Comprehensive change in credit card limits: 400 thousand TL threshold and new practices

The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) has implemented new rules with a comprehensive change to credit card practices. Under the regulation, banks have been asked to contact their customers and establish the infrastructure to verify income documents digitally in a short time. A three-month preparation period has been granted for the sector to comply technically and operationally.

TOTAL LIMIT-BASED CALCULATION

From now on, the total limit of all credit cards held by an individual across all banks will be taken as the basis for application and evaluation processes. Expenditures made until the end of 2025 will be included in this total limit for calculations. No change is foreseen in the current card limits, especially for customers whose total limit is up to 400 thousand TL. This threshold covers all credit cards belonging to the user, not just a single bank.

GRADUAL REDUCTION FOR LIMITS ABOVE 400 THOUSAND TL

A new system has been introduced for individuals whose total credit card limit exceeds 400 thousand TL. Gradual reductions will be applied to unused limits. For example, for a user with a total limit of 600 thousand TL who spends 400 thousand TL within the year, a reduction equal to half of the remaining 200 thousand TL will be made, and the new limit will be updated to 500 thousand TL.

DIFFERENT CALCULATION FOR 750 THOUSAND TL AND ABOVE

A different mechanism comes into play for higher limits. If the total limit is above 750 thousand TL, the limit update will be made according to statement periods. In this context, 80 percent of the period with the lowest available limit will be determined as the new upper limit.

NEW FLEXIBILITY IN INCOME DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENT

Another important innovation concerns the submission of income documents. After a limit reduction, customers whose card limit falls to 400 thousand TL or below will not be required to submit income documents for limit increase requests up to this amount. However, the obligation to show official income documents for every increase above 400 thousand TL will continue. Banks will also consider the individual's total credit card limit across all banks during limit increases.

2026 REGULATION FOR FIRST-TIME CARD HOLDERS

Starting from 2026, special additional regulations will be applied to those applying for a card for the first time. According to the new system, the credit card limit that can be obtained in the first year will be at most twice the applicant's monthly net income. In the second year, this ratio can be increased to a maximum of four times.

2027 TARGET: FULL INCOME COMPLIANCE

During the banks' limit pruning process, numerous criteria such as the customer's income level, credit score, current debt amount, and payment habits will continue to be taken into account. As a target, it is planned that all individual credit card limits will be made fully compatible with official income documents by the beginning of 2027.

News Source: 12punto