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Euro area firms show cash acceptance rebound to 92% in 2026

Card acceptance held around 88%, while mobile payments jumped to 68% of companies from 36% between 2024 and 2026, according to an ECB survey.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Europe

The European Central Bank said cash remains the most widely accepted payment method among euro area firms, with acceptance edging higher in 2026.

In the ECB survey, 92% of companies selling goods and services in physical locations reported that they accept cash, up from 90% in 2024 and reversing part of the pandemic-era decline.

Card payment acceptance was broadly stable at 88% across 2024 and 2026, while mobile payments rose sharply from 36% to 68% of companies over the same period.

The ECB also found that 25% of companies have taken steps to promote digital payments, such as investing in cashless tills or reducing cash-accepting lanes, and the survey covered 8,205 companies across the euro area with interviews conducted between February and April 2026.

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