Domestic credit-card spending in Bangladesh witnessed a hefty growth year on year in April this year, reflecting stronger consumer demand despite economic challenges.
On the other hand, the overseas spending by Bangladeshi credit cardholders declined over the same period of last year.
According to the latest Bangladesh Bank (BB) data, domestic credit card transactions increased by 22.02 per cent to Tk 38.68 billion in April 2026 over that of Tk 30.16 billion April 2025.
In contrast, cross-border transactions by Bangladeshi credit card users fell by 10.14 per cent during the period.
Overall outward credit transactions by Bangladeshi credit cards exceeded Tk 4.24 billion in April 2026, down from Tk 4.67 billion in April 2025.
The highest amount of outward credit card transactions took place in the
USA with 15.77 per cent, followed by Thailand with 12.31 per cent, United Kingdom 8.63 per cent, Singapore 8.29 per cent, India 7.31 per cent, Malaysia 6.04 per cent, Netherlands 4.65 per cent, China 4.56 per cent, Australia 4.32 per cent, Saudi Arabia 3.94 per cent, Canada 3.53 per cent, Ireland 3.42 per cent, and other countries with 17.23 per cent.
The BB data also showed a significant rise in spending by foreign nationals in Bangladesh.
Transactions made by foreign cardholders increased by 25.19 per cent year-on-year in April 2026, indicating a recovery in tourism, business travel and foreign visitor activity.
Foreign cardholders' spending reached Tk 3.28 billion in April 2026, down from Tk 2.62 billion in the same period of last year.
Nearly half of all domestic credit card transactions were conducted at department stores in April 2026, underscoring consumers' strong preference for retail shopping and everyday purchases.
The country's credit card market continued to expand as banks increased credit limits for customers.
According to the central bank data as of April 2026, a total of 48 scheduled banks and one non-bank financial company (NBFCs) had sanctioned Tk 412.95 billion in credit card facilities.
However, total outstanding claims against credit card users stood at Tk 140.45 billion, suggesting that a substantial portion of approved credit limits remains unused.
People familiar with the development said the rising volume of domestic credit card transactions reflects increasing adoption of digital payments and changing consumer behaviour.
The growth in foreign card spending in Bangladesh signals improving confidence among international visitors and expanding economic activity linked to tourism and business travel, they noted.
At the same time, the decline in overseas credit card transactions by Bangladeshis might partly reflect tighter foreign exchange regulations, cautious consumer spending, and broader economic adjustments amid ongoing external sector pressures.
Dr. Masrur Reaz, Chairman of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, said the strong growth in domestic spending on credit cards may be partly due to higher cost of living due to inflation and partly increasing consumer confidence in the higher middle income segment. It also reflects wider adoption of digital payments, he added.
He noted that the decline in overseas card spending may be linked to tighter foreign exchange regulations and cautious consumer behaviour. The economist said the rise in spending by foreign nationals in Bangladesh is an encouraging sign for the tourism and services sectors.
Dr. Reaz, however, suggested further expansion of digital payment infrastructure and promoting tourism to boost inbound card spending and strengthen foreign exchange earnings.
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