Driven by high inflation, a growing trend of using cards for daily shopping, and attractive offers from various banks, credit card transactions saw a significant jump in May.
According to the latest report from Bangladesh Bank, total credit card transactions in the country reached Tk4,288 crore in May 2026.
This is an increase of Tk420 crore, or 10.85%, compared to Tk3,868 crore in the previous month of April.
Year-on-year growth was also substantial. In May 2025, credit card transactions stood at Tk3,220 crore.
Consequently, card spending has surged by 33.15% over the span of one year.
Key drivers of the growth
- Rising costs of daily essentials have forced consumers to spend more.
- Discounts, cashback offers, and installment (EMI) facilities provided by banks.
- Increased availability of card payment options at major retail outlets.
The report highlights that department stores accounted for the highest credit card usage in May, capturing nearly half of the country’s total credit card transactions.
This indicates that an increasing number of people are relying on cards to meet their daily consumer goods and family expenses.
An upward trend was also observed in the usage of credit cards by Bangladeshis abroad.
In May, Bangladeshi cardholders spent Tk425 crore outside the country, which is roughly 1.6% higher than the Tk424 crore recorded in April.
Conversely, spending within Bangladesh using cards issued by foreign banks or institutions saw a slight decline.
These transactions dropped to Tk312 crore in May, representing a nearly 5% decrease from April's Tk329 crore.
However, on an annual basis, foreign nationals' card spending in Bangladesh grew by 12.63 percent. Industry insiders attribute this year-on-year growth to positive trends in tourism and business activities.
Total credit limits and top destinations
According to Bangladesh Bank data, the total approved credit limit in the country stood at Tk42,001 crore at the end of May.
Against this, the outstanding or receivable amount from cardholders was Tk14,365 crore.
This shows that while a large portion of the total approved credit limit remains unutilized, a vast number of customers are actively relying on credit cards to manage their daily expenses.
Rank / Country | Share of Total International Transactions |
1. United States | 17.3% (Top Destination) |
2. United Kingdom | 9.60% |
Significant card spending was also recorded in Thailand, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, China, Canada, Australia, and Ireland.
Notably, credit card usage by Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia nearly doubled within the span of a single month.
In April, the country accounted for 3.94% of international card spending, which surged to 7.47% in May.