Regular Bundesbank studies on payment behaviour show that the use of cashless means of payment is growing. At the same time, there are payment situations in which people cannot pay the way they want to – cash or cashless – as their preferred payment option is not offered. This happens most often with cashless payment instruments. As part of the Bundesbank’s monthly online surveys (Bundesbank Online Panel – Households), 4,048 randomly selected individuals were polled on the acceptance of cashless means of payment in June 2025.

Cashless payment sometimes not an option

Over one in two respondents reported being somewhere (shop, restaurant, etc.) in recent months where they wanted to make a cashless payment but only cash was accepted. Just over 28% of respondents reported that it had occurred multiple times in this period, while just under 23% indicated that it had happened at least once.

The findings are consistent with previous Bundesbank surveys on day-to-day payment behaviour. Specifically, the 2023 study on payment behaviour in Germany showed that cashless payment was an option in just over four out of five recorded transactions – an increase of around 20 percentage points compared with the previous study from 2021. So, while the regular study on payment behaviour presents the share of transactions in which cashless payment was an option (81% of the transactions recorded), the latest survey shows how many respondents in recent months have experienced wanting to pay by cashless means but finding that only cash was accepted (51% of respondents). The latest survey thus likewise shows that, in some situations, people are not yet free to make cash or cashless payments as they choose.

Older respondents miss cashless payment options less often

Amongst older respondents, the share of those who wanted to make a cashless payment somewhere in recent months but were unable to do so was significantly lower. In concrete terms, 40% of those aged over 65 stated that they were unable to pay by cashless means at least once in recent months, whereas the share of those aged under 25 was almost 60%. One factor in this is probably the payment behaviour of older people, who tend to be much likelier to prefer paying in cash. By contrast, there were no major differences between urban and rural regions. 

The Bundesbank is committed to cash and people’s freedom to pay as they choose

The Bundesbank is committed to ensuring that people can always pay whichever way they prefer. One of the Bundesbank’s core objectives is therefore to preserve and strengthen the availability and acceptance of cash. This is also in line with the objectives of the European Commission, which has set about strengthening the euro and, in particular, the role of cash with a legislative package. Then again, consumers should also be able to pay by cashless means if they so wish. 

The German Federal Government is also committed to people’s freedom to pay as they choose. The current coalition agreement stipulates that, in future, a digital payment option should always be offered alongside cash. In terms of a possible obligation to accept cashless means of payment, it should be noted that, as per the principle of freedom of contract, customers and businesses are free to mutually agree on payment methods. Exactly how the acceptance of cashless instruments could be legally mandated currently remains unclear. In view of the Federal Government’s initiative, respondents were also asked what they thought about the idea of mandating cashless payment acceptance.

Survey results point to broad support for a possible obligation to accept cashless means of payment

Just under three-quarters of respondents support retailers having a general obligation to accept cashless means of payment. 32% of respondents are strongly in favour of mandating cashless payment acceptance, and 41% are somewhat in favour. By contrast, 17% and 8% of respondents somewhat or strongly oppose it, respectively. 

Opinions on the idea of mandating cashless payment acceptance vary according to sociodemographic characteristics. Whilst over 80% of younger respondents are in favour of cashless payment acceptance being mandated, this figure is just over 60% for people over the age of 45. People with higher incomes tend to be more in favour of an obligation to accept cashless means of payment. In addition, support was somewhat more pronounced in larger towns and cities than in smaller communities or rural regions.

Majority of supporters in favour of a general obligation to accept cashless means of payment

Studies on the costs of payment instruments in retail show that smaller businesses tend to shoulder higher costs for accepting and processing payments. Those in favour of cashless payment acceptance being mandated were therefore also asked whether they would prefer an obligation across the board or a graduated obligation according to business size or payment amount. Around half are in favour of a general obligation. By contrast, around one-quarter of supporters would be in favour of a graduated obligation according to invoice amount or size of the retailer.