SL Credit Card Base & Balances Edge Up in early 2026 📈

Sri Lanka’s credit card market recorded marginal growth through February 2026, reflecting steady consumer demand and stable leverage levels. • Overall Card Base: Total active cards rose by 1.3% Year-to-Date (YTD), reaching 2,193,380 compared to 2,166,186 in December 2025. • Global vs. Local: The growth was driven entirely by globally accepted cards, which increased 1.3% to 2,184,600. Conversely, locally accepted cards saw a 1.5% decline to 8,780. • Outstanding Balances: Total credit card debt grew by 0.5% YTD, amounting to Rs. 190.65 Bn. • Balance Breakdown: • Global Cards: Balances rose 0.6% to Rs. 151.18 Bn. • Local Cards: Balances reached Rs. 39.47 Bn, a slight 0.4% uptick. The data suggests a cautious but positive trend in consumer credit and banking sector activity, as cardholders maintain usage without a significant spike in overall indebtedness. _Data based on provisional Central Bank figures._