Companies Prefer Cash Over Digital Payments, ECB Finds
A recent survey by the European Central Bank reveals that companies in the Euro area still prefer cash over digital payments, citing concerns over privacy, reliability, and costs.
The European Central Bank has released fresh data indicating that the decline in cash acceptance observed during and following the Covid-19 pandemic has paused. According to the data, in 2026, 92% of Euro-area companies that sell their goods and services in physical locations reported that they accept cash. This is a slight increase from 2024, when 90% of companies accepted cash.
## Cash Remains Preferred Payment Method
Companies surveyed by the ECB have a higher regard for cash than digital payments in terms of privacy and reliability. A significant share of companies also perceive cash to be better than digital payments in terms of overall costs, transaction speed, ease of handling, and security.
## Shift in Mobile Payments
The data also showed a marginal improvement in the use of physical card payments, which are accepted by 88% of companies, compared with 87% in 2024. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the share of companies that report accepting mobile payments, increasing from 36% in 2024 to 68% in 2026.
### Acceptance Rates of Payment Methods
| Payment Method | 2024 | 2026 | | --- | --- | --- | | Cash | 90% | 92% | | Physical Card Payments | 87% | 88% | | Mobile Payments | 36% | 68% |
