Changes in the Credit Card Landscape: Trends, Tech, and Spending
6 Min Read | Last updated: April 30, 2025
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Credit card industry trends can help us learn about the changing landscape in terms of technology, reward offerings, and how people are using their cards.
At-A-Glance
- This year, so far, has seen a mixed bag of trends in response to the shifting economy and new consumer needs and preferences.
- Some credit cards are focusing on niche offerings, allowing cardholders to earn extra or bonus points when shopping with partner retailers.
- Credit card companies continue to focus on security and features to help keep data safe.
Credit card offerings continue to cater to travelers, but business travel, in some ways, is changing as we know it. Then we have seen a few trends that seemed promising, end up fading out — such as cryptocurrency cards. Of course, security remains at the top of everyone’s minds as well, with card companies continuing to implement more sophisticated ways of helping to keep data safe.
Here are some trends the credit card industry has witnessed in the last several years.
People May Change Their Spending Habits
When people have more money to spend, it bodes well for the future. Disposable personal income spending rose to $57.4 billion in September 2024 along with prices.1 This may be because inflation decreased that year, with economic output expanding at 2.5% throughout the year.2
People Are Opting to Use Credit or Debit Cards
People have been increasingly relying on debit and credit cards. As of 2022, 41% of Americans say none of their purchases in a typical week are made with cash, which is more than the 29% in 2018 and 24% in 2015, according to Pew Research Center.3 Cashless transaction volume is expected to more than double worldwide by 2030, according to PwC.
Security Remains a Top Priority
Scammers continue to use a variety of methods to steal money and identities. Credit card companies are continually seeking better ways to make their customers’ transactions even more secure.
Most credit card issuers have adopted technology such as two-factor authentication, which requires additional steps in the login process to confirm a user’s identity, and in some cases, biometric authentication (like fingerprint or facial recognition).
Digital wallets have also become an increasingly popular way to make purchases today. Tokenization, used for digital wallets and virtual credit cards, helps protect personal data from potential fraud by substituting a random series of letters and numbers for the actual credit card number.4
Leisure Travel Is Increasing, and Business Travel Is Changing
Since the pandemic, we’ve seen an increase in blended travel, in which people travel for both business and leisure. In fact, according to a survey of business travel buyers and suppliers, 46% have noticed employees taking more blended trips.5
Travelers can take advantage of credit card rewards and other incentives for leisure travel purchases. Some offers include additional discounts or cash back when booking a flight or hotel stay through their affiliated loyalty programs.
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Is Still Going Strong
The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) trend isn’t exactly new, but it’s not going away any time soon either. People appreciate the convenience of being able to purchase now, with a plan to pay it back at their leisure.6
That’s not too surprising, considering that BNPL gives many people the flexibility to afford a purchase they couldn’t cover on the spot. Depending on the BNPL offering in question, a purchaser may be able to spread out their payments over a period of several weeks or months. Buy Now Pay Later options tied to a borrower’s credit card may come with the added benefits of that card, such as purchase protection or rewards points.
More Niche Lifestyle-Oriented Offerings
Credit card reward programs are usually associated with broad spending categories like supermarkets. However, some cards offer the ability to earn extra points when shopping at certain retailers. People can opt for a credit card that matches their lifestyle and purchasing habits to get additional perks and benefits when spending in those categories. These partnerships allow people to opt for a credit card that more closely aligns with their lifestyle and purchasing habits.
Crypto Rewards May Still Have a Ways to Go
Not too long ago, some people thought that crypto rewards credit cards had the potential to outshine traditional reward cards. In November 2024, Bitcoin saw a surge in value.7 If this value continues to increase, we could see even more of these opportunities on the horizon. What’s more, the crypto credit card market is expected to grow 32% from 2024 to 2033 after reaching a value of $25 billion in 2023.8
The Takeaway
The credit card industry is constantly changing, and people’s spending habits may be too. While it may be too soon to tell what events will end up shaping 2025, one thing is certain, credit card companies are keeping up with the changing times and looking for ways to continue to put their customers first.
1 “Personal Income and Outlays, September 2024,” U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
2 “Speech by Chair Powell on the economic outlook,” Federal Reserve Board
3 “More Americans are joining the ‘cashless’ economy,” Pew Research Center
4 “EMV® Payment Tokenisation,” EMVCo
5 “GBTA Business Travel Industry Outlook Poll,” Global Business Travel Association
6 “Buy Now, Pay Later: Who Uses It and Why,” Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
7 “Bitcoin ticks closer to $100,000 in extended surge following US elections,” AP News
8 “Crypto Credit Card Market Size, Share, Trend, Analysis 2033,” The Brainy Insights
Karen Lynch is a journalist who has covered global business, technology, finance, and related public policy issues for more than 30 years.
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
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