Cash leads Spanish payments as demand for emergency reserves grows
Cash remains the main in-store payment method for 57 percent of Spaniards, the Bank of Spain reported on October 26, 2026. Mobile payments rose from 15 to 18 percent, while physical cards fell from 27 to 25 percent.
Payment tool and emergency reserve
The fifth survey covered 5,038 citizens and 1,619 small businesses.
Cash use was stable against 2025; between individuals, cash led at 58 percent and Bizum at 36 percent.
Opposition to a cashless society reached 92 percent, up four percentage points.
Half held only cash for daily expenses; emergency holdings rose from 32 to 36 percent and supplementary savings from 8 to 10 percent.
Protection against electronic failures and fraud appealed to 71 percent, versus 62 percent; privacy to 67 percent, up 11 points; and inclusion to one-third.
Mobile payments led for 48 percent of 18–24-year-olds but 2 percent of over-65s; cards ranged from 19 to 31 percent across ages.
Among those maintaining or increasing cash use, 82 percent planned to continue next year.
Electronic receipts gain business ground
Cash acceptance remained nearly universal; 91 percent of businesses accepted cards and 87 percent mobile payments.
Electronic methods generated most sales at 61 percent of businesses, up five percentage points; cash-dominant businesses fell from 39 to 31 percent.
In towns without a permanent bank branch, half took most payments in cash and 41 percent electronically.
Digital euro awareness rose from 24 to 33 percent among citizens and from 27 to 39 percent among businesses.
Cash led among people with basic education; graduates favored electronic methods.
Access divides along branch lines
ATMs serve 80 percent of people; 77 percent reach one within ten minutes and 75 percent walk.
In towns without a permanent bank branch, 62 percent drive or use motorcycles; 51 percent take under ten minutes and 46 percent take 10–30 minutes.
Respondents reported deteriorating ATM service, including outages and cash shortages.
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