Credit, Debit and Prepaid Cards - Sector Overview
The payment cards market in Brazil continued to grow steadily in September 2024, with total payment volumes reaching BRL 338.2 billion, reflecting an annual increase of 8.7%. This growth was primarily driven by credit cards, which processed BRL 228.2 billion, a robust 13.1% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Prepaid cards also experienced significant expansion, with payment volumes rising 9.7% year-over-year to BRL 30.5 billion. In contrast, debit cards saw a decline in usage, with a 2.5% reduction in total payment volume, dropping to BRL 79.5 billion.
Credit, Debit and Prepaid Cards payments in Brazil - R$ (millions)
When expressed in USD, the market dynamics reflect a more tempered growth due to currency fluctuations. The total payment volume reached USD 61.7 billion, a slight increase of 0.8% compared to September 2023. Credit cards maintained positive momentum, growing by 4.8% year-over-year to USD 41.6 billion. Prepaid cards registered a modest increase of 1.7%, amounting to USD 5.6 billion. However, debit cards experienced a sharper contraction in USD terms, declining by 9.6% to USD 14.5 billion, highlighting currency effects on cross-border transactions or international spending.
Transaction volumes provide further insights into consumer behavior and preferences. During the third quarter of 2024, a total of 11.5 billion transactions were conducted using payment cards, marking a 7.3% increase compared to the same quarter in 2023. Credit card transactions grew significantly, increasing by 10.4% to reach 5.0 billion transactions, underscoring their continued popularity for both everyday purchases and larger expenditures. Prepaid cards demonstrated the fastest growth rate, with transactions rising by 11.2% to 2.4 billion, reflecting their increasing adoption in various consumer segments. Meanwhile, debit card transactions showed more modest growth, increasing by 1.6% to 4.1 billion, suggesting stable usage in comparison to other card types.
These data points reveal a dynamic landscape for payment cards in Brazil, characterized by strong performance in the credit and prepaid segments, alongside challenges faced by debit cards in terms of both volume and value. The continued growth in transaction numbers across all card types highlights the increasing role of electronic payments in the Brazilian economy.
Credit Cards payments in Brazil - R$ (YoY%)
Debit Cards payments in Brazil - R$ (YoY%)
Prepaid Cards payments in Brazil - R$ (YoY%)
Cards Payment sector key figures and statistics Q3.2024
The total transaction value reached R$ 1 trillion in the third quarter.
Transaction Volume
The number of transactions exceeded 11.5 billion, the highest for any quarter. Average ticket per card type: (Credit card: R$ 139, Debit card: R$ 59, Prepaid card: R$ 41).
Cross-Border Transactions
Brazilian spending abroad increased by 13.2% YoY, totaling US$ 4.1 billion. Spending by foreigners in Brazil decreased by 14.8% YoY.
Contactless Payments
The transaction value for contactless payments reached R$ 380 billion, a 47% increase YoY. Contactless payments accounted for 65% of all in-person transactions.
Non-Presential Purchases
Remote purchases with cards amounted to R$ 249 billion, a 16% increase YoY. Debit card usage in remote transactions grew by 6.8% YoY.
Recurring Payments
Recurring payments reached R$ 28 billion, with credit card transactions growing by 41% YoY.
Regional transaction values
Southeast - R$ 560 billion, South - R$ 150 billion, Northeast - R$ 124 billion, Center-West - R$ 80 billion, North - R$ 40 billion.
Credit Portfolio
The credit portfolio balance for individuals showed a significant portion in real estate financing and payroll loans. Credit card delinquency rate decreased to 7.6% in September 2024.