Europeans, cash payments - ECB survey of 8,205 companies in 21 eurozone countries
Cash acceptance has returned to the eurozone after a decline caused by lockdowns and business and travel restrictions imposed by governments during the Covid pandemic. Today, cash remains the most widely accepted payment method at points of sale. Meanwhile, the acceptance of mobile payments has increased significantly, according to a survey conducted by the ECB.
According to the survey, 92% of businesses that sell goods or services in physical premises, including restaurants, cafes, hotels and various entertainment businesses, accept cash. In 2024, the same indicator was 2 percentage points lower, at 90%, and the recovery "suggests that cash acceptance has returned after the decline observed" during the Covid years, the ECB said in a statement.
Acceptance of payment cards remained essentially stable at 88% between 2024 and 2026, while acceptance of payments using noble systems increased from 36% to 68%.
Additionally, one in four businesses (25%) reported taking steps to promote digital payments, including cashless payments and/or reducing the number of cash registers. Thirteen percent of businesses have introduced self-service cash registers.
When deciding which payment methods to accept, businesses typically cite customer preference, security, and simplicity as the top factors they consider. Businesses also cite privacy and reliability as key advantages of accepting cash over digital payments.
The survey, the ECB specifies, included 8,205 companies in all 21 eurozone countries, with interviews conducted between February and April.
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