Credit Cards Move From 'Taken for Granted' to 'Strategic Usage': What Drives the Choice of a Second Card?

Web3 media "Mediverse", operated by For-it Inc., has independently conducted a "Survey on Credit Cards" and announced its findings.

When citing the article content, graphs, or data rather than reprinting this press release, please be sure to include the link below as the source.

https://www.for-it.co.jp/mediverse/results/crypto-survey-260521/

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Survey Overview

[Target Audience] Men and women aged 15 and over

[Sample Size] 500 people

[Residence] Nationwide

[Survey Method] Internet research

[Survey Dates] April 2, 2026 - April 3, 2026

[Survey Media] Mediverse

Background

While having "just one card for now" used to be considered sufficient, holding multiple credit cards to suit individual needs—such as pursuing high point reward rates or taking advantage of special offers at specific stores—is becoming a new standard.

So, what actually prompts people to get a "second" credit card, and by what criteria do they strategically use multiple cards? Furthermore, how do these attitudes change based on annual income or age group?

To explore this, we conducted a questionnaire survey of 500 men and women nationwide on the theme of "Number of Credit Cards Owned and Selective Usage."

Survey Results

- Credit Card Ownership Trends

When asking 500 men and women nationwide about the number of credit cards they own, it was found that approximately 3 out of 4 people (74.2%) possess a credit card.

Looking at the number of cards owned, holding 1 card was the most common (25.0%), followed by 4 or more cards (19.2%), and 2 cards (17.8%).

By gender, a difference was observed in credit card ownership.

Regarding whether they own a card or not, a higher percentage of women do not have a credit card compared to men. In terms of the number of cards owned, there is a polarization trend: men tend to have either 1 card or 4 or more cards, while women either have no cards or just 1 card.

By age group, a difference was seen in the number of credit cards owned.

As age increases, the volume zone of cards owned shifts from 1 card to multiple cards. About 40% of people in their 60s reported having 4 or more cards, suggesting that individuals increase their card count along with life stage changes.

By household income, a difference was observed in the number of credit cards owned.

While "do not own" is the most common answer among the demographic with a household income of 3 million yen or less, the percentage of those holding 4 or more cards surges when household income exceeds 7 million yen. This infers that the higher the income, the more entrenched the style of selectively using multiple cards becomes.

- Reasons for Getting a Second Credit Card

When asking the 49.2% (246 people) of the 500 respondents who own multiple credit cards about the reason for getting a second card, the most frequent answer was "found a card with a high point reward rate" (79.3%), followed by "offered great deals at specific stores/services" (73.2%) in second place, and "attractive sign-up campaign" (63.8%) in third place. This clearly shows that "savings/deals" serve as a powerful driving force across the board.

By gender, differences were seen in the reasons for creating a second credit card.

For both men and women, "found a card with a high point reward rate" and "offered great deals at specific stores/services" topped the list, but their priority order differed.

Women show a stronger tendency than men to prioritize daily savings and convenience, such as point reward rates and store discounts. On the other hand, it is inferred that men choose their second card by being more conscious of initial financial benefits and functionalities, such as sign-up campaigns and separating card brands.

By age group, differences were seen in the reasons for getting a second credit card.

People in their 40s notably showed a prominently high rate for "found a card with a high point reward rate" (90.9%), reflecting a high awareness of "poi-katsu" (point hunting). Also, since response rates were relatively high for "offered great deals at specific stores/services" and "attractive sign-up campaign," we can catch a glimpse of a rigorous attitude in evaluating multiple aspects when applying for a second and subsequent cards.

By household income, differences were seen in the reasons for getting a second credit card.

Across all household income brackets, "found a card with a high point reward rate" and "offered great deals at specific stores/services" remain the top two choices; however, in the household income bracket of 5 million yen or more,