Italian regions show varied cashless payment adoption
Banca d'Italia has published regional data on payment methods, revealing trends in ATM and POS availability and cashless transaction growth across Italian regions. The report covers data up to December 2025.
Cash access points vary by region
Banca d'Italia's latest data reveals significant regional disparities in payment infrastructure across Italy as of December 2025.
The North-West region shows the highest density of ATMs with 52 per 100,000 inhabitants, while the South and Islands have 41. Similarly, POS terminal availability is highest in the North-West (454 per 100,000 inhabitants) and lowest in the South and Islands (428).
The average distance to the nearest point of access to cash also varies, with some provinces in the South exceeding 2.1 km, indicating potential challenges for cash-reliant populations.
This regional breakdown highlights ongoing differences in access to both traditional and modern payment methods, influencing consumer behavior and financial inclusion across the country.
The report provides detailed tables on the distribution of ATMs and POS terminals by province, offering granular insights into these access gaps.
Cashless transactions gain ground
The data also illustrates a clear trend towards cashless payment instruments across all Italian regions between 2021 and 2025.
Card payments, direct debits, and credit transfers have consistently shown positive annual percentage changes in both number and amount of operations.
Notably, card payments have seen substantial growth, partly driven by the inclusion of remote transactions via internet and mobile devices since 2022.
Conversely, the use of cheques continues to decline significantly across all macro-areas.
The North-West and North-East regions generally exhibit higher growth rates in cashless operations compared to the Centre and South and Islands, although all regions are participating in the shift away from traditional cash and paper-based methods.
This evolution reflects broader digitalization efforts and changing consumer preferences.
Digital divide persists
While Italy's shift towards cashless payments is undeniable, the persistent regional disparities in infrastructure and adoption rates highlight a growing digital divide.
The uneven distribution of ATMs and POS terminals, coupled with varying access to cash, suggests that significant segments of the population may be left behind in the digital transition.
Policymakers must address these geographical imbalances to ensure equitable financial inclusion and prevent further fragmentation of payment access across the country.