Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<keyword id="20599258" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-consumers" source="keywords">Indian consumers</keyword> demonstrated a significant increase in their <keyword id="21084888" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="credit-card-spending" source="keywords">credit card spending</keyword> in July this year, marking a 19% increase compared to the same month last year. According to a report released by <keyword id="19945737" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SBI-Securities" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="SBI Securities" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="SBI Securities">SBI Securities</keyword>, the total expenditure by credit card users across the country reached an impressive Rs 1.7 trillion. This substantial uptick highlights the growing reliance on credit cards for transactions, reflecting broader economic trends and <keyword id="20740758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-confidence" source="keywords">consumer confidence</keyword>. The report also highlighted a considerable increase in <keyword id="21118324" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="transaction-volumes" source="keywords">transaction volumes</keyword>, which surged by 39% year-on-year, reaching a total of 38.4 crore transactions in July 2024. This increase in the number of transactions underscores the widespread adoption and usage of credit cards as a preferred <keyword id="20632158" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="payment-method" source="keywords">payment method</keyword> among Indian consumers. "Credit card spending in India increased 19% YoY to Rs 1.7 trillion in Jul'24. The transaction volume during the month was 38.4 crore, up 39% YoY" said the report. The report also noted that among the banks, <keyword id="19895995" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="HDFC-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="HDFC Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="HDFC Bank">HDFC Bank</keyword> emerged as the leader in terms of transaction volumes, with its credit cards facilitating 9.9 crore transactions during the month. <keyword id="19900482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="ICICI Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="ICICI Bank">ICICI Bank</keyword> followed closely with 7.1 crore transactions, while SBI secured the third position with 6.3 crore transactions. In terms of transaction value, HDFC Bank again led the way, with a total spend of Rs 44,369 crore through its credit cards in July. ICICI Bank and SBI followed with Rs 34,566 crore and Rs 26,878 crore, respectively. The report said "In Jul'24, transaction volumes was led by cards issued by HDFC Bank (9.9 crore) followed by ICICI Bank (7.1 crore) and SBI (6.3 crore)". Additionally, the <keyword id="22988051" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="average-transaction-value" source="keywords">average transaction value</keyword> (ATV) also saw a marginal increase of 1.4% month-on-month in July 2024. This marks the first increase in ATV in ten months, suggesting a shift in consumer behaviour towards higher-value transactions after a period of stagnation. Overall, these figures reflect the growth of credit card usage in India, driven by increased consumer confidence and the convenience offered by credit card transactions.

Indians credit card spending increases 19% YoY to Rs 1.7 trillion in July 2024

New Delhi [India], August 1 (ANI): The <keyword id="6354335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="Orion">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) has released a draft framework on alternative <keyword id="20470059" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="authentication" source="keywords">authentication</keyword> mechanisms to supplement the SMS-based OTP system for digital <keyword id="22624644" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="payment-transactions" source="keywords">payment transactions</keyword>. The RBI noted, "No specific factor was mandated for authentication, but the <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword> ecosystem has primarily adopted SMS-based OTP as <keyword id="22624645" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="additional-factor-of-authentication" source="keywords">Additional Factor of Authentication</keyword> (AFA). While OTP is working satisfactorily, technological advancements have made available alternative authentication mechanisms." The draft discusses the Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA), which involves using more than one factor to authenticate a payment instruction. It requires that the process validate and confirm the credentials of the customer initiating the payment. Furthermore, the draft specifies that issuers must obtain explicit consent from customers before enabling any new authentication factor. Customers should also have the option to deregister from using the new authentication method. The draft states, "All digital payment transactions, other than card present transactions, shall ensure that one of the factors of authentication is dynamically created, i.e., the factor is generated after initiation of payment, is specific to the transaction and cannot be reused." Additionally, the draft mandates that issuers must have a system to alert customers in near real-time for all eligible digital payment transactions. It also prohibits transaction issuers from entering into exclusive arrangements with any Payment Service Provider or Technology Service Provider, which could limit their ability to implement alternative authentication solutions. RBI has proposed <keyword id="22624646" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-mandates" source="keywords">e-mandates</keyword> for <keyword id="21970493" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="recurring-transactions" source="keywords">recurring transactions</keyword> in mutual funds, insurance premiums, credit card bill payments for values up to Rs 1 lakh and in respect of all other categories for value up to Rs 15,000. The banking regulator also suggests that issuer shall be liable for the process and technology deployed for authenticating digital payments. There should also be a system of alerting the customer in near real time for all digital payment transactions. The draft notes that small value card present transactions up to Rs 5000 per transaction in contactless mode at Point of Sale (PoS) terminals are exempt from the AFA requirement. The central bank has invited comments and feedback on the draft framework until September 15, 2024. The proposed alternative authentication mechanisms aim to provide more choices for authentication factors to Payment System Operators and users.

