HKMA reports payment card statistics for Q3/2025, showing increases in credit card transactions and value. Debit cards saw decreases in number and value. Details on credit and debit card schemes are provided.
This article was generated using SAMS, an AI technology by Timothy Loh LLP.
SFC Regulation of Virtual Asset Trading Platforms: The Emerging Hong Kong Framework
SFC proposes new regulation of virtual assets through licensing of operators of cryptocurrency and other digital asset trading platforms
Market Misconduct Tribunal: A Guide to Penalties and Other Consequences for Misuse of Insider Information
Market Misconduct Tribunal proceedings for mishandling of insider information can result in fines and disgorgement orders
SPOTLIGHT ON
FAMILY OFFICES
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority ("HKMA") recently published the statistics for payment cards issued in Hong Kong for the third quarter of 2025. The data includes information on credit and debit cards under eight major payment schemes, which have been published quarterly since June 2010 for industry transparency.
As of Q3/2025, there were 25.08 million credit cards in circulation, representing a 10.0% increase from the previous quarter and a 23.6% year-over-year increase. Total credit card transactions reached 382.61 million, with a 6.2% quarterly increase and a 16.3% year-over-year increase. The total value of credit card transactions amounted to HK$285.6 billion, which is a 6.4% quarterly increase and a 14.8% year-over-year increase.
The distribution of the credit card transaction value shows that retail spending accounted for 60.7% (HK$173.3 billion), overseas retail spending accounted for 36.1% (HK$103.1 billion), and cash advances accounted for 3.2% (HK$9.1 billion) of the total transaction value.
Debit card statistics are not available due to overlapping brands. However, total debit card transactions related to retail sales and bills payments decreased by 9.6% to 52.31 million in Q3/2025, with the total value dropping by 5.6% to HK$62.7 billion, compared to a decrease of 3.2% in number and 8.3% in value from the same period last year.
The HKMA notes that credit and debit card schemes include American Express International, Inc., Discover Financial Services (Hong Kong) Limited, EPS Company (Hong Kong) Limited, JCB International (Asia) Ltd, Joint Electronic Teller Services Ltd. ("JETCO"), MasterCard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd., UnionPay International Co. Ltd, and Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited.
Credit cards issued in Hong Kong carry one credit card brand and may have debit card functions. Starting from March 2015, a breakdown of retail sales transactions by Hong Kong and overseas spending has been provided. Debit card schemes include those not operated by all eight card operators. Caution is advised when combining credit and debit card retail sales figures due to potential double counting.
View the full article:Source
