The Bank of Spain published its 2026 study on cash use, finding that cash remained the main payment method for 57% of the population for purchases in physical stores, unchanged from 2025. Mobile payments gained ground, while more people held cash for emergencies. Access to cash remained straightforward for most people, but difficulties persisted in municipalities without a permanent bank branch. The share using mobile devices as their main payment method rose to 18% from 15%, while physical cards declined to 25% from 27%. Among small businesses, 61% received most sales payments by card or other electronic means, up five percentage points. Cash nevertheless retained a role beyond payments: 36% of people kept it for unexpected expenses, up from 32%, while 71% valued its protection against electronic failures and fraud, compared with 62% in 2025. Automated teller machines (ATMs) were the usual source of cash for 80% of the population, and 77% could reach one in under 10 minutes. In municipalities without a permanent bank branch, however, 62% traveled by car or motorcycle to reach an ATM, and 46% needed between 10 and 30 minutes to obtain cash. Respondents also reported deteriorating ATM service in 2026, including machines temporarily out of service or without cash.
Bank of Spain survey finds cash remains the main payment method for 57% of Spain’s population
The Bank of Spain’s 2026 cash use study found that cash remained the primary payment method in physical stores for 57% of the population, unchanged from 2025. Mobile payments increased as physical card use declined, while more people kept cash for emergencies. Most people could access cash easily, but municipalities without permanent bank branches faced greater obstacles, and respondents reported worsening cash machine service.