Various cards have made payment convenient

In current conditions when it is becoming difficult to carry big amount of cash credit card, debit card, gift card, forex card and smart card have become necessity for people.

According to data in Patna alone there are approximately 80,000 users of plastic money. A senior PNB banker said, "In about five years' time, credit card market has grown by 100% and we are looking forward to a more handsome growth in the near future.”

In Bihar, in the last five years there has been a GDP growth of 11% due to which bankers are seeing good business prospects in the state. The PNB official pointed out, "Why talk only about the past five years? There are positive signs all around of growth in investment and infrastructure sectors in the state in days to come." But if you don’t have control over your spending then you might end up spending beyond your means. In the state banks that are into credit card business are targeting the college students as their aspirant customers. Students being young and immature are more likely to be irresponsible.

To attract students banks are offering freebies and exciting offers like discount on spa treatment etc. One of the cardholder Poonam Sharma of S K Puri said, "The best part is you don't have to think much before buying and you can shop without the fear of running short of cash... It's a smarter way of shopping." In her early 30s, Sharma preferred to pay through cards at jewellery shops, boutiques and beauty salons.

Another card holder Ann Qurratulain, a 3rd year student of city's Chanakya National Law University says she can’t think of life without her credit card. Ann, who belongs to Patna, said, "For students who have to stay in a hostel and travel for training, internships and conferences on a regular basis, a credit card is a must" and added she use her credit card to buy her rail and air tickets online and thus saves both time and energy.

People, who go on foreign trips, find credit card convenient for doing money transaction. Raman Jha who runs a travel agency said, "I pay hotel bills and taxi bills and shop using my cards only when I'm in a foreign country. Forex card comes quite handy then. One can even play foreign lottery online."

However credit card technology has led to creation of many jobs with credit card issuing companies and banks as they employ customer care representatives, training positions, business technology positions etc.

As new developments and researches are being done in different technologies soon plastic money is going to become a passé. A private telecom company is going to launch e-money where you don’t even have to carry a wallet. You will be able to make payments using mobile phone. However some of the banks such as SBI, ICICI bank, etc, have launched the mobile banking and now you can even make payments of groceries through mobile phone.