This Week in Credit Cards: Digital Wallets Threaten Card Dominance

American consumers used credit cards for a larger share of point-of-sale spending in 2025 than any other payment vehicle, according to the most recent edition of the Global Payments Report.

But the report also projected that the share of in-store credit card payment value will decline by 2030. Global Payments forecasts that debit card and cash payments will also see a drop by that point.

This Week in Credit Cards, digital wallets see growth, credit card spend slows significantly, Amex partners with the NFL, new JetBlue card perks, and more. Catch up on the week's five biggest stories here: https://t.co/lD9wjH9z0W pic.twitter.com/LFviObXcBp

— CardRates Industry News (@CardRatesNews) April 10, 2026

The report suggests digital wallets will overtake card payments as a consumer’s point-of-sale payment tool of choice by 2030, which means that credit card companies may see less brand visibility at checkout. Digital wallet purchases accounted for 40% of the value of online transactions U.S. consumers made in 2025, the report indicated.

Some in the U.S. credit card industry may view the new report as entirely negative for issuers. But if more shoppers choose to make payments with their cards via their digital wallets in the future, then credit card issuers can still benefit from those types of purchases.

Of course, card companies can still take steps to motivate cardholders to use their cards more often for in-store purchases. We may see more issuers try to encourage that behavior in the future by offering cards that come with eye-catching designs.

New data from the Federal Reserve points to a possible change in purchasing behavior from consumers. The latest Fed data reveals that revolving credit grew at an annual rate of just 0.6% in February after coming in at 2.3% only one month earlier.

A decrease in this statistic for one month may not alarm industry insiders, but it may be worth monitoring if the pattern continues. For example, issuers could face pressure to rethink the value of the rewards they offer with card programs.

Credit card rewards remain a popular benefit with consumers, and issuers won’t likely be quick to lower the value of rewards programs. But they may have no other options if the programs lose their power to motivate consumers to pay with credit cards over debit cards, cash, or BNPL solutions.

On the other hand, the credit card market may respond to drops in cardholder spending by offering lower annual percentage rates, even if only for a short period of time. 

With many U.S. consumers struggling to keep up with the rising costs of essentials, such as groceries and utilities, people may see more offers for cards with low or 0% rates showing up in their mailboxes.

People in Alabama may soon have less in taxes to pay on the purchases they make with their credit cards in certain circumstances. Most people have likely run into a situation where a business tacked on extra charges to their bill simply because the customer chose to pay it with a credit card.

Those charges may be a nuisance for a cardholder, but they exist because many business owners want to pass along as many costs to their customers as they can. 

Right now, businesses in Alabama that impose extra fees when people pay with a credit card also charge taxes on those fees. But a new bill from a legislator in the state aims to change how those fees are treated for sales tax purposes.

That’s good news for people who live in or regularly frequent the state. But the bill could also motivate more merchants to attach extra fees to credit card transactions, which cardholders would certainly not welcome.

This issue isn’t a done deal, though. The Alabama League of Municipalities is opposing it as the group fears the impact it will have on municipal revenues and, in turn, the services local governments in the state provide. The bill was still pending in the Alabama Legislature as of the latest public update.

JetBlue announced a slew of new benefits and enhancements earlier this week that it is bringing to the JetBlue Premier World Elite Mastercard. The card, which first appeared in 2025, now allows cardholders to earn statement credits of up to $300 each year when they use it to rent cars and book cruises and hotels via TrueBlue Travel.

Cardholders can also earn companion passes when they exceed certain spending thresholds with the card. With fuel prices on the rise, many consumers are looking for ways to travel to their favorite vacation spots without breaking their budgets.

One notable detail is that JetBlue is not making changes to the annual fee on the card, according to the press release. Not only will cardholders be able to access the new benefits under the card’s fee of $499 per year, but the fee for authorized users will not see a change either, remaining at $150 for each such user.

The moves may pay substantial dividends for JetBlue. Companies that take steps to make consumers feel like they’re getting more bang for their buck stand to have more loyal customers over time. The new benefits will launch later this spring, which is perfect timing for cardholders who plan to soon start making travel purchases for the summer.

American Express is joining forces with the National Football League, the two parties announced recently. The payments giant stands to boost its brand recognition from its new partnership with the NFL, which is the most popular professional sports league in the U.S.

American Express cardholders will soon be able to access special offers and promotions as a result of the union. While the NFL’s teams make their homes in cities throughout the U.S., the league is looking to expand its reach beyond U.S. borders. Part of that effort includes holding NFL games in other countries. 

And American Express customers will have an inside track on tickets to those contests. The company recently allowed cardholders to purchase presale tickets to an official league game taking place in Australia in September. 

The leading credit card network already has deals in place to offer cardholders special perks at the home games of certain clubs, including the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, and both of the league’s New York teams. 

American Express will make its presence known at the upcoming NFL Draft. At the event, which takes place in Pittsburgh this year, eligible cardholders can make a reservation to visit an American Express lounge. The company is also planning draft-related activations for fans, according to reports.

We’ll be back next week for another edition of This Week in Credit Cards, and we hope you will too. In the meantime, be sure to stop by our social media accounts on Bluesky, LinkedIn, and X for interviews with industry insiders and more reporting on the stories impacting the credit card industry. 

Check back in with us often for coverage of the latest news and trends in the credit card world.