Ireland Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2030

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Published: May 22, 2026 Report Code: GDFS0959CI-ST

Report Overview
Key Players
Table of Contents
Table
Figures

GlobalData’s ‘Ireland Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2030' report provides detailed analysis of market trends in Ireland cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cash, cards, credit transfer, direct debits and cheques during the review-period (2022-26e).

The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2026f–30f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.

The report brings together GlobalData’s research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure.

GlobalData’s ‘Ireland Cards and Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2030' report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into Ireland cards and payments industry, including:
• Current and forecast values for each market in Ireland cards and payments industry, including debit, credit and charge cards.
• Detailed insights into payment instruments including cash, cards, credit transfer, direct debits and cheques. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments.
• Ecommerce market analysis.
• Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing Ireland cards and payments industry.
• Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, and credit cards.
• Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.
• The competitive landscape of Ireland cards and payments industry.

Scope

Card market size in terms of number of cards, value and volume of transactions in Ireland along with detailed card segmentation of debit, and credit cards available in the country.

Market sizing and analysis of major payment instruments including cash, cards, credit transfer, direct debits and cheques.

Payment market trends and growth for both historical and forecast period

Competitor analysis with detailed insights into leading card issuers and schemes.

Comprehensive analysis of consumer attitudes and buying preferences for cards.

A detailed snapshot of country's key alternative payment brands.

Key Highlights

Ireland’s payments market is rapidly growing, while cash usage is declining. Propelled by a substantial banked population, government initiatives promoting financial inclusion, and advancements in banking infrastructure, the adoption of payment cards is high. Introduced in October 2024, the National Payments Strategy is further supporting the shift to digital payments by strengthening anti-fraud measures and promoting the adoption of account-to-account payments via open banking.

Debit cards are the preferred card type among Irish consumers. High adoption of debit cards is supported by a strong banked population as well as the availability of basic bank accounts. For example, major banks such as Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks (AIB) offer basic bank accounts with no account maintenance fees for standard operations, as well as a debit card. The rise of digital banking services is increasing competition and convenience for consumers.

An increasing number of Irish consumers are using their smartphones, not only to conduct everyday banking activities via mobile apps but to make payments via mobile wallets. The strongest growth in digital wallet payments comes from in-store contactless spending, which is increasingly being routed through smartphones and wearables rather than cards.

Reasons to Buy

Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to Ireland cards and payments industry and each market within it.

Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in Ireland cards and payments industry.

Assess the competitive dynamics in Ireland cards and payments industry.

Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Ireland.

Gain insights into key regulations governing the Ireland cards and payments industry.

AIB
Bank of Ireland
Permanent TSB
Klarna
Central Bank of Ireland
ParkMagic
Payzone
Visa
Mastercard
Bankinter
An Post
Circle K
PayPal
Paddy Power
Skrill
3Money
Fiserv
Global Payments
Elavon
Barclaycard
Adyen
Zippay
Amazon Pay
PaysafeCard
Humm
Bumper
Homebase
Revolut

