Regulatory Alerts2026-03-30
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Results of the Payment Methods Survey of Private Individuals 2025
The Swiss National Bank conducted its annual 2025 payment methods survey of approximately 2,000 private individuals in Switzerland to monitor shifts in payment behavior. The findings indicate that debit cards remain the dominant payment method at physical points of sale, while satisfaction with cash access declined to 81% due to the reduction of ATMs. Despite this drop in satisfaction, the survey confirms a strong public preference for cash, with only 2% of respondents supporting its abolition.
Press release Page 1/1 Communications P.O. Box, CH-8022 Zurich Telephone +41 58 631 00 00 communications@snb.ch Berne/Zurich, 30 March 2026 Results of the Payment Methods Survey of Private Individuals 2025 In autumn 2025, the SNB conducted a payment methods survey of private individuals. To ensure that changes can be identified in a timely manner, the survey is now conducted annually instead of every two years. Around 2,000 individuals resident in Switzerland answered questions online or by phone about their payment behaviour. Additionally, they recorded their everyday payments in a diary over a one-week period. The key findings of the survey include the following:
- For payments at a physical point of sale (POS), payment method use changed only marginally compared with 2024. The debit card remains the most frequently used payment method, followed by cash and mobile payment apps.
- Satisfaction with access to cash fell noticeably last year: 81% of the population said they were satisfied with the options for withdrawing cash, compared with 88% in 2024. The decline is likely due to the ongoing reduction in cash access points such as ATMs.
- Among the population there is a need for cash to remain available and usable as a payment method. Only 2% of respondents were in favour of abolishing cash. The report with selected results as well as further charts and information on the survey are available at www.snb.ch/pmsp.