Credit card issuers face a unique set of credit card market trends in 2025. Risk and fraud are increasing, profitability is decreasing, and staying competitive is becoming more difficult.
Industry expert Tim Kolk recently presented the annual 2025 Credit Card Market Overview webinar in partnership with Elan. Using analysis from the TRK Advisors team, Kolk shared valuable insights about the latest market size, activity, risk and revenue trends, and guidance on the management skills required to maintain a successful credit card program.
Managing a credit card program is a significant investment of time, money, and expertise. In 2024, 70% of credit union credit card programs grew less than the overall market. Ongoing assessment is critical to keep growth at the forefront and remain competitive. When assessing your institution’s portfolio performance, start with these two questions: “What is our credit union doing to add new accounts?” and “How is our credit union keeping cardmembers engaged?”
Once you’ve defined goals, refine your growth strategy and consider implementing these recommendations into your ongoing portfolio management and evaluation.
- Perform monthly, comprehensive product-level reporting and quarterly product benchmarking against the large bank competitors.
- Hold bi-yearly reviews with your processing partner to assess where your credit union is performing against your goals and identify data points you can learn from.
- Build a credit card program business plan focusing on balances, transactions, accounts, and net income elements, and a marketing plan that focuses on portfolio management and new account acquisitions.
- Create a development plan for your program manager with annual goals for performance and skill enhancement.
- Provide credit card-specific education and advocacy training for new hires as well as ongoing learning opportunities for all employees, including senior management!
Access the recording and data-packed presentation here. If you’re a credit union leader looking to improve your credit card program or are considering an agent partnership, hear from five financial institutions on why they continue to trust Elan as their issuer.
