New Delhi, July 8 -- Despite improved repayment behaviour and positive trends supporting consumer lending, credit card penetration in India is low compared to many other developing countries.

India has 5.2 crore credit cardholders, which is just 25% of the overall credit-active population of about 25 crore, Bhavesh Jain, TransUnion CIBIL MD and CEO said, adding that developed and developing countries have a higher proportion of credit card users.

A white paper prepared by the credit information company said the same proportion stands at 62 per cent in Columbia, 98 per cent in Hong Kong, 81 per cent in the USA and 70 per cent in the UK.

Jain also pointed out that credit cards are playing a smaller role in bringing first-time borrowers i...