Cards account for most euro area non-cash payments

The announcement

Statistics released by the ECB on 22 July show that cards represented 57% of the number of non-cash payments in the euro area in the second half of 2025. Credit transfers accounted for 21% and direct debits for 14%.

Contactless card payments increased by 11.9% compared with the same period a year earlier. The figures describe a past reporting period; they are not a July 2026 count of transactions.

What it means for account customers

For an account comparison, the practical point is that the card deserves its own line. An account can have no monthly maintenance charge while a particular physical card, replacement or delivery still costs money.

Our view: start with the card you actually need. Compare virtual and physical access, recurring charges and the operations you use. Aggregate payment popularity does not make every paid card worthwhile, and it does not remove the need to check the provider's tariff.

This article distinguishes the source announcement from BankRanking's editorial interpretation. It does not rank or endorse a product.