Credit card additions hit second-highest monthly level in 2026 as banks gear up for festive season
HDFC Bank and Axis Bank together accounted for nearly 43% of the net additions during September, adding 539,878 cards between them. The two private sector lenders emerged as the largest contributors to fresh additions, followed by SBI Cards.
Mumbai: Indian lenders, led by HDFC Bank and Axis Bank, added 1.26 million net credit cards in September, the second-highest monthly addition this calendar year, as financiers expanded card portfolios ahead of the prime festive season, latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed.July was only marginally ahead in net additions, at 1.27 million. The two private sector lenders emerged as the largest contributors to fresh additions, followed by SBI Cards.Growth in card additions was relatively muted at ICICI Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank in September.Live EventsET BureauThe momentum was also visible in quarterly numbers.
