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This study seeks to examine why most multiple credit cardholders have a “main” card (i.e. a card used more often than others) and “subsidiary” cards (i.e. cards used less often or only in an emergency) and the spending patterns associated with main and subsidiary cards.

The study is qualitative in nature, using a survey which contained open‐ended questions to acquire data. Responses were subject to content analysis to categorise the reasons given for having a main and subsidiary card.

Results show that some 85 per cent of the 141 respondents indicated that they had a main card and the most frequently quoted reason for having such a card was the superior discounts and promotions which were offered by the card issuer. Not surprisingly, main cards were used for the broadest range of transactions, while subsidiary cards were used for a more restricted range of transactions, a majority saying that their subsidiary cards were held for “stand‐by purposes”.

The primary limitation of this study is that the generalizability of the findings cannot be guaranteed. Although there is no particular evidence that Singaporeans behave differently from others in the credit card market, replication of the findings in other countries would confirm the generalizability of the findings in this study.

The results suggest that managers who market credit cards should aim to ensure that, at all times, the discounts they offer, the promotions they arrange and their loyalty schemes are superior to those offered by competitors. By meeting these aims, higher numbers of consumers, who are multiple cardholders, are likely to use their card as a main card, thereby generating more income for their credit card issuer.

The study provides an original insight into an important element of consumer behaviour in the credit card market and also offers guidance for marketing managers responsible for enhancing credit card ownership and usage.

A comparison of attitudes towards credit cards and purchase behaviours reveals some major differences between French and English Canadians. The determinants of frequency of usage are identified for both groups and reveal five attitudinal factors. Finally, it is shown that increased income does not lead to convergence of the two subcultures.

The purpose of this paper is to understand the moderating influence of Multi‐item List of Value (MILOV) on credit card attributes, age, and gender in credit use among Indian customers. The research examines the impact of “lifestyle” variables (convenience, use patterns, and status) on credit card use.

Data were collected through mall intercept technique in six metropolitan cities of India. A self‐administered questionnaire was distributed to customers visiting the malls.

Use and convenience emerged as the major determinants of credit card use among Indian customers. Use, convenience, and status attributes were moderated by “sense of belonging” and “sense of fulfilment” dimensions of MILOV. Young customers were likely to use credit cards.

The study does not examine the influence of customer income, occupation, and education on credit card use, as many customers were not willing to disclose the information. These demographic factors can influence customers' perception towards credit card ownership and use.

The findings can be of immense use to international and Indian banks in marketing of credit cards. The convenience attribute can be emphasized to instill confidence among consumers and motivate them to use credit cards.

There is no previous research on Indian credit cards which examines the influence of “lifestyle” and values on its use among Indian customers.

Investigates the main dimensions and attributes that Greek cardholders consider of importance when selecting a card. Reviews the Greek credit and charge card market characteristics, competitive environment and cardholders′ profiles in relation to the main literature on credit cards. Investigates a representative quota sample of Greek cardholders – taking into account demographic factors such as age, sex and income – on the relative importance of the main attributes that play a role in card selection. The data collected are analysed by factor analysis, which suggests that there are five main factors that affect card selection: convenience of use in Greece; security (safety); economy; prestige; and shopping abroad. The weightings and relative importance of each of these factors was calculated, and this could be used for more optimal marketing mix allocations. Suggests that Greek cardholders are more “practical” and less “prestige” oriented than previously thought. Consequently, more emphasis should be given to convenience, security (against fraud/loss) and economy aspects of credit card usage, by appropriate advertising, promotions, product development and distribution allocations by banks and credit card issuers.

The purpose of this study is to analyze Singapore's diverse cardholders in search of variations among demographic groups, credit card profiles, and their perceptions with regard to credit card ownership and use. It then aims to discuss possible reasons governing Singaporeans' credit card ownership and use.

A survey was conducted, decision trees were then constructed using Chi‐square automatic interaction detection algorithm (CHAID) and SPSS software AnswerTree to examine the association between the number of credit cards (target variable) and the demographic characteristics, perceptions and other credit card‐related variables.

The number of credit cards was found to be significantly influenced by income and gender as well as perceptions that include “credit card leads to overspending”, “savings as payment source”, “unreasonable interest rates”, “credit card as status symbol”. The number of credit cards was also affected by credit card‐related variables such as missing payments sometimes, frequency of use, entertainment expenditures, and petrol purchase.

This research provides an in‐depth understanding of Singaporean multiple cardholders, thus it is useful in designing marketing strategies for card‐issuers as well as anti‐debt strategies for policy‐makers in Singapore.

Despite the importance of consumer credit, virtually no literature or research exists on the ownership and use of credit cards in Singapore, so this paper intends to close this gap. Further, by combining the demographics, cardholders' profiles and usage patterns with the respondents' perceptions concerning credit card ownership and use, our study offers a richer analysis to explain consumer behavior than previous literatures.

Examines the history and economics of the credit card before describing the origins of the affinity card concept both in the USA and the UK. Explores different strategies of some major UK affinity card issuers and the aspirations of the affinity groups with whom a mutually beneficial relationship is sought. Successful affinity cards occur where the expectations of the card issuer are met by the aspirations of the affinity group and examples are used to illustrate a good and bad “fit”. Considers the current pressures on affinity cards and offers some thoughts on the need for a mutual understanding of the aspirations of both issuer and affinity group.