RBI proposes alternative methods for authentication of digital payments, in addition to SMS-based OTP system

Prime Minister Narendra <keyword id="19899684" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi" source="keywords">Modi</keyword> on Friday said the government is making necessary <keyword id="20861068" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="policy-changes" source="keywords">policy changes</keyword>, like removal of <keyword id="20279287" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Angel-Tax" source="keywords">Angel Tax</keyword>, to promote the <keyword id="19945816" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="fintech" source="keywords">fintech</keyword> sector, even as he asked the <keyword id="19962476" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="regulators" source="keywords">regulators</keyword> to take additional measures to check cyber frauds which can have a crippling impact on startups. Lauding the fintechs for democratising <keyword id="19976433" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-services" source="keywords">financial services</keyword>, Modi said the sector, which has attracted USD 31-billion investment in the last 10 years, has played a key role in denting the parallel economy. The Prime Minister was addressing the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2024, jointly organised by the Payments Council of India, the National Payments Corporation of India and the Fintech Convergence Council. He said the domestic economy and the capital market are in a celebratory mood at a time when the nation is also going through a festive period. Modi underlined that the government is making all necessary changes on the policy level to assist the fintech sector and gave examples of doing away with Angel Tax, allocating Rs 1 lakh crore to encourage research and innovation in the country and implementing the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. Broadly, fintech refers to entities utilising technologies for providing financial services. Expressing the need to put an end to <keyword id="19901142" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cyber-fraud" source="keywords">cyber fraud</keyword>, he urged the regulators to take major initiatives to boost digital literacy. It is equally important to ensure cyber fraud does not come in the way of the growth of fintech and startups in the country, Modi said. In his speech, the Prime Minister also cautioned about the dangers of a parallel economy for the world. Fintech, he said, has played an impactful role in denting such a system and credited the emergence of transparency. He said that digital technology has introduced transparency in India and gave the example of the implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer used in hundreds of government schemes that has prevented leakages in the system. "Today, people can see the benefits of aligning with the formal banking system," he said. Modi further said the trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile have broken down the mentality of 'Cash is King' and made way for approximately half of the <keyword id="20004116" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-transactions" source="keywords">digital transactions</keyword> in the world taking place in India. "India's <keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="upi" source="keywords">UPI</keyword> has become a major example of fintech in the world," he said, adding that it has enabled 24X7 banking services in every village and city in all weather conditions. Underlining the role of fintech in democratising financial services, the Prime Minister gave examples of readily available loans, credit cards, investments and insurance. He said that fintech has made access to credit easy and inclusive, and gave the example of PM SVANidhi scheme that has enabled street vendors to avail collateral-free loans and further expand their business with the help of digital transactions. "Sustainable <keyword id="19900794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-growth" source="keywords">economic growth</keyword> is India's priority today," he said and emphasised that the government is creating robust, transparent and efficient systems to strengthen financial markets with advanced technologies and regulatory frameworks. About 800 speakers, including policymakers, regulators, senior bankers, industry captains, and academicians, from India and other countries are participating in the fest.

