26 June 2026
More than 90 per cent of all payments in Denmark are digital, as an increasing number of citizens use their mobile phones to make payments. At the same time, more citizens regard cash as a contingency to digital payments and an increasing number hold on to more than kr. 1,000 in cash.
These are some of the conclusions of the two analyses ‘Danes’ use of cash continues to decline’ and ‘Danes are paying more with their mobile phones’, published today by Danmarks Nationalbank. The analyses also show that:
Cash was used for 9 per cent of all payments in physical trade in 2025, compared with 11 per cent in 2023 and 23 per cent in 2017.
Wallet payments on mobile phones, using Apple Pay or Google Pay for example, are growing strongly and now account for one in three payments in physical trade.
41 per cent of citizens hold more than kr. 1,000 in cash, compared with 33 per cent in 2023.
7 out of 10 people who hold cash regard it as a contingency.
Less than 5 per cent of payments in physical trade are instant payments, via MobilePay for example.
“Our analysis shows just how important digital payments are in a modern society, and once again underlines the importance of all Danes and retailers having a payment contingency that is geared to this payment pattern,” says Governor Ulrik Nødgaard.
“Two things in particular can be strengthened to support this: that even more retailers are ready to accept digital payments offline, and that instant payments, via MobilePay for example, become more widely available,” Ulrik Nødgaard continues.
The payment infrastructure in Denmark is secure and efficient, but twice in the past year, in July 2025 and May 2026, technical failures at Nets have shown that situations may arise in which one or more payment solutions do not work as usual.
“The offline card contingency ensured that many grocery customers did not notice the Nets outage in May 2026. The contingency can handle both ordinary card payments and wallet payments, and more retailers should therefore consider using the card contingency’s offline solution,” says Ulrik Nødgaard.
Together with the retail sector, the financial sector and the other members of the Payments Council, Danmarks Nationalbank has launched an offline card contingency. It ensures that all citizens over the age of 18 can pay by card and mobile wallet in grocery stores and pharmacies for at least seven days, even if the card infrastructure is not working or retailers’ card terminals are not online.
The offline card contingency has been established by grocery stores and pharmacies to ensure access to basic supplies. Other retailers can join the same technical offline solution so that they too can accept both card and wallet payments in the event of outages in the card infrastructure.
Other solutions
Cash continues to be used for fewer and fewer payments, but between 2023 and 2025 more Danes came to hold more than kr. 1,000 in cash. The vast majority of those who hold cash regard it as part of their payment contingency. During the outage in May, cash could still be used. The same applied to instant payments, i.e. account-to-account payments via mobile banking or MobilePay, which rose sharply during the outages in July 2025 and May 2026.
“The more different payment solutions citizens have, the more different situations they will be able to pay in,” says Governor Ulrik Nødgaard.
“Cash and instant payments served as alternatives to card payments during both outages. It is positive that more Danes have a cash contingency and that most people are able to make instant payments, but we need even more Danes to be prepared for the possibility that the card infrastructure may fail,” Ulrik Nødgaard continues.
To ensure that they are able to pay, Danmarks Nationalbank recommends that citizens:
Ensure that the household has at least two physical payment cards from different brands, for example Dankort, Mastercard or Visa, together with the relevant PIN codes.
Hold a small amount of cash. The size of the amount depends on how much they expect to need to buy, but kr. 250 per person in the household is a guideline.
Have a mobile payment solution that can make account transfers, for example MobilePay or mobile banking.
To ensure that retailers are able to receive payments, Danmarks Nationalbank recommends:
Preparing for situations in which payments cannot be made as usual.
Accepting offline card payments if the retailer normally accepts card payments.
Considering accepting payments by both payment cards and account transfers in addition to cash.
Having specific plans and instructions for the store and its staff.
Enquiries can be directed to press advisor Peter Levring on tel. +45 2620 1809.