After Temporary Stabilization, Cash is in Decline Again

Taking only in-store payments into consideration, the debit card is again just ahead of cash and payments with mobile devices (including Twint, mobile wallets, and in-app payments) in terms of the number of transactions:

1. Debit cards (non-mobile use): 27.1% (-0.7 percentage points)
2. Cash payments: 26.5% (-1.6 percentage points)
3. Mobile devices: 24.8% (-0.4 percentage points)
4. Credit card (non-mobile use): 18.7% (+3.8 percentage points)

Compared to the May 2025 survey, there has been significant growth in non-mobile credit card use at the expense of other payment methods. "Our analyses show this is partly due to the one-off information and questions about credit card protection mechanisms in the previous online survey," says Tobias Trütsch, payment economist at the University of St. Gallen. “In the online survey, around 41 percent of respondents stated that they would use a credit card more frequently if they were aware of the protection mechanisms.”

When billing products for on-site payments are analyzed individually (debit/credit cards stored in mobile wallets are counted as one-site payments), the outcome is as follows: After debit cards with 33.6 percent (+0.3 percentage points) and cash with 26.5 percent (-1.6 percentage points), credit cards are in third place with 25.3 percent (+2.9 percentage points). Mobile payments with Twint, which are debited directly to the bank account, are in fourth place with 10.6 percent (-0.7 percentage points).

The choice of payment method confirms that, when trust is lacking, security beats convenience – especially in online retail. In a fictitious situation involving the payment of 1,000 euros to an unknown foreign retailer, respondents most frequently chose to pay on account (48.5 percent) or by credit card (31.8 percent). The main reason cited for these payment methods was that they were considered the safest in this situation. "With purchase on account, you only pay after receiving the goods and only when your monthly invoice is settled. The amount can be reclaimed in the event of a problem," explains ZHAW payment expert Marcel Stadelmann. "These two means of payment are often chosen owing to the increased perception of security."

Less than half of those surveyed were aware that credit card payments can be disputed in the event of a problem (known as "chargeback"). However, card freezing and authentication methods were better known. Three-quarters of respondents were familiar with transaction-based risk monitoring for credit cards, compared to around half for debit cards and one-third for mobile payments.