Taiwan Credit Card Spending Hits Record NT$3.33 Trillion Through July

Taiwan’s credit card market is led by CTBC Bank, Cathay United Bank, Taipei Fubon Bank, E.Sun Bank and Taishin International Bank. Their billings are closely watched as a gauge of household consumption and the shift toward cashless payments. Overseas travel, dining, shopping and e-commerce accelerated during the 2024 summer holiday, while digital payment adoption helped sustain transaction growth ahead of department-store anniversary sales and year-end online shopping campaigns.

The five banks reported combined July billings of NT$279.14 billion on Aug. 15, 2024. CTBC led with NT$68.762 billion, followed by Cathay United at NT$65.285 billion, Taipei Fubon at NT$52.309 billion, E.Sun at NT$48.43 billion and Taishin at NT$44.355 billion. The total fell by roughly one-third from June’s tax-boosted NT$419.02 billion, but CTBC’s January-July spending still rose 8% to NT$474.1 billion, with several issuers posting record billings for the period.

Taiwan’s credit card market received a seasonal boost from individual income tax payments, which are filed in May and reflected in card billings the following month. The concentration of large tax transactions has made June an important period for card spending, while the broader shift toward cashless payments underscores changing consumer behavior and the growing role of electronic settlement in Taiwan’s financial system.

Credit card transaction value reached a record NT$788.7 billion in June 2026 after individual income tax charges from May were booked, Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission said. The total was the highest ever recorded in a single month. Both the value and number of non-cash payments rose sharply in the first half of 2026, leaving the regulator optimistic that its full-year cashless-payment target will be achieved.

Credit cards and electronic payments have become important tools for everyday spending in Taiwan. The Financial Supervisory Commission regularly publishes data on credit-card transactions at domestic banks and cashless payments, offering a gauge of domestic demand and changes in the payments market. As mobile payments become more widespread, competition among credit-card issuers and electronic-payment providers over rewards, merchant coverage and services has also continued to expand transaction volumes.

FSC data showed credit-card spending at domestic banks reached NT$420.2 billion in May, the highest level ever recorded for the month. Spending in the first five months of the year surpassed NT$2 trillion, also setting a record for the period. Mother’s Day and long weekends in May boosted spending on dining, shopping and travel, while electronic-payment user numbers and transaction values continued to grow.

Credit cards and electronic payments have become important tools for everyday spending in Taiwan, as well as key gauges of domestic demand and the shift toward cashless transactions. The Financial Supervisory Commission tracks card spending and changes in electronic payment accounts, while the market’s expansion is prompting providers to strengthen their services and broaden payment use cases.

FSC data showed domestic credit card spending reached NT$428.1 billion in January 2026, up 26.43% from the same month in 2025 and the highest January total on record. Electronic payment user numbers also continued to rise, with LINE Pay Money adding nearly 760,000 users during the month and helping sustain market growth and competition.