US Credit Cards and Credit Card Rewards Market Report 2021
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Report Summary
Providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date information and analysis of the US Credit Cards and Credit Card Rewards market, including the behaviors, preferences, and habits of the consumer.
Credit cards are one of the most popular financial services products among US consumers, with approximately half of US adults regularly using not just one, but multiple credit cards. While the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary drop-off in credit card acquisition activity, competition has ramped back up as issuers attempt to capture cardholder spend with products tailored to the current landscape, in which customer spend behaviors are frequently shifting.
Read on to discover more about the US Credit Cards and Credit Card Rewards consumer market, read our or US Secured Lending Market Report 2021, or take a look at our other Financial Services Market research reports.
Quickly understand
- The impact of COVID-19 on consumer behavior and the credit card market.
- Changes in credit card payment trends due to the pandemic.
- Transformations in credit card products and marketing, adapting to new consumer preferences.
- Motivations to apply for a credit card.
- Attitudes towards rewards and redemption styles.
Covered in this report
Brands include: Capital One, SavorOne, US Bank Altitude Go, GrubHub, UberEats, DoorDash, Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, Wells Fargo Active Cash, Ban of America Unlimited Cash, American Express Platinum, Equinox Gym, Saks, Citi Custom Cash, Walgreens, Synchrony, Petal, TomoCredit, Chime’s Credit Builder, Varo Believe, Chase, Discover.
Expert analysis from a specialist in the field
This report, written by Patrick Rahlfs, a leading analyst in the Finance sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.
In the aftermath of COVID-19, consumers altered spend tendencies, electing to pay down existing balances and shift credit card spend away from travel and entertainment categories towards everyday goods and services. Credit card issuers were forced to adapt, introducing new rewards categories to appeal to a pandemic-affected audience and increasing customization to find a niche within consumers’ financial lives. In an environment with uncertain macroeconomic conditions and ever-changing consumer preferences, credit card rewards that thread the needle between immediate daily value and long-term utility will resonate with a customer base that is more intent than ever on finding products that align with their unique financial profiles.
Patrick Rahlfs
Senior Research Analyst
Table of Contents
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Overview
- What you need to know
- Key issues covered in this Report
- Definition
- Market context
- Economic and other assumptions
- COVID-19: US context
- What you need to know
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Executive Summary
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- Top takeaways
- Cash back dominates, both in consumer preference and issuer innovation
- Younger consumers are less loyal to the credit card market, representing a crucial area of focus for issuers
- Figure 1: Preference for debit cards, 2020 and 2021
- Premium cards take a lifestyle turn
- Market overview
- Impact of COVID-19 on credit cards
- Figure 2: Short-, medium- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on credit cards, 2021
- Opportunities and challenges
- Short term
- Recovery
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The Market – Key Takeaways
- Open credit card accounts declined for the first time in years
- Consumer credit performance improved despite economic conditions
- Macroeconomic indicators signal a setback in spend levels
- Open credit card accounts declined for the first time in years
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Market Size
- Three in four US adults own a credit card
- Figure 3: Financial account ownership, 2021
- More consumers are regularly using multiple credit cards
- Figure 4: Number of open credit card accounts, Q1 2014 – Q1 2021
- Number of credit card accounts declined for the first time in recent years
- Figure 5: Revolving consumer credit outstanding, 2016 – 2020, Q1 2021 and April 2021
- Revolving consumer credit continues to decrease
- Three in four US adults own a credit card
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Market Factors
- Delinquency rates hit new lows
- Figure 6: Quarterly credit card delinquency rates for all commercial banks, seasonally adjusted, Q1 2016 – Q1 2020
- Consumer sentiment plummeted in August 2021
- Figure 7: Consumer sentiment index, January 2010 – August 2021
- Disposable personal income has dropped as government benefits fade
- Figure 8: Disposable personal income change from previous period, January 2018 – June 2021
- Delinquency rates hit new lows
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Companies and Brands – Key Takeaways
- Acquisition marketing has bounced back
- New cards explore unique spend categories and benefits that resonate with younger consumers
- Customization and lifestyle earn can provide long-term value
- Credit card acquisition marketing rebounds
- Figure 9: Credit card acquisition direct mail spend, Q1 2019 – Q2 2021
- Capital One offers students cash back
- Figure 10: Capital One SavorOne for students
- US Bank rewards pandemic-friendly categories
- Figure 11: US Bank Altitude Go direct mail piece, January 2021
- Acquisition marketing has bounced back
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Competitive Strategies