The credit card market is very large and segmented by targeting different types of consumers. One type of credit card is one that specifically targets people in the education sector, for instance, students, teachers and other staff members. This study aims to compare the features of education and other credit cards in Malaysia.

The study analyzes data concerning 234 credit cards by using descriptive statistics and a one-way analysis of variance test.

Out of 234 credit cards, this study found only two credit cards especially target education sector customers. The study evaluated 13 features of these credit cards and found that only 2 features are statistically significantly different from other conventional credit cards in Malaysia. These features are interest rate and cash withdrawal charge fees.

This is an original study based on the compilation of data from secondary sources. The findings will provide valuable insights to financial regulatory policymakers, academics and business managers.

This research paper aims to examine the proposed easy-money effect of credit cards, which stimulates consumers to overspend. This paper shows how such an easy-money effect can be weakened.

In Study 1, an implicit association test was conducted with a sample of 169 participants to test the proposed credit card easy-money effect. In Study 2, experimental data were collected online from 365 participants to test the effectiveness of a hard-work reminder in weakening credit cards’ easy-money effect on consumer spending.

The proposed credit card easy-money effect exists, with spendthrift (ST) participants associating money with hard work less in the implicit association test after being presented with a credit card cue versus neutral cue. The results from Study 2 show that ST participants spent more on their dinner than tightwad participants when shown a credit card cue. However, this effect could be weakened when STs were also reminded of their hard work by a picture accompanied with words.

This paper suggests that credit cards’ spending-stimulating effect is due to consumers’ associations between credit cards and easy money. Based on this notion, this paper suggests conditions in which credit cards will stimulate more and less spending.

This is the first research attempt to examine the credit cards’ easy-money effect and the effectiveness of reminding consumers of their hard work to mitigate credit cards’ long-established spending-stimulating effect.

The purpose of this paper is to explore factors influencing Malaysian bank customers to choose Islamic credit cards. The bank customers generally aware of Islamic credit card facilities in Islamic banks but factors leading them to choose it are particularly unexplored. Given the importance of Islamic credit cards to Islamic banks, the study is aimed at explaining the effects of attitude, subjective norm and perceived financial cost on the Malaysian bank customers' behavioral intention to choose Islamic credit cards.

Drawing upon the theory of reasoned action (TRA), this study suggests a modified model to examine the acceptance factors of attitude, subjective norm and perceived financial cost within a context of Islamic credit cards. This paper extends partial least squares (PLS) to examine the impacts of these factors on the intention to choose Islamic credit cards. The model is tested using a survey data from 257 respondents.

The results reveal that attitude, subjective norm and perceived financial cost significantly influence the intention to choose Islamic credit card. Of these, attitude is first ranked as an influential factor in explaining one's intention to choose Islamic credit cards. All hypotheses are supported. The findings have proven the soundness of the TRA for study in the area of Islamic credit cards. Earlier works in Islamic credit cards have not ready to apply TRA in their works. The current research is thus closed the gap.

Pertaining to research limitations, this paper reveals two limitations owing to their future directions for future research on Islamic credit cards. This study indicates that its contributions are particularly confined to potential users in Eastern-Malaysia whilst those from Western-Malaysia are largely untapped. Further research is required to include users from both geographies. Owing to time and financial constraints, this study is only analyzed three factors in explaining the behavioral intention to choose Islamic credit cards. Therefore, future studies in this area should examine new potential factors contributing the receptivity.

Findings generated from this study serve as a basis for more future works in the area of Islamic credit cards. The theory developed in the current study's model could also be generalized into other contexts of Islamic banking products and services. Practically, branch managers of Islamic banking institutions are of considerable importance to extend the findings of this study to better future planning of their Islamic credit card services.

This study extends the applicability of the TRA model into a newly context of Islamic credit cards. Empirically, this study also integrates the effect of perceived financial cost on the intention to choose Islamic credit cards. This study offers insights with respect to factors affecting one's decision to choose Islamic credit cards.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the opportunities and challenges for “foreign” financial institutions who wish to enter the Chinese market. It uses the credit card product to illustrate the complexities of this market.

Building on a literature review of how other transitional economies have dealt with the introduction of competitive financial services into their markets, the paper uses secondary research sources to consider some of the Chinese cultural nuances about savings and consumption that foreign entrants will need to be aware of. The credit card provides a mechanism, both to better explain these nuances and to demonstrate the entry strategies used to date by foreign credit card issuers.

There is much work yet to be done by the Chinese authorities to establish an infrastructure for payment cards and to encourage consumers to hold and use such cards. Foreign entrants, whilst constrained by the regulations restricting entry into the Chinese financial services markets, need also to be aware of some of the cultural impediments to the use of payment cards, particularly credit cards.

Further empirical research now needs to be conducted to explore the attitudes of Chinese consumers towards using credit cards and the willingness of Chinese merchants to accept such cards for payment. Foreign entrants, both actual and prospective need to be aware of the unique culture of China and how concepts such as Guanxi will impact upon the success of their entry strategies into this market.

The paper adds to the very limited literature on financial services in China and has value in that it encourages bank marketers to understand the cultural environment of the market that they are trying to penetrate.