However, both of these figures are down from December 2020's total value of credit card balances accruing interest (debt), which reached just over $21 billion in original terms.

Credit card debt is well down on March 2020 figures of more than $25 billion when COVID-19 lockdowns hit Australia.

Over the course of 2020, total credit card debt plummeted by roughly one quarter. 

Related: January credit card balances record biggest ever fall.


Credit card

N/A0[Enjoy the benefits of our lowest rate on everyday purchases. 0% p.a. on Balance Transfers for 28 months on a new NAB Low Rate Card. No Balance Transfer fee applies. Plus, enjoy no annual fee for the first year (usually $59)* Apply by NAB may vary or end this offer at any time. You’ll also enjoy the benefits of our lowest ongoing rate on everyday purchases. Up to 55 days interest free on purchases do not apply with an outstanding balance transfer. Additional cardholder at no extra cost. Your choice of a pink or silver card. Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]0015$product[$field["value"]]21.74VisaMore details

NAB Low Rate Card

    N/A0[0%p.a. on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months reverting to the cash advance rate thereafter. No balance transfer fee. Low interest rate. Low annual card fee. Up to 55 days interest-free on purchases. If you currently have a credit card or store card elsewhere, you can easily transfer the outstanding balance to a Low Rate Visa Card and start saving right away. Samsung Pay, ]01510$product[$field["value"]]21.49VisaMore details

    Bank of Queensland Low Rate Visa Card

      N/A0[Get 0% p.a. for 28 months on balance transfers and $0 Annual Account Fee in First Year with an ANZ Low Rate credit card (no Balance Transfer Fee). $0 Total Annual Fee for the first year - $58 thereafter Eligibility criteria, T&Cs, fees and charges apply. Offer ongoing until further notice. Low ongoing interest rate of 13.74% p.a. on purchases. Up to 55 days interest free credit on purchases. $0 annual fee for the first year - $58 thereafter View balances, transfer money and make payments simply and easily with the ANZ App. Apple Pay® and Google Pay let you use your compatible Apple® or Android™ device to tap and pay with an eligible ANZ credit card. Apple Pay, Android Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, ]0020$product[$field["value"]]21.99VisaMore details

      ANZ Low Rate Visa

        N/A0[You get up to $350 cashback when you take out a new Low Rate Credit Card. $50 cashback will be awarded for every month $1000 or more is spent on Eligible purchases for the first seven statement periods from card approval. Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. + $59 annual fee. Up to 55 days interest free on purchases when you pay the closing balance of your statement in full by the statement due date. Make the most of the balance transfer by creating a balance transfer repayment plan with SmartPlan., ]0015$product[$field["value"]]21.99MastercardMore details

        Westpac Low Rate Card (Cashback offer)

          N/A0[Enjoy 0% p.a. on purchases for the first 3 months + up to $240 cashback Our lowest interest rate on purchases at 13.24% Control your security and spending - instantly lock international payments, block ATM cash advances and limit your spending through the CommBank app or on NetBank. Minimum credit limit $500 Monthly Fee $6/mo (equivalent to $72 per year) Android Pay, Google Pay , ]0020$product[$field["value"]]21.99MastercardMore details

          Commonwealth Bank Low Rate Credit Card

            N/A0[Low ongoing interest rate. Low annual fee. Microchip for extra security. Global acceptance of Visa. Access to Visa Entertainment. Visit macquarie.com.au/cards for full details and terms and conditions. Zero liability unauthorised purchases with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy*, ]01020$product[$field["value"]]15.95VisaMore details

            Macquarie Bank RateSaver Card

              Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

              All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of November 23, 2024. View disclaimer.

              Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

              Australians are also cancelling their credit card accounts, with the 13.49 million active accounts recorded in February down from 13.55 million in January. 

              Total credit card transactions topped $24 billion however, an uptick from $22.9 billion in January, but still down from $29.6 billion in December.

              The total value of ATM cash withdrawals also fell, down to $7.96 billion in February from $8.35 billion in January and $10.15 billion in December. 

              February's figures represent the lowest level of ATM cash withdrawals since the $7.37 billion seen in May 2020, and these three months represent the lowest ATM withdrawal values on record, with Reserve Bank data going back to March 2008.

              New Payments Platform (NPP) transactions - such as Osko - continued to gain popularity in February, up around $5.2 billion in a month to $60.56 billion.

              This is the second-highest value recorded since the NPP (New Payments Platform) was introduced in February 2018, behind December 2020's Christmas spending at more than $66 billion. 

              Osko transactions made up nearly $53 billion of the $60.55 billion in NPP payments.

              Is BNPL picking up the slack in falling credit card use?

              The first buy now, pay later offerings started appearing in Australia about seven years ago, coinciding with a general fall in credit card transactions.

              However, the short answer is 'no' as to whether these two are linked, according to payments expert Grant Halverson.

              "Credit card debit which is now 1.3% of all consumer debt is fading badly because the major banks are still pushing out of date product and are still hooked on airline point programs (which only attract transactors not revolvers) while they push mortgages as the major debt vehicle - which is working," he told Savings.com.au.

              "BNPL after seven years has 0.65% of retail payments and the debt is unregistered as it's below one basis point.

              "Debit has been growing double digits since 2009 - that's picking up consumer spend and debt is now split across a range of lending."

              Mr Halverson was formerly an executive at Diners Club, and Citi. 

              Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash