Cash remains the most widely-accepted payment method in the euro area, with 92% of businesses with physical points of sale accepting cash, according to the European Central Bank (ECB).
This is up from 90% in 2024, the data showed, indicating that cash acceptance has rebounded after a decline observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘In 2026, 92% of companies selling goods and services in physical locations in the retail trade, restaurants and cafés, hotels, and arts, entertainment and recreation sectors reported that they accept cash,’ the ECB said in a press release.
Cards and digital payments
Card acceptance across Europe remained broadly unchanged at 88%, while acceptance of mobile payments increased sharply, rising from 36% in 2024 to 68% in 2026.
Elsewhere, some 25% of companies said they had taken steps to promote digital payments, including investing in cashless payment tills or reducing the number of tills that accept cash.
Self-checkout is also becoming part of the changing payment landscape, with 13% of companies in the euro area reporting that they have introduced self-checkout terminals.
‘When deciding which payment methods to accept, companies most often cite consumer preference, security and ease of handling as the main considerations,’ the ECB said. ‘Compared with digital payment methods, they continue to see major advantages in accepting cash, such as privacy and reliability.’
The ECB’s survey covered 8,205 companies across all 21 euro area countries, with interviews conducted between February and April 2026. Read more here.
