Cash remains the most widely accepted payment method across the euro area, according to a survey released by the European Central Bank. In 2026, 92% of companies in retail, restaurants, cafés, hotels, and arts and entertainment sectors reported accepting cash, up from 90% in 2024, marking a rebound after pandemic-era declines.
Card payments maintained steady acceptance at 88% of companies between 2024 and 2026, while mobile payment acceptance nearly doubled to 68% from 36% over the same period. The survey covered 8,205 companies across all 21 euro area countries, with interviews conducted between February and April 2026.
A quarter of euro area companies said they had taken steps to promote digital payments, including investing in cashless tills or reducing the number of cash-accepting terminals. Self-checkout facilities were introduced by 13% of companies surveyed. When selecting which payment methods to accept, firms cited consumer preference, security and ease of handling as the primary considerations, with companies continuing to view cash as advantageous for its privacy and reliability.
