During the July-September period, demand for RuPay credit cards experienced a significant 37% quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-Q) increase, primarily driven by rising demand in tier 2, tier 3, and tier 4 towns and cities, according to a recent study conducted by the financial technology platform Zet. The study covered 706 small towns and cities.
RuPay Leads the Way
The study revealed that nearly 37% of the credit cards issued through the Zet platform in small towns and cities during this period were RuPay cards. Mastercard followed at 32%, and Visa at 31%, showcasing RuPay’s dominant position in this segment.
Top Cities for RuPay Card Demand
The top 10 cities with the highest demand for RuPay cards included Jaipur, Meerut, Surat, Nagpur, Ranchi, Raipur, Varanasi, Indore, Kanpur, and Jhansi. This surge in demand reflects the increasing acceptance and adoption of RuPay cards in non-metro areas.
Linking Credit Cards to UPI
In 2022, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the option for individuals to link their credit cards to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This move allows customers to use their credit cards for making UPI payments, contributing to the growing popularity of digital payment methods.
Preferred Banks for RuPay Cards
Among the banks distributing RuPay cards, the most favored institutions are Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and the State Bank of India (SBI). This underscores the trust and preference customers have for these banks when obtaining RuPay credit cards.