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Pulse study shows debit card use rising for e-commerce, P2P and online bill payment

August 1, 2019

Consumers are using debit payments more often to make e-commerce purchases, for online bill payments and for P2P transfers, according to a new study commissioned by Discover Financial Services' Pulse Network. 

The report shows that e-commerce and other digital transactions rose 24% during 2018, about five times faster than debit transactions with a physical card. Average spend per active card rose 8% to $11,684 during 2018, from the previous year. 

"People are increasingly turning to debit whether they're inserting a card at the point of sale, using an app or shopping online," Steve Siebert, executive vice president of marketing and brand communications at Pulse, said in a press release about the study. 

Also 70% of debit issuers said they plan to issue contactless cards in 2020, which is double the rate from a year ago. 

The study was conducted by the management consulting firm Oliver Wyman.