Credit card spending, both at home and abroad, declined in February compared to the month prior, according to the latest data from the Bangladesh Bank.

Domestic credit card transactions dropped by 5 percent to Tk 2,968 crore while international transactions fell 14 percent to Tk 383 crore.

However, transactions made within Bangladesh using foreign credit cards rose 6.10 percent to Tk 268 crore.

Spending at department stores using credit cards declined alongside transactions for retail services, utility bill payments, cash withdrawals, pharmacies, government services, transportation, fund transfers, and professional services.

In contrast, spending on clothing and business services increased slightly.

Central bank data showed that nearly half of all domestic credit card transactions occurred at department stores. Credit cards were also widely used at retail outlets and for utility payments, cash withdrawals, purchases at pharmacies and clothing stores.

In the case of international transactions, Bangladeshi cardholders spent the most at department stores, accounting for 29 percent of total cross-border spending.

Other key categories included retail services (17.31 percent), pharmacies (12.32 percent), transportation (9.40 percent), business services (8.15 percent), clothing stores (7.02 percent), and other sectors (16.81 percent).

A country-wise breakdown shows that the United States accounted for the largest share of international spending at 13.62 percent.

Other major destinations included Thailand (12.19 percent), Singapore (10.30 percent), Malaysia (7.92 percent), the United Kingdom (7.81 percent), India (7.65 percent), Saudi Arabia (6.27 percent), the UAE (5.21 percent), the Netherlands (4.06 percent), Canada (3.79 percent), Ireland (3.33 percent), Australia (3.27 percent), and other countries (14.58 percent).

VISA remained the most widely used credit card for both domestic and international transactions.

Among foreign users in Bangladesh, US-issued cards were used the most.

Over the past five years, the issuance of debit, credit and prepaid cards have risen 137 percent, while total card-based transaction volumes surged 170 percent, according to Bangladesh Bank data.