Bangladeshi-issued bank cards, including both credit and debit, are seeing increasing use abroad. Historically, Bangladeshi credit cards dominated overseas transactions, but in recent years, debit cards have grown in popularity, offering an interest-free and convenient alternative for travellers, students, and expatriates.
A recent Bangladesh Bank report highlights the country-specific trends in card usage. Bangladeshi credit cardholders spend the most in the United States, whereas debit card usage is highest in the United Kingdom. These trends reflect demographic factors and the growing adoption of dual-currency debit cards.
Top Five Countries for Bangladeshi Card Spending Abroad (December)
| Card Type | Rank | Country | Spending (BDT crore) | Share of Total (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card | 1 | United States | 68 | 13.8 |
| 2 | Thailand | 65 | 13.2 | |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 44 | 9.0 | |
| 4 | Singapore | 38 | 7.7 | |
| 5 | India | 35 | 7.1 | |
| Debit Card | 1 | United Kingdom | 63 | 16.1 |
| 2 | United States | 50 | 12.8 | |
| 3 | India | 36 | 9.2 | |
| 4 | Saudi Arabia | 35 | 8.9 | |
| 5 | Ireland | 31 | 7.9 |
In December, total international credit card transactions by Bangladeshis amounted to 491 crore BDT, with over half concentrated in the top five countries (250 crore BDT). Debit card usage reached 392 crore BDT, with the top five countries accounting for 215 crore BDT.
Sector-Wise Usage Abroad
| Card Type | Top Sectors |
|---|---|
| Debit Card | Government services; departmental stores; commercial services |
| Credit Card | Departmental stores; retail shops; transport services |
Experts point out that the high debit card usage in the UK is largely due to the significant number of Bangladeshi students studying there. Many carry dual-currency debit cards, which are funded monthly by family members in Bangladesh. This system allows students to manage expenses efficiently without interest or repayment obligations, making debit cards more attractive than credit cards for regular transactions.
Monthly trends indicate rising debit card use abroad: from 373 crore BDT in November to 392 crore BDT in December, a growth of over 5%. In contrast, credit card spending abroad declined slightly from 511 crore BDT to 491 crore BDT during the same period.
Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director of Mutual Trust Bank, emphasised that dual-currency debit cards are now widely available from Bangladeshi banks. Their convenience, combined with interest-free usage, has made them increasingly popular, particularly in countries with a large Bangladeshi diaspora such as the United Kingdom.
