The Zhitong Finance App learned that on September 18, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority released statistics on payment cards issued in Hong Kong for the second quarter of 2026. At the end of the second quarter of 2026, the total number of credit cards in circulation was 31.03 million, up 6.3% from quarter to quarter, up 36.1% year on year. The volume and amount of credit card transactions (including retail sales and cash loans) are easily affected by seasonal factors and the overall economic environment, and trends fluctuate. In the second quarter of 2026, the total number of credit card transactions was 403.94 million, an increase of 4.9% over the previous quarter and an increase of 12.2% over the same period in 2025. The total amount of credit card transactions in the second quarter of 2026 was HK$286.5 billion, a decrease of 8.0% from the previous quarter and an increase of 6.8% compared with the same period in 2025. Of the total transaction amount, HK$186.7 billion (65.2%) was spent in Hong Kong, HK$91.1 billion (31.8%) was spent overseas, and HK$8.8 billion (3.1%) was cash loans.
In terms of debit cards, since the same debit card can include more than one debit card brand, it is difficult to calculate the total number of debit cards in circulation on the market. As is the case with credit card transactions, the volume and amount of debit card transactions involving retail sales and bill payments will also be affected by seasonal factors. In the second quarter of 2026, the total number of debit card transactions involving retail sales and bill payment increased by 5.2% quarterly to 55.39 million, while the total volume decreased by 13.6% quarterly to HK$61.1 billion. Compared with the same period in 2025, the total number of debit card transactions decreased by 4.3% in the second quarter of 2026, and the total decrease by 8.0%.
Payment card statistics are compiled based on quarterly data on credit and/or debit cards issued by the credit and/or debit card schemes of eight payment card scheme operators. In June 2010, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority began publishing quarterly payment card statistics in accordance with international practices to enhance the transparency of the payment card business in Hong Kong.