Festive cheer, GST cuts push credit card spends to record ₹2.17 trillion in September
Credit card spends in India soared to an all-time high of ₹2.17 trillion in September 2025, fuelled by festive season demand and a surge in discretionary consumption following GST rate cuts, according to the latest data.
The figure marks a sharp 14 percent rise from August’s ₹1.91 trillion, underscoring strong consumer sentiment ahead of the festival period.
The previous peaks were recorded at ₹2.015 trillion in March 2025 and ₹2.02 trillion in October 2024.
Compared with ₹1.76 trillion in September last year, credit card spending has grown substantially, reflecting the momentum in retail and e-commerce activity.
Festive demand, GST cuts boost consumption
Industry executives attributed the record numbers to seasonal offers, cashback deals, and easy credit access, all of which typically drive spending between September and December.
The recent GST rate rationalisation, which lowered tax burdens on several categories, has further encouraged household and lifestyle purchases, they said.
Among major issuers, HDFC Bank — India’s largest card issuer — registered a 12.45 percent month-on-month increase in spends to ₹60,582.4 crore from ₹53,873 crore in August.
SBI Cards saw the sharpest jump of 22.86 percent to ₹40,622.8 crore, while ICICI Bank’s spending rose 21.5 percent to ₹41,920.9 crore.
Axis Bank recorded a 19.7 per cent increase to ₹26,043.1 crore during the same period.
Credit card base continues to expand
The total number of credit cards in circulation rose marginally to 113.4 million in September from 112.3 million a month earlier, marking steady expansion in digital credit adoption.
HDFC Bank led with 25.28 million cards, followed by SBI Cards (21.5 million), ICICI Bank (18.37 million), and Axis Bank (15.4 million).
On a yearly basis, the outstanding card base grew 6.86 percent from 106.11 million in September 2024, signalling rising consumer confidence and sustained growth in digital payments across sectors.
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