Brussels – In the euro area, cash remains the most widely accepted payment method, according to the European Central Bank’s survey on Use of coins and banknotes. In 2026, 92 per cent of retail outlets, cafés, restaurants, hotels, cinemas and museums reported receiving and accepting cash payments. This figure marks a slight increase compared with 2024 (90 per cent).
The acceptance of card payments remained broadly stable at 88 per cent between 2024 and 2026, while over the same period the acceptance of mobile payments rose sharply from 36 per cent to 68 per cent of businesses. “Overall, cash is the most widely accepted payment method in the euro area”, the survey highlights.
The ECB also notes that “25 per cent of companies in the euro area report having implemented measures to encourage the use of digital payments.” These measures include investing in tills that accept cashless payments or reducing the number of tills that accept cash.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
