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One in three consumers goes out without cash

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Hand holds a debit card over a payment terminal to start a debit card payment, focusing on the card and the checkout moment.

More debit card payments, fewer cash withdrawals

Leidschendam, 8 October 2012 – People in the Netherlands increasingly rely on their debit cards. Almost one in three adults regularly carries no cash at all. The number of debit card payments has risen sharply for years, while cash payments have fallen dramatically. Consumers are also making fewer ATM withdrawals.

Paying by debit card has become routine in the Netherlands. Twenty years after debit cards were introduced, use is still growing strongly. In 2011, 2.29 billion debit card transactions were made with a total value of €83 billion. Growth has continued this year despite the poor economic situation. The increase in debit card payments has been accompanied by a decline in cash. DNB reported around seven billion cash payments at the start of this century, compared with 4.1 billion in 2011.

More people carry only plastic

As debit cards can be used in increasing numbers of places, with more than 280,000 payment terminals, a growing group of consumers carries no cash at all. Twenty-nine per cent say they often or almost always take only a debit card with them. There is no difference between men and women. Older people aged 45 and over are more likely to carry both payment methods. These findings come from research by Boom Marktverkenningen in September 2012, commissioned by the Dutch Payments Association and the Foundation for Promoting Efficient Payments (in Dutch)(opens in new window) .

* Online survey of 1,030 people aged 18–65 in August 2012.

Average of €40 cash in the wallet

Many people still like the reassurance of carrying cash, even if they prefer electronic payments. According to DNB(opens in new window) , people in the Netherlands carry an average of slightly more than €40 in cash. The number of ATM withdrawals fell from 473 million in 2008 to 437 million last year.

More than 60% withdraw cash from an ATM several times a month or more. An important reason, cited by 36%, is to buy something, shop for groceries or visit a hospitality venue. This is striking and unnecessary because payment terminals are almost always available in these situations. One in five withdraws money to pay someone personally, while around 45% has no specific purpose but considers it important to carry sufficient cash. These figures come from research among CentERdata’s LISS panel in spring 2012.

* Questionnaire completed by 5,872 respondents aged 15 and over in CentERdata’s LISS panel. CentERdata is a research institute affiliated with Tilburg University.

Note to the press

For questions about this press release, please contact:

Renate de Vree, Foundation for Promoting Efficient Payments,
rdevree@efficientbetalen.nl, +31 70 320 67 30.

Jannemieke Zandee, Dutch Payments Association,
pers@betaalvereniging.nl, +31 6 39 49 60 11.

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