Removed Angel Tax, taking policy measures to promote fintech sector: PM Modi

New Delhi: 78 per cent of consumers now prefer to do most of their banking digitally through <keyword id="19915384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mobile-apps" source="keywords">mobile apps</keyword> or websites, according to the Alkami report. This shift is part of a broader trend towards <keyword id="21227659" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cashless-transactions" source="keywords">cashless transactions</keyword> and <keyword id="21012835" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="contactless-payments" source="keywords">contactless payments</keyword>, which have become the default for many, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report, nearly 80 per cent of financial institutions have seen an increase in cashless transactions over the past two years. This change has been accelerated by the pandemic, with many consumers opting for digital payments to avoid handling cash. About 60 per cent of these institutions noted that the volume of cashless transactions has surged by more than 20 per cent. Cashless payments aren't a new concept--personal checks and credit cards have been around for decades. However, today's digital payments, whether made through a smartphone, laptop, or tablet, are quickly becoming the standard. The convenience and safety of these transactions, especially in a post-pandemic world, have made them more popular than ever. Allison Cerra, Chief Marketing Officer at Alkami Technology, said, "The banking leaders of the future will be those that can harness data for the best use, gain a holistic view of their relationships, and meet the rapidly changing needs of digital consumers." With more people turning to <keyword id="20028215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-banking" source="keywords">digital banking</keyword>, there's been a noticeable decline in the use of ATMs and checks. Chad Rogers, Executive Vice President at Connexus Credit Union, noted that even millennials are moving away from traditional banking methods. "What we're seeing, even with our millennial users, is that they're no longer ordering checks, or making cash withdrawals from our ATMs as we would expect. Instead, they are self-serving from home or wherever they are. They're moving money through our digital banking platform," he said. Interestingly, even though fewer people are visiting bank branches in person, their overall engagement with banks has increased. Thanks to the ease of mobile and <keyword id="19998466" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-banking" source="keywords">online banking</keyword>, customers are now interacting with their banks more frequently, often on a daily basis. While cashless transactions are on the rise, the adoption of cryptocurrency is growing more slowly. Around 21 per cent of financial institutions reported that their customers are asking for Bitcoin products and services. Although this is still a relatively small percentage, 35 per cent of banks believe that offering cryptocurrency options could give them a competitive edge. Banks are also feeling the heat from fintech companies like PayPal, Stripe, and Venmo. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has called these fintechs "enormous competitive threats" to traditional banking. The popularity of fintechs has only increased during the pandemic, with many consumers turning to these platforms for their financial needs. Despite the competition, some banks are partnering with fintechs to stay relevant. According to the report, 50 per cent of banks and 40 per cent of credit unions have teamed up with fintech companies in the past three years to enhance their digital offerings. Looking ahead, many experts believe that the future of banking will revolve around personalised experiences. However, only about a quarter of financial institutions are currently using hyperpersonalization to gain a competitive advantage. There's a growing opportunity for banks to leverage personalised recommendations and offers to better serve their customers. Data is also playing a crucial role in this digital transformation. Most banks are now using data analysis to improve customer experiences, guide decision-making, and reduce development time and costs. By unlocking the potential of customer data, banks can better anticipate their clients' needs and offer tailored solutions. Allison Cerra Chief Marketing Officer at Alkami Technology, said, "We are now at a place where technology has democratised financial advice and counsel. It is no longer just the privileged upper class who can afford to get financially fit and prepare for the future."

