USE OF CASH BY COMPANIES IN THE EURO AREA

The European Central Bank (ECB) has a pivotal role in ensuring that cash remains a widely accepted, accessible, and available payment method throughout the euro area. Achieving this mission necessitates a comprehensive understanding of cash utilization among businesses in the region.

Survey Insights – 2026

The ECB’s survey focusing on how euro area companies utilize cash offers valuable insights regarding their perceptions and acceptance of cash as a payment method. This survey aids in understanding not only existing trends but also future expectations, alongside the behaviors companies exhibit concerning cash withdrawals and deposits.

Do Companies Accept Cash?

In 2026, cash remains a prevalent payment option among businesses within the euro area. A significant majority, approximately 92%, of companies that offer goods and services at physical locations continue to accept cash payments. Notably, the prior trend of declining cash acceptance seems to have stalled.

Preferred Payment Methods

When it comes to how companies prefer payments to be made, the findings reveal that one-third of businesses express no particular preference for payment methods at physical locations. In terms of preferences, 24% favor debit card transactions, 21% favor cash, and 14% prefer credit card payments.

Factors Influencing Payment Method Acceptance

When determining which payment methods to accept, companies consider several key factors. Customer preference tops the list at 26%, followed closely by considerations of security (22%) and the ease of handling payments (15%).

Automation in Payment Acceptance

A noteworthy trend is the adoption of automated payment systems. Approximately 13% of companies with a physical point of sale have implemented self-checkout terminals, with more than half (52%) of these systems allowing for cash transactions.

Full Survey Report

The full report provides a thorough evaluation of the cash usage landscape among companies in the euro area. It covers essential data concerning cash acceptance, current attitudes towards cash, preferred payment methods, and the behavior associated with cash deposits and withdrawals. For those interested in learning more, the detailed survey results can be accessed through the ECB’s official channels.

Aggregate Statistics

The report includes various country-specific data from 2026, alongside insights into cash access and customer satisfaction regarding cash services. Further comprehensive charts and documents related to the survey are also available, demonstrating the ongoing exploration into the relevance of cash within the euro area economy.