Credit card issuers for years have looked beyond plastic materials to keep their cards top of mind and top of wallet. But just how much does the credit card material actually affect consumers' spending habits?

The emerging industry could be worth as much as $480 billion in two years, and payments are central to that growth.

The Capital One-Discover merger, the war against Visa and Mastercards' swipe fees and budding payment technologies were most popular with American Banker readers in 2024.

As the Biden administration comes to a close, the agency called out "bait-and-switch tactics" by card issuers. It also announced a new tool allowing consumers to comparison shop for credit cards.

New bureau research digs into the fees that bettors get charged when they use credit cards to fund gambling accounts.

The post-pandemic increase in consumers falling behind on their credit card bills seems to be tapering off. "For 2025, we're seeing a lot of stability in delinquencies," an industry researcher said.

Banks that don't focus on credit cards for this market may find larger banks and fintechs are eating their lunch.

The Clearing House increased its transaction limit from $1 million to $10 million; Mastercard settled a card fee lawsuit; and other news from the world of payments.