Credit card use jumps domestically and overseas: Bangladesh Bank
Credit card use in Bangladesh recorded a sharp rise in October, with both domestic transactions and spending by Bangladeshis overseas increasing significantly compared to the previous month, says the Bangladesh Bank.
According to the central bank's latest report, transactions within the country, expenditures by Bangladeshis travelling overseas and spending by foreigners within Bangladesh all showed an uptrend.
Data reveals that Bangladeshis spent Tk534.02 crore using credit cards abroad in October, up from Tk494.02 crore in September. This marks a significant increase of approximately Tk40 crore within a single month.
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The United States remained on top in credit card expenditures by Bangladeshis.
A breakdown of the top countries includes – USA Tk72.06 crore, Thailand Tk56.03 crore, UK Tk52.02 crore, Singapore Tk45.02 crore, India Tk32.06 crore and Saudi Arabia Tk31 crore. Other notable spending was recorded in Malaysia, the Netherlands, Canada, the UAE, China and Australia.
There was also a boost in credit card usage by foreign nationals visiting or residing in Bangladesh.
In September, they spent Tk175.09 crore via credit cards, which rose to Tk199.07 crore in October – an increase of roughly Tk24 crore.
The US citizens topped the list of foreign spenders in Bangladesh, accounting for Tk44.02 crore in October. They were followed by citizens of the United Kingdom Tk21 crore and India Tk18 crore.
The domestic credit card market also showed robust growth.
Transactions within the country rose from Tk3,395 crore in September to Tk3,471 crore in October. This reflects an increase of Tk76 crore in domestic consumer spending via credit cards in just 30 days.
Financial analysts and the Bangladesh Bank report suggest that this upward trend is a strong indicator of increasing consumer confidence and heightened dynamism in both local and international financial transactions.
The rise in overseas spending specifically points towards a recovery in international travel and global commerce participation by Bangladeshi cardholders, said the report.
