Choosing a credit card has become about far more than simply gaining access to credit. Today’s consumers carefully evaluate rewards, fees, credit limits, interest rates, and security features to find the card that best fits their spending habits and financial goals. As competition among issuers intensifies, understanding what motivates cardholders has become increasingly important.
This episode of Truth In Data explores the factors consumers value most when selecting a credit card and how these preferences are shaping the future of card products.
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Data for today’s episode is provided by Mercator Advisory Group’s Report: 2021 U.S. North American PaymentsInsights: The State of the Consumer Market – Prepaid/Gift, Credit, and Debit Cards
The Most Important Factors for Consumers Choosing a Credit Card:
- 62% of credit card users say no annual fee is an important consideration when deciding which credit card to apply for.
- 50% of credit card users say an attractive points/rewards program is an important consideration when deciding which credit card to apply for.
- 36% of credit card users say a good credit line is an important consideration when deciding which credit card to apply for.
- 33% of credit card users say a competitive APR is an important consideration when deciding which credit card to apply for.
- 23% of credit card users say strong fraud protective features are an important consideration when deciding which credit card to apply for.
- 21% of credit card users say good customer service is an important consideration when deciding which credit card to apply for.
About Report
Mercator Advisory Group has released a new primary research report titled 2021 U.S. North American PaymentsInsights: The State of the Consumer Market – Prepaid/Gift, Credit, and Debit Cards, summarizing the findings from the Summer 2021 North American PaymentsInsights survey of 3,001 U.S-based adults. The report aims to highlight the key findings from the survey as they relate to consumer experience with prepaid, gift, credit, and debit cards. The report brings together various aspects of consumers’ experience with the different payment methods covered, as well as relevant behavioral habits and attitudes. Readers of the report will get an idea of how consumers use various payment cards, how they view card features, and the challenges that they encounter.
“The past 18 months have seen an unprecedented shift in consumer payment behaviors and attitudes, driven by disruptive factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, product shortages, and the accelerated adoption of online shopping. Tracking and understanding the shifts in consumer preferences is instrumental to planning for the future and creating innovative payments solutions that satisfy consumers’ ever changing needs.” – Amy Dunckelmann, Vice President, Research Operations, Mercator Advisory Group.
