European Central Bank reports euro area non-cash payments rose 6.9% to 83.5 billion in second half of 2025

The European Central Bank published payment statistics for the second half of 2025 showing continued growth in euro area non-cash payments. The total number of transactions rose 6.9% from the second half of 2024 to 83.5 billion, while total value increased 0.8% to EUR 117.8 trillion. Card payments remained the largest category by volume at 57% of transactions, followed by credit transfers at 21%, direct debits at 14% and e-money payments at 6%. Credit transfers continued to dominate by value, accounting for 92% of total non-cash payments. Card use expanded further, with 47.8 billion card payments worth EUR 1.8 trillion and an average transaction value of about EUR 39. Contactless card payments reached 32.9 billion, up 11.9%, representing 85% of non-remote card payment volume and 70% of non-remote card payment value. The stock of payment cards rose 7.3% to 872.7 million, equivalent to 2.5 cards per euro area inhabitant, while point of sale terminals increased 24.6% to 25.7 million and 93% of them accepted contactless transactions. At the same time, automated teller machines fell 1.3% to about 248.9 thousand. Across payment infrastructure, 36 retail payment systems processed about 60.1 billion transactions worth EUR 27.9 trillion, with instant credit transfers making up 25% of credit transfer volumes and 8% of their value in those systems. Large-value payment systems settled 75.1 million payments worth EUR 213.8 trillion. The ECB noted that the second-half 2025 data are provisional and may be revised.