78 pc of consumers choose digital banking over cash transactions

The Indian <keyword id="22196321" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-card-industry" source="keywords">credit card industry</keyword> is struggling to grow, as new issues slow down on a year-on-year (YoY) basis. Not only has the growth i.e. issuance of new credit cards slowed down, but lenders are also becoming increasingly cautious of the asset qualities, a recent report by Nomura showed. From 19% in July 2024, the growth in the <keyword id="6368202" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-card" source="Orion">credit card</keyword> spendings came down to 13% in August 2024. The year-to-date (YTD) growth has also significantly declined in FY25, currently standing at 17%, markedly down from 28% in FY24. For the fifth consecutive month, the number of new credit cards added to the system remained well below the 1-million, or 10 lakh mark. Around 9.2 lakh credit cards were added during the month, a slight uptick from the 7.55 lakh cards that came into the system In July 2024. However, there is growth in this space nevertheless, with about 10.55 crore active credit cards at present, marking a 15.6% YoY increase. Even the annualised spend per card, or the average amount spent via an annual card during an year grew 1% YoY to Rs 1.87 lakh. But this was far less than the 7% growth annual spends via one credit card saw in FY24. Meanwhile, what continues to burgeon consistently is the outstanding amount on these credit cards, which ballooned to Rs 2.7 lakh crore in June 2024, up from Rs 2.6 lakh crore in March 2024, and around Rs 2 lakh crore in the year ago period. To put this in perspective, pre-pandemic, the total outstanding amount stood at Rs 87,686 crore, which marks a 24% CAGR in this amount, in just a span of 5 years. <h2>Large drops, slowdown to sustain</h2>Even the monthly expenditure per card dropped 2% YoY to Rs 16,000 in August, 2024. Subsequently, the transaction volume via credit cards also dipped to 1.6% in August, along with the total amount of <keyword id="21084888" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="credit-card-spending" source="keywords">credit card spending</keyword>, which fell to Rs 1.69 lakh crore in August, from Rs 1.73 lakh crore in July. Also, there has been a hefty cutdown in provisions made for credit card reward points, which reflects in the quantum of credit card benefits that have been mowed out by companies of late, making credit cards far less lucrative than before. <h2>HDFC takes lead </h2>During August 2024, <keyword id="19895995" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="HDFC-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="HDFC Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="HDFC Bank">HDFC bank</keyword> added a total of 2.41 lakh credit cards, taking its total tally of active credit cards to 2.19 crore. <keyword id="19900482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="ICICI Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="ICICI Bank">ICICI Bank</keyword> came a second distant, adding 1.45 lakh credit cards during the month, which means that the second-largest credit card issuer now holds over 1.75 crore active credit cards. Axis Bank and SBI Cards also added 1.27 lakh and 1.1 lakh cards, respectively to their repertoire during the month, while the growth numbers at Kotak Mahindra Bank remained largely flat, stagnating the bank's total card tally at 54.13 lakh. This was due to the ongoing ban on the bank due to its weak IT infrastructural issues imposed by RBI in April 2024. If anything, the bank's number of credit cards declined by 61,191 during the month. Even as the festive season approaches, experts think that it is unlikely to make a major dent in credit card spendings, which are expected to see a further slowdown in the quarters to come.

Credit card growth experiencing a slowdown, as borrowers struggle to pay back loans

Payments made via Unified Payments Interface (UPI) reported a 45% yearly growth, according to data from the National Payment Corporation of <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> (<keyword id="19998946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPCI" source="keywords">NPCI</keyword>). The value of transactions also saw a growth of over 35%, totaling Rs 20.64 trillion. This marks the third consecutive month when total transactions exceeded Rs 20 trillion. In June 2024, the total UPI transaction value was Rs 20.07 trillion, while in May it was Rs 20.44 trillion. NPCI data also showed that the average daily transaction value through UPI in July 2024 was Rs 466 million, or about Rs 66,590 crore. Compared with June, the volume of <keyword id="19957378" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="UPI-transactions" source="keywords">UPI transactions</keyword> grew by 3.95% in July, while the value of transactions increased by 2.84%. In the first four months of the current fiscal year (2024-25), UPI recorded transactions amounting to Rs 80.79 trillion, across approximately 55.66 billion transactions. In 2023-24, total UPI transactions were 131 billion, compared to 84 billion in 2022-23. The monthly bulletin of the <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reserve-bank-of-india" source="keywords">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (RBI) reported that over the last four years, UPI transactions have seen a ten-fold increase in volume, from 12.5 billion transactions in 2019-20 to 131 billion transactions in 2023-24, which accounts for 80% of the total digital payment volumes. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions experienced substantial growth, increasing by 57% year-on-year in FY24. Within this segment, PhonePe and Google Pay dominated, holding a combined market share of 86%, according to the Boston Consulting Group's (BCG) Banking Sector Roundup for 2023-24. A shift in <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword> was noted, with credit card transactions doubling over the past three years. In contrast, debit card transactions declined by 43% year-on-year. By making digital payment platform technology and device agnostic, UPI has contributed to <keyword id="20377974" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-inclusion" source="keywords">financial inclusion</keyword> at the grassroots level. Digital payments in India are hitting fresh highs, as citizens increasingly adopt emerging modes of online transactions. One key emphasis of the Indian government has been to ensure that the benefits of UPI are not limited to India alone; other countries, too, can benefit from it. UPI is India's mobile-based fast payment system, which facilitates customers to make round-the-clock payments instantly using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) created by the customer. The share of UPI in digital payments in India has reached close to 80% in 2023. Today, India accounts for nearly 46% of the world's digital transactions, based on 2022 data.

