Corporate strategy: Card network competitive landscape

An overview of the opportunities and challenges facing major card networks in the forecast period 2021–2026, and an assessment of the strategic role of acquisitions and partnerships in the industry.
  • Globally, card transactions are forecast to consolidate their position as the leading form of consumer payment, although a substantial cash opportunity will remain in 2026.
  • Opportunities include converting paper B2B payments and the growing buy now pay later lending market, as well as offering increased security as card fraud continues to rise.
  • In the strategy mix to maintain a strong brand, international card networks are looking at acquisitions in order to expand geographically.
  • Partnerships with domestic networks and merchants remain important and, despite adding another layer of increasingly unpopular security risk, are well positioned to take advantage of the move...

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