French citizens increasingly adopt innovative payment methods in 2024
The use of innovative payment methods like instant credit transfers and mobile payments became firmly established in France during 2024. Card payments remain the preferred cashless option, successfully integrating innovations to meet new user needs.
Instant transfers and mobile payments surge
In 2024, instant credit transfers saw significant growth, with volumes increasing by 46.5% to 600 million transactions and values rising 30.6% to EUR 231 billion.
The average transfer amount decreased to EUR 387, indicating broader public adoption and a shift from standard credit transfers.
These now represent 10% of all credit transfers in France.
Mobile payments also expanded rapidly, growing 53.6% in volume to 2.4 billion transactions and 57.6% in value to EUR 56 billion.
They now constitute 10% of total card payments, up from 7% in 2023. This growth was partly driven by European regulations, which, since January 2025, have mandated fee parity with standard transfers, effectively making instant transfers free on online banking platforms.
Cards maintain dominance in French payments
France leads European rankings for cashless payment transaction volumes, with cards accounting for six out of ten cashless payments and 25% of the total volume in the euro area.
Overall cashless transactions in France grew 5.2% in volume to 32.7 billion and 3.4% in value to EUR 34,730 billion in 2024. Card payments maintained a stable 62% share of cashless transaction volumes, integrating innovations like contactless payment, digital wallets, PIN Online, and tokenisation.
The development of "open payment" in nearly fifty public transport networks also contributed to sustained high card use.
Digital leap, but resilience is key
The rapid adoption of innovative payment methods underscores France's advanced digitalization, yet the continued attachment to cash highlights a need for payment diversity.
While cards remain central, the growing reliance on digital infrastructure necessitates robust resilience measures against operational disruptions.
The future integration of solutions like Wero and the digital euro could further strengthen this ecosystem, offering secure alternatives.