Credit card usage in Bangladesh experienced a marked surge in October, with both domestic transactions and expenditures by Bangladeshis abroad recording substantial increases compared to September, according to the latest report from the Bangladesh Bank.
The central bank’s data reveals a consistent upward trend across all segments, including domestic purchases, international spending by Bangladeshi travellers, and credit card usage by foreign nationals visiting or residing in the country.
Bangladeshis spent a total of Tk534.02 crore abroad using credit cards in October, up from Tk494.02 crore in September – a rise of approximately Tk40 crore within a single month. The United States remained the leading destination in terms of overseas spending.
A detailed breakdown of international expenditures by Bangladeshi cardholders in October is as follows:
| Country | Spending (Tk crore) |
|---|---|
| USA | 72.06 |
| Thailand | 56.03 |
| UK | 52.02 |
| Singapore | 45.02 |
| India | 32.06 |
| Saudi Arabia | 31.00 |
| Others* | – |
*Includes Malaysia, Netherlands, Canada, UAE, China, and Australia.
Credit card use by foreign nationals within Bangladesh also increased notably. Spending rose from Tk175.09 crore in September to Tk199.07 crore in October, an increase of roughly Tk24 crore. US citizens were the highest spenders, accounting for Tk44.02 crore, followed by the United Kingdom (Tk21 crore) and India (Tk18 crore).
Domestically, credit card transactions continued their upward trajectory. Total spending within Bangladesh climbed from Tk3,395 crore in September to Tk3,471 crore in October, representing an increase of Tk76 crore over 30 days.
Financial analysts, along with the Bangladesh Bank, interpret this trend as a clear signal of growing consumer confidence and an increasingly active financial ecosystem, both locally and internationally. The surge in overseas spending particularly reflects a revival in international travel and heightened participation of Bangladeshi cardholders in global commerce.
“The data indicates a positive shift in consumption patterns and the resilience of the country’s financial system,” the report noted. Analysts further highlighted that as card usage continues to expand, it could drive deeper financial inclusion and strengthen digital payment adoption across the nation.