UPI transactions cross Rs 20 trillion for third successive month, in July 2024

<ul class="summary-list"><li>If you've gotten really into credit card rewards in recent years, you're not alone.</li><li>Some Americans go to great lengths to maximize points, sign-up bonuses, and cashback.</li></ul>Aaryan Desai picked up a hobby during quarantine: <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/best-credit-cards">researching</a> <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/transferable-credit-card-points-best-rewards-to-earn">credit card</a> <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/ways-to-use-credit-card-points-beyond-travel">rewards</a>.The 20-year-old swipes as much as he can. Right now he's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/how-to-book-free-travel-cheap-deals-credit-card-rewards">banking points</a> for a concert in October and a big trip after he graduates from Georgia Tech.Desai is part of a new generation of credit card users: young, perks-focused, and ready to maximize. Today's credit cards, he said, are like the coupon books of yore. The perks might not always be the right fit, but, if you figure out a good configuration, you can find some big savings.For Desai and other <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/credit-card-rewards-points-friends-fights-brunch-money-payment-venmo-2024-7">rewards hounds</a>, the realization that they can perform a sort of points arbitrage was a real hook."Just using the money that I would be using otherwise or just getting together with friends and that, 'hey, I can just put it on my card and you can Venmo me later,' opening the door to getting 80,000 points from Chase or 175,000 from American Express — it was a new opportunity," he said, adding: "That's what got me into it."If it seems like the whole country suddenly has credit card point mania, you would be correct: An <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/majority-americans-value-their-credit-card-rewards">Ipsos poll</a> of 1,081 adults conducted from April 31 to May 1 found that 71% of respondents have a rewards or cashback credit card, and 68% said that they prefer using their credit card because of the rewards and points that they can earn.The poll found that a fifth of Americans ages 18 to 34 use their rewards to pay for things they wouldn't be able to afford otherwise. Younger Americans are flocking to previously fancy cards like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-express-platinum-card-gold-gen-z-millennial-rewards-2024-6">American Express</a>, willing to shell out hefty annual fees in exchange for perks like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.coachella.com/amex">exclusive access to Coachella tickets</a>.The rewards are a big reason <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/credit-card-rewards-points-friends-fights-brunch-money-payment-venmo-2024-7">credit cards</a> have become a cultural juggernaut among young Americans. As costs rise and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-subsidy-uber-airbnb-prices-surge-pricing-dynamic-2024-8">the millennial subsidy fades</a>, credit card rewards help a new generation live lifestyles they may not otherwise be able to afford: first-class flights, hotel rooms, and VIP concert experiences. It doesn't hurt that social media is full of videos and blogs that offer the tantalizing promise of free trips, luxury lounges, and fancy restaurants — if you can cobble together the right puzzle of points and cards without digging yourself into too much debt.<h2 id="124d8b83-ad11-40eb-84a1-249d4ffa65bd">Living the high life on credit card perks</h2>At first, 29-year-old Willem Van Eck thought the rewards game was a snake oil salesman's gambit. Cut to: He's stretched out in a first-class seat, a glass of bubbly in hand."Wow," he thought, "this actually is a scheme that you can leverage with the right flexibility and with the right research," Van Eck, a software engineer in the Bay Area, said.Credit card rewards work as an incentive to get customers to swipe more. They can come in the form of cashback — which means you get a partial refund for a given purchase in the form of a credit on your bill or a transfer to another account. Or they come as points, which are more nebulous but can typically be used as currency for future purchases. And then there are other perks like hotel credits, airline miles, gift cards, and upgrades like Van Eck's.For instance, the Platinum Card from American Express — often considered one of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-reserve-vs-amex-platinum-card#fees">top cards for rewards</a> — will cost you $695 in annual fees. In return, you'll get five points for every dollar spent on flights and a point for every other dollar spent. On average, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/what-are-points-miles-worth-value#amex-membership-rewards">per BI's calculations</a>, an Amex point is worth 1.8 cents. Say you spend $5,000, $2,500 of which went toward flights; you'd net 15,000 points, which could equal around $270 — a significant chunk of the annual fee.In addition, many cards will also offer substantial sign-up rewards. The Platinum Card offers 80,000 points for spending $8,000 in the first six months of holding the card. Those 80,000 points alone could be worth twice as much as the annual fee.Taking advantage of this system requires diligence and restraint to avoid paying more in interest and fees than you gain in rewards. According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/feds/files/2023007pap.pdf">a paper</a> looking at who this system hurts and benefits, borrowers who carry balances and businesses — which pay a fee on each credit card transaction — subsidize the fun for the rest of us.Pre-pandemic, Van Eck was chasing cards with high sign-up bonuses, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, because they allowed him to transfer points to airlines so he could book business or first-class seats. During the pandemic, he took note of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/airline-cards-lose-luster-as-coronavirus-persists-11606991400?mod=article_inline">beefed-up bonuses and short-term benefits</a> that companies were offering in an attempt to lure customers; his Delta card offered a $15-a-month dining credit, for instance. That's when Van Eck noticed that more of his Gen Z and millennial friends starting to become adept at navigating their benefits.Van Eck is very cautious of lifestyle creep and ensuring that cards are worth his while, especially amid high interest rates, inflation, and recessionary fears."I've seen most of my peers, including me, reevaluate the value proposition of the cards," he said. Every year, he goes through his list of cards to see which ones paid for themselves without him changing his behavior. If one doesn't, he'll cancel it.But not everyone is as prudent as Van Eck. In the high-paying tech industry where he works, Van Eck still sees people changing their habits to maximize rewards, which he doesn't think is smart. This could be why delinquencies have been on the rise in recent years, with the youngest borrowers leading the pack. After all, credit cards are fun to use. No, really. Contrary to the belief that we overconsume with credit cards because they ease the pain of spending, <a target="_blank" href="https://mitsloan.mit.edu/experts/how-credit-cards-activate-reward-center-our-brains-and-drive-spending">research finds</a> that their bigger appeal is that they make our brains feel like we're getting a reward. All that stands between you and access to that first-class airport lounge are a few taps or swipes.<h2 id="0f454fca-2571-4637-a3e5-c54130cda971">Nothing good lasts</h2>Credit card companies aren't just giving away rewards for free.As Lulu Wang, an assistant professor of finance at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management <a target="_blank" href="https://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/who-pays-generous-credit-card-rewards#">finds</a>, many businesses will pass on their costs to customers. For example, say you use a 1% cash back rewards credit card at your favorite local coffee shop on $100 worth of coffee for you and your friends. The shop pays a 2% fee on the transaction — $2 — to your card issuer. Then, your card issuer would use some of that 2% fee to give you your 1% back. To cover their fee, the shop might raise their prices."In some sense, when you benefit from those rewards, you're taking that money from some mix of the merchant and other cash and debit card consumers out there in the economy who are then not benefiting from those rewards," Wang said.Perks aren't always a great deal for everyone. Will Springer, a 41-year-old in Indiana, uses his Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Platinum cards primarily for perks like travel insurance and car rentals. Since he lives in a more rural area, an Equinox gym membership benefit is moot, and he can't really use the Uber benefit offered — he sometimes converts it into food delivery credit for Uber Eats.Other loyal credit card point users say you can't bank on your favorite perks sticking around. Brandon Zemel, a 32-year-old music producer in Las Vegas, puts pretty much everything on a credit card. He has two cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserved with a higher annual fee that's more travel-catered, and the Chase Freedom Unlimited, which has a fairly flat return on points. He said his travel card shaves hundreds of dollars off of his expenses, and he loves to use his points to get himself onto seat upgrade lists.But Zemel recently lost a hugely useful travel benefit: a "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-reserve-card-ending-priority-pass-restaurant-benefit/">priority pass</a>" that could be converted into a $28 dining credit for both him and a guest."It seems to be a thing these days that every year, two years, three years, these companies devalue their product or their perks provided by their product," Zemel said. "And I guess to some extent it's to be expected, but it does kind of remind you that the things that you currently enjoy are not necessarily going to be here long term."As Zemel has seen during his time as a cardholder, the rewards craze has basically "grown exponentially," propelled by popular blogs and TikTokers. That can also dim the appeal of previously exclusive perks, like overcrowded airport lounges."People got really used to anyone with a pulse basically having some kind of access to the lounge at the airports," he said. Now, Delta has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/delta-ceo-bastian-skymiles-changes/index.html">recognized</a> that it had too many elite cardholders — leading it, in some cases, to restrict access to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/delta-sky-club-credit-card-access">lounges</a> to higher spenders.It's what Wang says is an example of "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-money-cant-buy_b_1442128">skyboxification</a>" — an increasing stratification of life among haves and have-nots, like a baseball stadium that's divided between crowds in the stands and richer fans in box seats."I can totally understand this looming dread that society is getting splintered into those who have access to this kind of stuff and those who don't," Wang said.I can relate to this sentiment. At a music festival this summer, I learned that my Chase Sapphire credit card would let me skip the line and access an air-conditioned tent with free water.However, when I arrived I learned a hard truth: I actually needed the card one tier above mine to get in. For one brief moment, as I gazed at the sparse crowd inside, I thought about applying on the spot. But I ultimately decided it wasn't in my best interest to incur a higher annual fee and open another line of credit.And yet, as I stood among the packed and sweaty masses, waiting nearly an hour to get food and water, I felt haunted by the skybox appeal. Would a new credit card do anything positive for my finances? Most likely not. Would it make me feel like a VIP at this event? Definitely. Maybe I'll try to get the Sapphire Reserve before next year's festival.Are you passionate about your credit card rewards? Have you gotten into debt trying to play the points game? Contact this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:jkaplan@businessinsider.com">jkaplan@businessinsider.com</a>.

