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Cash acceptance edges higher among euro area companies, ECB survey finds

The ECB survey of 8,205 firms found cash is still accepted by 92% of retailers and service providers in physical locations, while mobile payments rose to 68% from 36% between 2024 and 2026.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Economy

The European Central Bank said cash remains the most widely accepted payment method in the euro area, with acceptance rebounding slightly after pandemic-era declines. In 2026, 92% of companies selling goods and services in physical locations reported that they accept cash, compared with 90% in 2024, the ECB said.

Card payments stayed broadly stable, with 88% of companies reporting acceptance in both 2024 and 2026. Mobile payments increased sharply over the same period, rising from 36% to 68% of companies.

The ECB survey also found that 25% of firms have taken steps to promote digital payments, including investing in tills that support cashless transactions and reducing the number of tills that accept cash. In addition, 13% of companies have introduced self-checkout terminals.

The ECB said companies most often cite consumer preference, security, and ease of handling when deciding which payment methods to accept, and that they continue to view cash as having advantages such as privacy and reliability. The ECB based the survey on interviews conducted between February and April 2026 across 8,205 companies in all 21 euro area countries.

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