HKMA Reports Surge in Credit Card Usage in Hong Kong for Q1 2026

Statistics of Payment Cards Issued in Hong Kong for First Quarter 2026

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published today (June 18) statistics of payment cards issued in Hong Kong for the first quarter of 2026.

The payment card statistics (see Annex) include quarterly data on credit and debit cards issued in Hong Kong under the credit and/or debit card schemes of the eight payment card scheme operators (Note 1). The HKMA began to publish the payment card statistics on a quarterly basis in June 2010 to enhance transparency of the payment card industry in Hong Kong, in line with international practice.

According to the quarterly statistics, the total number of credit cards in circulation (Note 2) was 29.18 million by the end of Q1/2026. The figure represents a 7.0 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a 33.4per cent increase from the previous year. The number and value of credit card transactions (including retail sales and cash advances) (Note 3) are susceptible to seasonal factors and the general economic environment, making the trends more prone to fluctuation. The total number of credit card transactions was 384.94 million for Q1/2026, representing a 2.3per cent decrease from the previous quarter and a 15.8per cent increase from the same period in 2025. The total value of credit card transactions was HK$311.3 billion for Q1/2026, representing a 0.1per cent decrease from the previous quarter and a 13.6per cent increase from the same period in 2025. Of the total transaction value, HK$211.5 billion (67.9per cent) was related to retail spending in Hong Kong, HK$90.3 billion (29.0per cent) in retail spending overseas and HK$9.5 billion (3.1per cent) in cash advances.

The total number of debit cards in circulation is not available due to overlapping of debit card brands in a single card. Like the number and value of credit card transactions, the number and value of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales and bills payments (Note 4) are also affected by seasonal factors. On a quarterly basis, the total number of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales and bills payments decreased by 2.0per cent to 52.65 million while the total value increased by 1.7per cent to HK$70.8 billion in Q1/2026. When compared to the same period in 2025, the total number decreased by 3.4per cent and the total value dropped by 4.1per cent in Q1/2026.

Note 1:The payment card statistics are compiled from data on credit and debit cards issued in Hong Kong by both authorized institutions (AIs) and non-authorized institutions (non-AIs) under the credit and/or debit card schemes of the eight payment card scheme operators (“the card operators”). The card operators, in alphabetical order, are American Express International, Inc., Discover Financial Services (Hong Kong) Limited, EPS Company (Hong Kong) Limited (EPSCO), JCB International (Asia) Ltd, Joint Electronic Teller Services Ltd. (JETCO), MasterCard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd., UnionPay International Co. Ltd and Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited.

Note 2: A credit card issued in Hong Kong only carries one credit card brand. The total number of credit cards in circulation refers to the total number of credit cards (i.e. cards with a credit function) issued in Hong Kong under the credit card schemes of card operators (but excluding EPSCO and JETCO, which do not operate a credit card scheme). Some of these credit cards carry debit card functions, i.e. the credit card can be used for making purchases/payments or cash withdrawal at ATMs through directly debiting cardholders’ bank accounts.

Note 3: The total number/value of credit card transactions refer to the total number/value of transactions made via credit card accounts of credit cards issued in Hong Kong under the credit card schemes of card operators (excluding EPSCO and JETCO).

Starting from March 2015, a Hong Kong/overseas spending breakdown of credit card retail sales transactions is provided.

Note 4: The total number/value of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales/bill payments refers to the total number/value of those transactions made via debiting cardholders’ bank accounts. Some of the eight card operators do not operate a debit card scheme. Care should be exercised in combining the credit card retail sales figures and the debit card retail sales/bills payment figures because of the possibility of double counting.

FS continues visit to Shanghai and Nanjing

The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, continued his visit to Shanghai today (June 18) to deepen co-operation between Shanghai and Hong Kong in areas including finance, innovation and technology, as well as trade and commerce, and to further leverage Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”.

In the morning, Mr Chan met with the Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, Mr Wu Qing, who was in Shanghai to attend the Lujiazui Forum. The two sides had in-depth exchanges on issues including continuing to support Mainland enterprises to list in Hong Kong, optimising the mutual market access mechanisms between the Mainland and Hong Kong capital markets, and taking forward financial regulatory co-operation between the two places. The Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong, Ms Julia Leung, also attended the meeting.

Mr Chan then visited the Shanghai Gold Exchange and met with its Chairman, Mr Yu Wenjian, to exchange views on the collaborative development of the gold markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong. He subsequently visited the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and met with its Chairman, Mr Zhang Weizhong, with discussions focusing on advancing financial co-operation between the two places, in particular supporting finance to better serve Mainland enterprises in expanding their overseas businesses and empowering the innovation and technology ecosystem.

Mr Chan also visited two leading enterprises in the AI sector. One of them focuses on distributed AI cloud computing services and has established its offshore headquarters in Hong Kong to provide computing power services to overseas users. The other is dedicated to developing next-generation photonic computing chips, seeking to break through computing power bottlenecks with “optical computing” technology.

Mr Chan had detailed exchanges with the persons-in-charge of the two enterprises. He noted that the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan clearly sets out the nurturing and strengthening of emerging and future industries, as well as expanding high-level opening-up. Riding on this opportunity, more Mainland innovation and technology enterprises are actively connecting and integrating resources from different places, expanding their global footprint and enhancing their competitive position in the industrial and supply chains. He highlighted that Hong Kong pools capital and top talent from both the Mainland and overseas, and possesses international data resources and rich application scenarios, a robust intellectual property protection regime, and quality, full-fledged financial and professional services. He welcomed the two enterprises’ active consideration of listing and raising funds in Hong Kong, and making good use of Hong Kong’s unique international advantages to further expand their international businesses.

In the afternoon, Mr Chan concluded his visit to Shanghai and arrived in Nanjing to continue the next leg of his trip. In the evening, he will meet with the Executive Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province, Mr Ma Xin, to exchange views on deepening co-operation between Jiangsu and Hong Kong.

Mr Chan will continue his visit programme to Nanjing tomorrow (June 19).