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People shopping for credit cards move fast. Are your campaigns keeping pace?

New research reveals credit card seekers decide quickly — 67% apply within two weeks. Here’s how to reach audiences early.

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When it comes to choosing a new credit card, consumers move fast. And these days, they’re researching and applying online. 

What’s more, nearly two-thirds of credit card seekers apply within two weeks of beginning their search, according to new research from The Trade Desk Intelligence and YouGov.1 This compressed timeline leaves little room for delaying advertising campaign rollout — and even less for aligning your media channel strategies. 

For financial marketers, our research shows success hinges on reaching the right audiences early and across the media channels that shape real outcomes. 

With narrow decision windows, digital media channels play a vital role throughout the decision-making journey, according to our findings. Most credit card acquisition journeys today are entirely digital and last only a matter of days. Most often they start at comparison websites (52%) or banking brand websites (46%). From there, credit card seekers transition to the consideration stage, where 2 in 5 surveyed say an online source was influential in deciding which credit card to choose. After that, 65% of respondents say they’re staying online to complete the process. 

It’s worth noting that ads on the open internet are 1.6x more influential to the final credit card acquisition decision compared to social media ads, according to the research. Additional findings reveal: 

%
of credit card seekers first became aware of their current credit card from an online channel
%
of respondents trust credit card brands that provide clear and transparent advertising across all campaign channels
%
say clear breakdowns of features and benefits — like rewards and fees — build confidence in choosing the right card

This data suggests there’s an opportunity to activate agile campaigns on digital channels to influence credit card seekers within the compressed 14-day decision window. Given how quickly consumers move through this process, early presence with clear messaging becomes increasingly important. That means identifying in-market audiences early, activating omnichannel campaigns across the open internet, and delivering consistent, benefit-driven messaging at every step of the credit card acquisition journey. 

Whether they’re shopping for rewards, cash back, or no-fee starter options, credit card seekers appear to prioritize clarity and value. In a crowded marketplace where decisions happen quickly, meeting these expectations may be what separates successful campaigns from missed opportunities. 

Source: 

1. The Trade Desk Intelligence and YouGov, credit card journey research, n=3,026, credit card intenders, Canada, U.K., U.S., March 2025.