Welcome to credit card points mania

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit accusing Visa of engaging in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/visa-investigation-justice-department-possible-anticompetitive-practices-wsj-2021-3">anticompetitive behavior</a>.</li><li>Prosecutors say the financial giant's monopolistic actions affect "the price of nearly everything."</li></ul>Visa is in the antitrust crosshairs.The US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Tuesday arguing that the payment processing giant illegally maintained a monopoly with anti-competitive behavior and imposed unfair costs on customers and merchants."We allege that Visa has unlawfully amassed the power to extract fees that far exceed what it could charge in a competitive market," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. "Merchants and banks pass along those costs to consumers, either by raising prices or reducing quality or service. As a result, Visa's unlawful conduct affects not just the price of one thing — but the price of nearly everything."Visa did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the lawsuit.In the complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, prosecutors said Visa handles more than 60% of US debit transactions, earning the company more than $7 billion in fees a year.Visa's use of "generous monetary incentives and threatening punitive additional fees" enable the company to maintain an illegal monopoly in the debit card processing market, prosecutors said.The suit follows a yearslong investigation that followed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/plaids-blocked-acquisition-was-a-shocking-shift-vcs-say-2021-1">Visa's attempted $5.3 billion acquisition of fintech company Plaid</a>, which the Department of Justice sued to block in 2020. The two companies abandoned the deal the following year.Visa acknowledged that the Department of Justice was planning to investigate its US debit card business in a 2021 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1403161/000140316121000020/v-20210319.htm">filing</a> with the SEC.A key issue under scrutiny is the use of security tokens, which can be used to block the routing of payments to other networks. Rival MasterCard settled a similar matter with the Federal Trade Commission in 2022.While the scrutiny of Visa pre-dates the Biden Administration, this latest action is one of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-coporate-monopolies-antitrust-lawsuits-live-nation-amazon-google-meta-2024-5">several crackdowns on middlemen companies</a> that the White House argues are raising costs for American consumers."Anticompetitive conduct by corporations like Visa leaves the American people and our entire economy worse off," Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said in a statement. "Today's action against Visa reminds those who would stifle competition rather than competing on price or investing in innovation that the Justice Department will never hesitate to enforce the law on behalf of the American people."

