The National Bank of Denmark published two analyses showing that digital payments now account for more than 90 percent of all payments in Denmark, with cash use continuing to decline and mobile wallet use rising sharply. Cash represented 9 percent of payments in physical trade in 2025, down from 11 percent in 2023 and 23 percent in 2017, while wallet payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay now account for one in three payments in physical trade. The bank linked the shift to a greater need for contingency arrangements when card-based payment systems are disrupted. The analyses also show that cash is increasingly being held as a backup rather than used for day-to-day spending. Some 41 percent of citizens hold more than DKK 1,000 in cash, up from 33 percent in 2023, and seven in 10 cash holders regard it as contingency. Less than 5 percent of payments in physical trade are instant payments such as MobilePay, but both cash and instant payments remained available during technical failures at Nets in July 2025 and May 2026. The bank also highlighted an offline card contingency launched with the retail sector, the financial sector and other members of the Payments Council, which allows all citizens over 18 to pay by card and mobile wallet in grocery stores and pharmacies for at least seven days if the card infrastructure fails or retailers' terminals are not online. Other retailers can join the same technical offline solution. The National Bank of Denmark recommends that households keep at least two physical payment cards from different brands, hold a small cash reserve with DKK 250 per person as a guideline, and maintain a mobile payment solution that can make account transfers. For retailers, it recommends preparing for payment disruptions, accepting offline card payments where cards are normally accepted, considering card and account-transfer options in addition to cash, and maintaining specific plans and instructions for stores and staff.
National Bank of Denmark2026-06-26
National Bank of Denmark analyses show digital payments exceed 90 percent and highlight need for offline contingency
The National Bank of Denmark published two analyses showing that more than 90 percent of payments in Denmark are now digital, with cash use in physical trade falling to 9 percent in 2025 and mobile wallets rising to one in three payments. It said the shift increases the importance of contingency arrangements, highlighting an offline card solution for essential retailers and recommending that households and merchants maintain alternative payment options.