Skip to content

Record number of debit card payments in 2013

Published on:

Hospitality sector among the fastest growers, at almost 25%.

Dutch consumers made more debit card payments than ever in 2013, reaching a new record of 2.660 billion transactions. This was 7.5% more than in 2012. Hospitality businesses are rapidly catching up: the hospitality and leisure segment was among the fastest growers, at almost 25%, with more than 190 million debit card payments.

debit card and a receipt lie on a saucer with mints on a restaurant table, next to a wine glass, as a symbol for payment by card in the catering industry.

Strongest growth again in small debit card payments

As in previous years, the strongest growth was recorded in the €0 to €10 segment. The number of debit card payments in this category rose by almost 130 million, or 16.6%, to more than 907 million. That represents over a third, or 35%, of all debit card transactions. Within this segment, the hospitality sector recorded growth of 36.4% and more than 90 million transactions.

Growth in the hospitality sector is partly due to an increasing number of smaller businesses, such as cafés and fast-service establishments including snack bars, lunchrooms and ice cream parlours, accepting debit cards. Compared with 2010, the number of payment terminals in the hospitality sector rose by 32.2% to more than 36,000 in 2013.

Debit cards welcome

Although many people in the Netherlands think they are helping small businesses by paying cash, the opposite is true. The “Debit cards welcome” campaign launched last year highlights businesses’ strong preference for debit card payments, including for small amounts. This improves security, as less cash makes retailers less attractive targets for robbery, and also offers greater speed and convenience. The campaign is an initiative of the Dutch Payments Association, the Foundation for Promoting Efficient Payments, banks, trade associations, Maestro and VPAY. The initiators hope that consumers will make even more debit card payments in 2014.

Related articles