MasterCard accounts for 20% of all cards issued world-wide, American Express just 1.1%, JCB 0.8% and Discover 0.7%. Private label cards make up 10% of the total with the same proportion coming from domestic banks.

About 99% of UnionPay cards circulate in China. Nevertheless, RBR noted rapid growth in the Chinese cards market, says Chris Herbert, the RBR associate who led the study.

Established in 2002, China UnionPay has grown at an extraordinary rate, strongly helped by rules that mean foreign companies are not allowed to issue their own cards denominated in its currency, build networks, or process interbank point-of-sale transactions, instead having to co-brand. 

Because of China UnionPay's monopoly in its home market, the United States has formally appealed to the World Trade Organization to order open access to the cars market in China.  Herbert commented, "If this happens, the other schemes will most likely enter into an intense competition for a share of the Chinese card market," he says. "Meanwhile, they will also be forced to face UnionPay outside of China as it steps up its international expansion."

Most recently, China UnionPay' announced an agreement with Secaucus, N.J.-based NYCE Payments Network to allow cardholders of both companies reciprocal access to ATMs in both networks.

Globally, the pre-paid and debit card sectors each grew by more than 10% in 2010, whilst the credit card sector contracted by 6%. Debit now account for 62% of all cards, credit for 28%, charge 6% and pre-paid 3%.  The trend away from credit to debit will continue over the next few years, while pre-paid cards will see significant growth, accounting for 5% of all plastic by 2015.

Source:  P-R Hot; Bank Systems & Technology; Fine Extra