The European Central Bank has published new research showing that cash remains the payment method most widely accepted by businesses across the currency bloc, even as digital alternatives continue to gain ground.
The findings show that 92% of companies selling goods and services from physical premises in retail, hospitality and the arts, entertainment and recreation sectors accepted cash in 2026, up from 90% in 2024. The central bank said this marks a rebound in cash acceptance following the declines recorded during and after the pandemic.
Card payments held broadly steady over the same period, accepted by 88% of businesses in both 2024 and 2026. Mobile payments saw the sharpest change, with acceptance almost doubling from 36% to 68% of companies, pointing to a rapid uptake of contactless and app-based payment options alongside, rather than instead of, cash.
A quarter of companies across the euro area said they had taken active steps to encourage customers towards digital payments, such as installing tills that only process cashless transactions or cutting back on cash-enabled checkouts. Around 13% of businesses have introduced self-checkout terminals, reflecting a broader shift in how retail transactions are managed.
Businesses told the central bank that consumer preference, security and ease of handling were the main factors shaping which payment methods they choose to accept. Cash retained clear advantages in the eyes of many firms, particularly around privacy and reliability, even as digital infrastructure expands.
The European Central Bank conducted the research by surveying 8,205 companies across all 21 euro area countries, with interviews carried out between February and April 2026, giving the findings a broad cross-section of the region’s retail and services economy.
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