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Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Demetrios Berdousis Demetrios Berdousis New York, United States Last Updated: July 2024 NAICS OD5742

Revenue

$16.3bn

2024

$16.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

24,062

Businesses

489

Wages

$X.Xbn

Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry analysis

Prepaid credit and debit card providers have displayed volatility during the current period. The pandemic caused state and local governments to shut down businesses to stop the spread of the virus. Some individuals lost their jobs and couldn't get government aid, so poverty rates rose. Since poor individuals are more likely to be unable to access traditional banking and credit cards, the increase in the poverty rate boosted demand for prepaid cards. However, the recovery has increased incomes, which has shifted revenue away from the industry and back toward traditional financial products.

Trends and Insights

  • Revenue has fallen modestly during the current period and has been volatile. The pandemic raised poverty rates, which boosted revenue since some consumers only had access to prepaid cards.
  • As the pandemic created economic uncertainty, more consumers used fewer traditional financial instruments in case of a financial collapse. The volume of prepaid credit and debit cards rose, which increased spending on card fees.
  • The Southeast has the nation's highest share of the population, so consumers want to access to many different financial instruments, raising demand for prepaid credit and debit cards. The high prevalence of low-income households also increases spending on the industry's services.
  • Competition has been significant despite operators exiting the industry. Significant competition has made it more difficult for small players to remain in the industry, leading to increased consolidation.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $16.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The pandemic created a big opportunity for the industry

  • As the pandemic posed a major health risk to large sections of the population, governments responded by shutting down businesses, enforcing quarantines and setting up social distancing laws.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Steady income growth will increase the number of options consumers have

  • As the economy heads off challenges from high inflation and recessionary fears, income growth is expected to be positive and steady during the outlook period.

Biggest companies in the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc.
2,818.1
14.5
0.5
Green Dot Corp
1,310.6
97.3
7.4
Global Payments Inc.
1,085.2
103.0
9.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Card fees, Cash transfer and reload services and Interchange fees. Card fees is the largest segment of the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US.

Trends and Insights

The continued rise of online shopping boosts demand for card fees

  • Prepaid credit and debit card providers receive the majority of their revenue from card fees. Card revenues comprise over two-thirds of industry revenue.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry includes companies that issue preloaded, open-loop credit and debit cards to consumers for making purchases. The industry doesn't include electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards or closed-loop, store-branded gift cards.

What's included in this industry?

Issuing prepaid debit and credit cardsProviding reloading servicesIssuing replacement debit and credit cards

Companies

Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc.Green Dot CorpGlobal Payments Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

OPEN LOOPCLOSED LOOPUNDERBANKEDELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (EBT)INTERCHANGE FEE

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 52221 - Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Revenue has fallen modestly during the current period and has been volatile. The pandemic raised poverty rates, which boosted revenue since some consumers only had access to ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

As the pandemic created economic uncertainty, more consumers used fewer traditional financial instruments in case of a financial collapse. The volume of prepaid credit and de...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Southeast has the nation's highest share of the population, so consumers want to access to many different financial instruments, raising demand for prepaid credit and debi...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition has been significant despite operators exiting the industry. Significant competition has made it more difficult for small players to remain in the industry, leadi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Major prepaid credit and debit card companies have been partnering with other companies to expand their influence. Blackhawk Network Holdings Inc. recently entered into an ag...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Green Dot Corp's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Global Payments Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Green Dot Corp, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Global Payments Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Similar to many financial institutions, prepaid debit and credit card providers are subject to a slew of different regulations. These include rules on disclosure requirements...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit has risen during the current period as the increased popularity of prepaid credit and debit cards among some demographics made the industry more profitable. In the lon...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry in United States is $16.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry in 2024?

There are 489 businesses in the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers market in United States are Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc., Green Dot Corp and Global Payments Inc.

What does the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US in United States include?

Issuing prepaid debit and credit cards and Providing reloading services are part of the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc..

How competitive is the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Prepaid Credit & Debit Card Providers in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Credit Card Issuing in the US

Complementors

  • Commercial Banking in the US
  • Credit Card Processing & Money Transferring in the US

International industries

  • Credit Card Issuance in Australia
  • Credit Card Issuance in the UK

View all industries in United States

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Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

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  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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