Results for the Federal SmartPay (small purchase) Credit Card Program for FY 2005 are Strong

Results for the Federal SmartPay (small purchase) credit card program for FY 2005 (Oct 1, 2004 – Sept 30, 2005) are strong.

There has been continued growth in the Federal small purchase credit card program, the SmartPay program, administered by the U.S. General Services Administration.

The total spent by the program rose to $17.43 billion despite fewer cardholders and fewer overall purchases. The average purchase rose to $672.15 from $644.53. The number of actual cardholders across the federal government continues to fall slightly.

Benefits of the credit card program for government are cost avoidance over paper-based procurement, and the speed by which government employees can get products and services to accomplish their work. Benefits for vendors are speed of payment and paperwork (PO processing) avoidance. Most Federal cards have a per purchase limit of $2,500. Orders at or below this level do not require a Federal contract

Most states and many local governments are also using small purchase credit cards, though with a smaller per-purchase level.

Federal SmartPay (formerly IMPAC) Credit Card Statistics

Fiscal Year # of transactions # of cardholders Total FY $

1989 47,595 13,032 $9,088,038

1990 331,957 21,431 67,779,471

1991 730,564 35,234 167,747,687

1992 1,097,500 48,819 307,450,342

1993 1,736,373 84,284 537,501,272

1994 2,765,615 96,090 921,639,498

1995 4,246,329 130,353 1,591,836,136

1996 7,000,000+ 185,000 2.97 billion

1997 11,500,000 240,000 4.95 billion

1998 16,400,000 340,000 7.95 billion

1999 20,600,000 500,000 10.2 billion

2000 23,500,000 490,000 12.3 billion

2001 25,000,000 410,000 13.8 billion

2002 26,000,000 390,000 15.2 billion

2003 26,500,000 360,000 16.2 billion

2004 26,500,000 315,000 17.08 billion

2005 25,931,643 301,217 $17.43 billion

Statistics compiled by Amtower & Company, www.FederalDirect.net

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