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

2. Market Overview

3. Macroeconomics, Regulation, and Infrastructure

4. Payment Instruments

5. Card-Based Payments

6. Card Payment Acquiring

7. Instant Payments

8. Digital Wallet Payments

9. Buy Now Pay Later

10. Retail Payments

11. In-Store Payments

12. Ecommerce Payments

13. Bill Payments

14. P2P and Remittances

15. Appendix

Table

Key facts, 2026e

Payment instrument transaction values (LCU), 2022-2030f

Payment instrument transaction values ($), 2022-2030f

Payment instrument transaction volumes (units), 2022-2030f

Payment cards in circulation by type (units), 2022-2030f

Volume of payment card transactions (units), 2022-2030f

Value of payment card transactions (LCU), 2022-2030f

Value of payment card transactions ($), 2022-2030f

Debit cards in circulation (units), 2022-2030f

Debit card transaction volumes, 2022-2030f

Debit card transaction values (LCU), 2022-2030f

Debit card transaction values ($), 2022-2030f

Debit cards in circulation by scheme (units), 2022-26e

Debit card transaction values by scheme (LCU), 2022-26e

Debit card transaction values by scheme ($), 2022-26e

Debit cards in circulation by issuer (units), 2022-26e

Debit cards transaction value by issuer (LCU), 2022-26e

Debit cards transaction value by issuer ($), 2022-26e

Credit card in circulation (units), 2022-2030f

Credit card transaction volumes, 2022-2030f

Credit card transaction values (LCU), 2022-2030f

Credit card transaction values ($), 2022-2030f

Credit card in circulation by scheme (units), 2022-26e

Credit card transaction values by scheme (LCU), 2022-26e

Credit card transaction values by scheme ($), 2022-26e

Credit cards in circulation by issuer (units), 2022-26e

Credit cards transaction value by issuer (LCU), 2022-26e

Credit cards transaction value by issuer ($), 2022-26e

Prepaid cards in circulation (units), 2022-2030f

prepaid card transaction values (LCU), 2022-2030f

prepaid card transaction values ($), 2022-2030f

Prepaid card transaction volumes (units), 2022-2030f

merchant acquiring transaction volumes (units), 2022-2030f

merchant acquiring transaction values (LCU), 2022-2030f

merchant acquiring transaction values ($), 2022-2030f

acquirers’ transaction volumes (units), 2022-26e

acquirers’ transaction values (LCU), 2022-26e

acquirers’ transaction values ($), 2022-26e

retail outlets and card-accepting merchants (units), 2022-2030f

debit card average interchange fees (%), 2022-26e

credit card average interchange fees (%), 2022-26e

debit card merchant service charge and interchange fee (%), 2022-2030f

credit card merchant service charge and interchange fee (%), 2022-2030f

retail market by product categories (LCU), 2022-2030f

Figures

Card penetration per inhabitant

Average number of monthly card transactions

POS terminals per 1,000 inhabitants

Inflation rate

GDP growth rate

Unemployment rate

Average annual wages

Total population

Banked population

Internet penetration

Mobile phone penetration

Number of ATMs and ATMs per 1 million inhabitants

Number of POS terminals and POS terminals per 1 million inhabitants

Payment istrument transaction volume (paper-based vs electronic payments)

Payment instruments transaction value

Payment instruments transaction volume

Cross-border payment value

Cross-border payment Volume

Payment cards number of cards in circulation

Payment cards card penetration per individual, by card type

Payment cards value of card transactions

Payment cards volume of card transactions

Payments card value physical POS vs. remote

Payments card volume physical POS vs. remote

Payments value domestic vs. cross-border

Payments volume domestic vs. cross-border

Debit card frequency of payments and average transaction value

Debit card ATM withdrawals frequency of use and average transaction value

Debit card issuers by number of cards

Debit card issuers by transaction value share

Credit card frequency of payments and average transaction value

Credit card ATM withdrawals frequency of use and average transaction value

Credit card schemes transaction value

Credit card schemes transaction volume

Credit card schemes market share in terms of transaction value

Credit card issuers by number of cards

Credit card issuers by transaction value share

Credit card balances outstanding repayment schedule

Number of prepaid cards

Prepaid cards transaction value

Prepaid cards transaction volume

Prepaid card usage drivers

Instant payments transaction value

Instant payments transaction volume

Digital wallet transaction value

Digital wallet transaction volume

Mobile Proximity Payments usage drivers

Mobile Proximity Payments funding methods

BNPL online transaction value and transaction volume

BNPL share of overall ecommerce transaction value

Preferred BNPL brand/tool for in-store and online payments

Retail product sales

In-store transaction value by payment method

In-store payment tool usage drivers

In-store transaction value by products and services

E-commerce transaction value and ecommerce breakdown by mobile vs. desktop/laptop

Ecommerce market by product and services

Ecommerce market by paymnet tools

Online payment tool usage drivers

Bill Payments – Breakdown by payment tools

Bill Payments- Frequency of bill payments

P2P Payments – Domestic and International P2P money transfers and top priorities for P2P tools

Value of inward and outward remittances

Top 10 countries for inward and onward remittances

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