US Justice Department hits Visa with antitrust lawsuit over its debit card business

India has witnessed the fastest jump in alternative payment share for <keyword id="21422684" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="e-commerce-payments" source="keywords">e-commerce payments</keyword> in the <keyword id="20122305" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Asia-Pacific-region" source="keywords">Asia-pacific region</keyword> from 20.4% in 2018 to 58.1% in 2023 as per a report by GlobalData, a data and analytics company. Options for payment other than traditional cash include <keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI" source="keywords">UPI</keyword>, <keyword id="6354770" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="debit-cards" source="Orion">debit cards</keyword> and <keyword id="6387037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-cards" source="Orion">credit cards</keyword> among others. "This significant uptake of alternative payment solutions can be attributed to the widespread usage of <keyword id="21223853" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mobile-wallets" source="keywords">mobile wallets</keyword>, largely driven by UPI, which facilitates mobile payments in real-time simply by scanning <keyword id="19993724" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="QR-codes" source="keywords">QR codes</keyword>," GlobalData report elaborated. The report highlights that in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, the payment solutions such as mobile and digital wallets have displaced traditional payment methods like cash and bank transfers for e-commerce payments. The report states that such alternative payments are already immensely popular in countries like <keyword id="1334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword> and India and are also gaining traction in other APAC markets as well. However, China led the way in 2023, with alternative payments accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total e-commerce payments value in 2023 that took place in the entire Asia Pacific region. However, India is also not far behind, with a significant surge in alternative payment methods since 2018. The e-commerce analytics by the company revealed that even traditionally cash-intensive countries in APAC such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, are witnessing a similar trend. "While most Asian markets are traditionally cash-dominated, the adoption of alternative payment methods for both online and in-store payments is growing across many markets in the region, even outpacing the West. This trend is driven by the rising smartphone and internet accessibility, increasing convenience of electronic payments, and the proliferation of mobile and QR code-based payment solutions" said Shiv Gupta, Senior Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData. The report also highlights that within the Asia-Pacific region, China and India have a higher adoption rate of alternative payment methods as compared to their peers. According to the company's 2023 Financial Services Consumer Survey, alternative payment solutions account for more than 65% of the e-commerce transaction value in China, the largest e-commerce market globally. It represents a significant increase from 53.4% in 2018. Other Asian markets like Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines are also seeing higher adoption of alternative payment solutions. "Alternative payment solutions accounts for lion share in e-commerce markets across many APAC countries, supported by rising internet and smartphone penetration, and growing acceptance of digital payments by merchants. With the convenience, speed, and security they offer, coupled with high expected growth in the overall e-commerce market in the region, these payment tools are anticipated to further gain traction and disrupt the consumer payment space in the region" said Gupta.

You Searched For "Card transaction" and got 9 results

Indians credit card spending increases 19% YoY to Rs 1.7 trillion in July 2024

ANI

RBI proposes alternative methods for authentication of digital payments, in addition to SMS-based OTP system

ANI

Removed Angel Tax, taking policy measures to promote fintech sector: PM Modi

PTI

78 pc of consumers choose digital banking over cash transactions

ANI

Credit card growth experiencing a slowdown, as borrowers struggle to pay back loans

BI India Bureau

UPI transactions cross Rs 20 trillion for third successive month, in July 2024

ANI

Welcome to credit card points mania

Juliana Kaplan

US Justice Department hits Visa with antitrust lawsuit over its debit card business

Dominick Reuter

India's non-cash payments on e-commerce platforms surge to 58.1% in 2023

ANI

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides