The Central Bank of Russia published the results of its annual poll showing that Russians continued to rely heavily on cash last year for both everyday payments and savings, while also increasing their use of cashless payment methods. Households were holding extra cash as a safeguard against the risk that card payments could become unavailable during internet outages, and almost half of respondents said they could not imagine life without cash. At the same time, cashless payments gained further ground among users of digital services. Debit cards remained the most popular cashless payment option, QR code payments through the Faster Payments System increased, and mobile and online banking ranked third. Respondents cited speed, simplicity, and access to bonus and cashback programs as the main reasons for using cashless payments.
Central Bank of Russia2026-06-23
Central Bank of Russia annual poll shows Russians still favor cash while cashless payments continue to rise
The Central Bank of Russia’s annual poll found that Russians still relied strongly on cash last year, including as a backup against possible internet disruptions that could block card payments. At the same time, cashless payments continued to grow, led by debit cards and rising QR code payments through the Faster Payments System. Respondents said they value cashless payments for speed, simplicity, and bonus and cashback programs.