—an increase of 156%, or more than two and a half times, within five years. Among the three major types of cards in use, debit cards have seen the highest growth.

The number of debit cards has more than doubled, increasing by 120% over the period. In comparison, credit cards grew by 94%. Meanwhile, total card-based transactions have risen by 232% over the same five-year span—from BDT 14,384 crore in August 2020 to BDT 47,817 crore in July 2025.

Bangladesh Bank’s data further show that in July 2025 alone, Bangladeshis spent BDT 479 crore abroad using credit cards issued by local banks. The United States tops the list of countries where Bangladeshi cards are most frequently used, followed by the United Kingdom, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

India, which once ranked first, has dropped to sixth place due to complications related to visa and payment processing. Bangladeshi debit cards are now most used in the United Kingdom, followed by the United States, Ireland, China, and India. Similarly, prepaid cards see the highest usage in the United Kingdom.

Currently, 56 banks and one non-bank financial institution (NBFI) in Bangladesh offer card services. Of these, 48 banks provide credit cards, dual-currency debit cards, and prepaid cards.

In July 2025, domestic spending through locally issued credit cards amounted to BDT 3,084 crore. Of this, departmental stores accounted for BDT 1,508 crore, while the rest covered transactions in retail outlets, utility bill payments, pharmacies, cash withdrawals, transportation, and fund transfers.