- Points card marketing spiked in late 2020, but cashback cards hit a new high in Q2 2021
- Figure 12: Rewards programs in direct mail, Q1 2019 – Q2 2021
- American Express relaunched its Platinum Card, pivoting to a lifestyle focus with everyday appeal
- Figure 13: American express platinum post-relaunch acquisition direct mail piece, July 2021
- New and relaunched cashback cards emphasize customization in earn categories
- Figure 14: Citi custom cash online video ad, June 2021
- Points card marketing spiked in late 2020, but cashback cards hit a new high in Q2 2021
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Market Opportunities
- Cash value is top of mind and must be demonstrated
- Niche credit card products may find space in consumers’ wallets
- Figure 15: Number of regularly used credit cards, 2021
- New-to-credit consumers provide an opportunity for alternative competitors
- Cash value is top of mind and must be demonstrated
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The Consumer – Key Takeaways
- Cash is king – both in actual and preferred earn style
- Consumers redeem for cash, although statement credit redemption is on the rise
- Lack of access to credit is a growing issue
- Higher rewards are top of mind for those seeking new cards
- Debit cards pose a threat among younger consumers
- Cash is king – both in actual and preferred earn style
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Rewards Earn
- Cash back reigns as top rewards program
- Figure 16: Types of rewards, 2021
- While cash leads all income groups, lower income groups are often unaware of what rewards they earn
- Figure 17: Types of rewards, by income group, 2021
- Cash back reigns as top rewards program
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Rewards Preference
- Cash back rewards are the most preferred rewards style
- Figure 18: Types of desired rewards, 2021
- Consumers who earn points or airline miles often desire cash rewards
- Figure 19: Types of desired rewards by earned rewards segments, 2021
- Cash back rewards are the most preferred rewards style
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Redemption Methods
- Cash back is the top redemption method, with statement credits and points towards a purchase trailing
- Figure 20: Most popular rewards redemption method, 2021
- Younger consumers often redeem for cash or towards purchases, while older generations prefer statement credits
- Figure 21: Most popular rewards redemption method by generation, 2021
- Cash back is the top redemption method, with statement credits and points towards a purchase trailing
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Reasons to Not Own a Credit Card
- There is no dominant reason why customers do not own a credit card
- Figure 22: Reasons to not have a credit card, 2021
- Lack of access to credit cards has become more of an issue, while consumers’ aversion to debt has declined
- Figure 23: Reasons to not have a credit card by year, 2020 and 2021
- Men have more distrust towards security and credit card companies, whereas women face lower chances of qualification
- Figure 24: Reasons to not have a credit card by gender, 2021
- There is no dominant reason why customers do not own a credit card
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Motivation to Open New Credit Card
- 32% of consumers opened a new credit card in the past year
- Figure 25: Most recent credit card account, 2021
- Higher rewards and sign-up bonuses are leading reasons that consumers open new credit cards
- Figure 26: Reason for opening most recent credit card account, 2021
- Gen Z consumers are less focused on bonuses and more intent on type of rewards
- Figure 27: Reason for opening most recent credit card account by generation, 2021
- 32% of consumers opened a new credit card in the past year
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Attitudes toward Credit Cards
- Younger male consumers are more likely to seek out an annual fee card that offers superior rewards
- Figure 28: Willingness to pay annual fee by age and gender, 2021
- Generation Z has more frequently changing rewards preferences, often not understanding rewards systems
- Figure 29: Attitudes towards rewards systems by gender, 2021
- Generation Z increased its preference for debit cards greatly in the last year
- Figure 30: Attitudes towards card usage, 2021
- Figure 31: Preference for debit cards, 2020 and 2021
- Younger male consumers are more likely to seek out an annual fee card that offers superior rewards
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Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
- Data sources
- Consumer survey data
- Marketing creative
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Data sources
About the report
This market report provides in-depth analysis and insight supported by a range of data. At the same time, introductory and top-level content is provided to give you an overview of the issues covered.
Market
Mintel provides a range of market information, frequently through the category level, including market size and forecasting, complete with market drivers that illustrate the forces that shape a category or market.
Consumer
Mintel’s proprietary consumer research provides our analysts with the attitudinal and behavioral data used to provide valuable insight to topical issues.
Brand/Company
Mintel provides overviews of the top brands and manufacturers, and uses consumer research to explore attitudes and reactions to brands, as well as insight into what will resonate with consumers.
Data
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*databooks not available with UK B2B Industry reports.
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