Greece Leads Euro Area in Cash Acceptance

Greece has emerged as the country with the highest cash acceptance rate in the euro area, according to new data from the European Central Bank. The survey found that 99% of businesses in Greece accepted cash in 2026, a significant increase from previous years.

The ECB's survey, which interviewed over 8,200 businesses between February and April 2026, showed that Greece was followed closely by Italy, with both countries having the highest cash acceptance rates in the euro area. The overall cash acceptance rate across the euro area rose to 92% in 2026 from 90% the previous year.

However, despite this positive trend, there are still concerns about the future of cash use. In Greece, 23% of businesses expressed uncertainty about whether they would continue to accept cash over the next five years, with even higher levels of doubt in Cyprus where only 76% of businesses accepted cash.