Debit Cards Reign Supreme amid Proliferation of Point-of-Sale Payment Options, J.D. Power Finds

Consumers Using Average of Four Different Payment Methods; Credit Cards, Digital Wallets, Buy Now/Pay Later and Merchant Apps Vie for Larger Slice of Retail Transaction Volume

Whether consumers have swiped, tapped, dipped, waved a wrist or held a device near a card reader at a retail location in recent months, the chances are good that they’ve used some form of digital, point-of-sale (POS) payment option in addition to cash. According to the inaugural J.D. Power U.S. Consumer POS Payment Program,^SM released today, consumers have used no fewer than four different types of payment methods, including debit cards, cash, credit cards, digital wallets and buy now/pay later (BNPL).

The new program consists of four interconnected J.D. Power syndicated studies focused on understanding consumer preference and experience with the various forms of POS payment options: the POS Choice Satisfaction Study;^SM Debit Card Satisfaction Study;^SM Digital Wallet Satisfaction Study;^SM and BNPL Satisfaction Study.^SM The program, which includes evaluations of 30 top payment brands and 11 different payment methods, delivers a detailed, nuanced view of changing patterns of consumer behavior and preference for different forms of POS payment.

“The POS payment landscape is moving very quickly, and consumers are being confronted with so many different options that we’re seeing a real splintering of the total addressable market,” said Miles Tullo, managing director, banking and payments at J.D. Power. “Consumers now use multiple different payment options for dozens of different reasons, mostly correlated with specific needs but sometimes out of basic habit. By analyzing consumer behavior across the proliferation of different POS payment types, scenarios and consumer personas, we’re able to provide critical insights on what’s driving utilization and what steps brands need to take to scale POS payment products.”

Following are some of the key findings of the four 2023 studies:

• Debit cards dominate POS marketplace: Despite the widespread availability of new forms of digital payment, debit cards are used by more consumers than any other form of payment at the point of sale, with 78% of consumers indicating that they use debit cards for purchases. Debit cards are followed by cash (74%); credit cards (66%); digital wallets (36%); gift cards (33%); BNPL (28%); merchant apps (20%); checks (19%); prepaid cards (14%); pay by bank (7%); and cryptocurrency (3%).

• Typical consumer uses multiple different payment options in different scenarios: While most consumers say they use debit cards, they also say they use multiple forms of payment. On average, consumers are using 4.1 different payment methods, and the reasons given for each varies considerably, incorporating everything from ease of use to the perception of social status associated with different forms of payment.

• More than half of consumers used non-traditional payment method in past 90 days: A slight majority (55%) of consumers say they have been using newer forms of digital payment methods, such as digital wallets, BNPL, merchant apps and even cryptocurrency. The most frequently used of these are digital wallets (36%) and BNPL (28%).

• Distinct consumer segments exist: Based on patterns of consumer behavior and customer satisfaction with the multiple different forms of POS payment methods, J.D. Power has identified six distinct consumer personas that POS payment brands can use to segment the market and target delivery of their offerings: experimenters; borrowers; rewards optimizers; security seekers; budgeters; and minimalists.

• Financial health influences behavior: J.D. Power has measured the financial health of consumers since 2020 and embedded those measurements into the Customer POS Payment Program. The results validate the influence consumer financial health has on POS decision-making and indicate how behaviors are likely to change with economic conditions.

The J.D. Power Consumer POS Payment Program measures usage behaviors and customer satisfaction with 11 POS payment methods and 30 POS payment brands that offer debit cards, digital wallets and BNPL loans. The program includes four J.D. Power syndicated studies: the POS Choice Satisfaction Study; Debit Card Satisfaction Study; Digital Wallet Satisfaction Study; and BNPL Satisfaction Study. Collectively, the studies captured the responses of 62,635 consumers and were fielded from April through June 2023.

For more information about the U.S. Consumer POS Payment Program, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/consumer-payments-satisfaction-studies.

See the online press release at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2023115.

About J.D. Power

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.

J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company’s business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com.

About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules: www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info

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