Now Reading: Government conclave flags PSBs losing credit card market share
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Government conclave flags PSBs losing credit card market share
Public sector banks are losing ground to private and foreign lenders in premium credit cards and banking for global capability centres, according to a finance ministry-organised conclave. The meeting noted PSBs' shrinking share of current and savings account deposits over four years, which pushes up funding costs. Bankers said state-run lenders offer limited card variants in high-value segments like corporate travel and HNI metal cards, where HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and American Express have 20-50 variants.
Separately, data shows foreign banks including Standard Chartered and DBS Bank India have also cut their card base sharply in the past year. Their combined holdings fell 7.1% to 3.99 million cards, even as the industry grew 9.6% to 121.6 million. Rating agency CareEdge said this reflects a conscious shift to premium, profitable segments. The government conclave suggested PSBs open dedicated GCC desks within six months to target the expected 5,000 centres by 2030.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both sources report on public sector banks losing credit card market share, but from different angles. The Times of India piece frames the decline as a structural weakness requiring government intervention, leading with the finance ministry conclave and the need for dedicated GCC desks. The Economic Times treats the same trend as a natural portfolio rationalisation by foreign banks, emphasising profitability and premium strategy, without any mention of the government meeting. The TOI coverage implies remedial action is needed, the ET coverage presents it as a neutral market shift. The measured read is that PSBs are indeed losing share in high-value credit card segments to private and foreign banks, but foreign banks are also shrinking their card bases by choice to focus on profitability. The key number to watch is whether PSBs actually open the 6-month mandated GCC desks by early 2025.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 pro-government, 1 neutral
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com (pro government), economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
