The National Cash Forum is introducing new stickers to improve the visibility of cash as a payment method. A neutral sticker has been developed to complement the symbols for credit cards or other payment providers displayed in shop entrances, so that retailers can show that they accept cash payments. Stickers with positive messages about cash – “Klar, auch bar!” (“We take cash!”) and “Einfach. Bargeld.” (“It’s simple. Cash.”) – will also be available.

The cash stickers let customers know that cash is welcome, said Burkhard Balz, member of the Bundesbank Executive Board and Chair of the National Cash Forum. I hope to see more and more of these stickers in everyday use over the coming days and weeks.” 

The regional branches of the German Retail Federation (Handelsverband Deutschland – HDE) are now distributing the stickers to retailers. Fans of cash can order the stickers free of charge from the National Cash Forum website. 

Crisis exercises to make the cash cycle more resilient 

The National Cash Forum has also adopted measures for crisis preparedness. Plans include enhancing crisis communication and conducting more crisis exercises on a regular basis. The aim is to test and improve communication structures, as well as information sharing between individual stakeholders in the cash cycle. 

National Cash Forum participants have already conducted an initial crisis exercise under the auspices of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance. This was based on the notional premise that the international security situation had intensified significantly, while fake news reports about cash supply on social media were on the rise. As a result, cash was in greater demand and ATM use was exceptionally high. Various scenarios were simulated on this basis, including the evacuation of a Bundesbank branch following a gas leak and the failure of all Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards. 

The exercise showed that while good crisis communication structures exist in the cash cycle, there is still room for improvement. Scenarios such as those used in the crisis exercise are no longer rare. They vividly highlight the importance of European digital payment instrument initiatives such as Wero or the future digital euro, said Mr Balz. Moreover, a reliable supply of cash is essential as cash can be used without technology, electricity or the internet. Cash is an indispensable part of our payment infrastructure.