Future of cash in UK explained as it will make up just 4pc of payments

Debit cards were the most used payment method last yearNeil Shaw Assistant Editor06:27, 19 Aug 2026More than nine in 10 UK adults were using least one form of online, mobile or telephone banking in 2025, according to a banking and finance industry body, as cash use fell last year and is expected to decrease further over the coming decade. Around 1.4 million UK adults mainly use cash for their day-to-day spending, but 19 million use cash once a month or less, according to UK Finance’s estimates.‌Cash use fell to 3.9 billion payments in 2025, down from 4.3 billion the previous year. Cash represented 8% of all payments in 2025, falling from 9% in 2024 and 45% in 2015.‌By 2035, cash use is expected to account for just 4% of payments made in the UK, with around two billion transactions, the rep