Number of bank cards cross 50m

According to Bangladesh Bank's latest card usage report for May 2026, the total number of active debit, credit and prepaid cards stood at 51,091,016.

*    Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC remains the largest issuer of debit cards
*    The City Bank PLC leads the credit card market
*    Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC dominates the prepaid card segment

The report shows that debit cards account for the overwhelming majority of banking cards, reaching 39,747,801 in May 2026. This represents nearly a 70 per cent increase from June 2021. During the same period, debit card transaction value rose by 158 per cent, from Tk 21,699 crore to Tk 55,885 crore, underscoring the growing adoption of digital banking services.

The debit card market remains highly concentrated, with the top 10 commercial banks accounting for 77 per cent of all issued cards. Dutch-Bangla Bank tops the list with 14,450,152 debit cards, followed by Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC with 6,955,210. The other leading issuers are Pubali Bank, BRAC Bank, Sonali Bank, The City Bank, Mutual Trust Bank (MTB), United Commercial Bank (UCB), Bank Asia and Trust Bank.

The credit card market has also expanded steadily. Commercial banks have issued 2,649,851 credit cards, while LankaBangla Finance PLC, the only non-bank financial institution (NBFI) in the segment, has issued 92,198 cards. Credit card transaction value increased from around Tk 1,935 crore in June 2021 to Tk 4,618 crore in May 2026.

The City Bank continues to lead the credit card market with 361,392 cards in circulation. As the exclusive issuer of American Express (Amex) cards in Bangladesh, it has maintained its dominant position in the segment. BRAC Bank ranks second with 306,734 credit cards, followed by Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) with 229,901, Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC with 197,648, and Mutual Trust Bank with 173,262. Other major issuers include Southeast Bank, Standard Chartered Bangladesh, UCB and Bank Asia.

In the prepaid card segment, Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC enjoys a commanding lead, with 7,487,023 cards out of the sector's total 8,601,166 prepaid cards-equivalent to nearly 87 per cent of the market.

Banking industry experts said the rapid growth in card issuance and transaction volumes reflects increasing consumer confidence in electronic payments, wider financial inclusion and the continued expansion of Bangladesh's digital financial ecosystem. They noted that the trend also supports the country's long-term objective of building a less cash-dependent economy.