Credit card usage in Bangladesh experienced a notable surge in October, with both domestic transactions and overseas spending by Bangladeshi cardholders rising sharply compared to the previous month, according to the latest report from Bangladesh Bank.
The central bank’s data indicates that transactions within the country, expenditures abroad by Bangladeshi travellers, and spending by foreign nationals in Bangladesh all trended upwards in October, reflecting growing consumer confidence and a revival in economic activity.
Bangladeshi cardholders spent Tk534.02 crore abroad in October, up from Tk494.02 crore in September, representing a monthly increase of approximately Tk40 crore. The United States remained the leading destination for overseas card spending.
A detailed breakdown of overseas expenditures by Bangladeshi cardholders is as follows:
| Country | Expenditure (Tk crore) |
|---|---|
| USA | 72.06 |
| Thailand | 56.03 |
| UK | 52.02 |
| Singapore | 45.02 |
| India | 32.06 |
| Saudi Arabia | 31.00 |
| Others* | 246.83 |
*Includes Malaysia, Netherlands, Canada, UAE, China, Australia, and other countries.
Foreign nationals visiting or residing in Bangladesh also increased their credit card spending. In September, they spent Tk175.09 crore, which rose to Tk199.07 crore in October, marking an increase of roughly Tk24 crore. US citizens topped the list of foreign spenders at Tk44.02 crore, followed by those from the United Kingdom (Tk21 crore) and India (Tk18 crore).
Domestically, credit card transactions also exhibited robust growth. Spending within Bangladesh rose from Tk3,395 crore in September to Tk3,471 crore in October, an increase of Tk76 crore over the course of a single month.
Financial analysts and Bangladesh Bank officials have interpreted these trends as indicators of both rising consumer confidence and heightened dynamism in financial transactions. The surge in overseas expenditure particularly signals a revival in international travel and increased participation of Bangladeshi consumers in global commerce.
The central bank’s report emphasised that the upward trajectory in credit card usage is likely to continue, reflecting the combined impact of easing travel restrictions, greater access to financial services, and a growing preference among consumers for digital payment methods over cash.