Credit Cards in a Post COVID World: Seven Takeaways for the Next Business Cycle

The good thing about recessions is that they will end and move into the next economic cycle, which economists often call “the trough.” The bad news is that no one knows when the COVID-19 downturn will level. If we use the Great Recession as an example, the recession will last a year and a half, almost half the time it took to get through the Great Depression of 1929-1933.

In Mercator Advisory Group’s latest research report, Credit Cards in a Post COVID World: Seven Takeaways for the Next Business Cycle, readers will review the learnings that we have now which should go into the business models of credit managers as they start thinking about what credit card businesses will look like when we exit the COVID-19 pandemic.

"COVID-19 made an abrupt appearance, and the credit card industry, which thrives in a healthy economy, must contend with record unemployment, diminished GDP, and a loss in consumer confidence,” comments Brian Riley, Director, Credit Advisory, at Mercator Advisory Group, and the author of the research note. Riley adds that "4Q20 and 1Q21 will likely be unprofitable for many credit card issuers as charge-offs peak."

This document contains 15 pages and 7 exhibits.

Companies mentioned in this research note include: ACI Worldwide, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Discover, FIS, FICO, Fiserv, Mastercard, TSYS, Visa