Greece has emerged as the euro area’s most cash friendly country, with 99% of businesses continuing to accept cash in 2026, according to new European Central Bank data.
The figure is the highest among the 21 countries using the euro, matching Italy’s rate. Greek retailers reported an even stronger result, with 100% saying they accept cash. Slovenia was the only other euro area country to record the same retail acceptance rate.
The findings come from the ECB’s latest survey on businesses’ use of cash. More than 8,200 companies across the euro area were interviewed by telephone between February and April 2026.
Greece remains strongly attached to cash
Greece’s 99% acceptance rate is significantly above the euro area average of 92%. The overall figure increased from 90% in the previous survey, suggesting that the decline in cash acceptance seen during and after the COVID 19 pandemic may have levelled off.
Despite Greece’s leading position, however, some businesses remain uncertain about the future of cash.
Around 23% of Greek companies said they were unsure whether they would continue accepting cash over the next five years.
The uncertainty was considerably higher in Cyprus, where 51% of businesses questioned whether they would continue accepting cash. Cyprus recorded the lowest cash acceptance rate in the euro area at 76%, followed by Belgium at 81%.
Digital payments continue to expand
While cash remains widely accepted, digital payment methods are continuing to gain ground across the euro area.
Card payments were accepted by 88% of businesses in 2026, compared with 87% in 2024.
The biggest increase was recorded in mobile payments. Their acceptance nearly doubled, rising from 36% of businesses in 2024 to 68% in 2026.
Instant payments and digital wallets were among the most widely accepted mobile payment options, according to the ECB.
Why some businesses are moving away from cash
Businesses that stopped accepting cash cited several reasons for the change.
About 36% said their customers did not use cash frequently enough, while another 35% said handling cash had become too inconvenient because of difficulties withdrawing or depositing money at banks.
Cash acceptance also varied significantly between industries.
Retailers, restaurants and hotels recorded the highest combined acceptance rate at 93%. Arts, entertainment and recreation businesses had a lower rate of 84%, although this was also an increase compared with 2024.
The ECB has conducted its cash use survey periodically since 2021 to monitor how businesses across the euro area view cash alongside digital payment methods.
The latest figures suggest that while digital payments are expanding rapidly, cash remains firmly entrenched in Greece, where almost every business continues to accept it.
