The use of cash in the UK has significantly reduced, with the COVID-19 pandemic fueling a shift in consumer payment preferences, according to a new report recently released by financial technology leader FIS^® (NYSE: FIS).

The 2021 Global Payments Report, by Worldpay from FIS projects that by 2024, cash will account for just 7 percent of in-store purchases in the U.K., down from 27 percent of in-store payment transactions in 2019. The 1202report found that cash usage for in-store purchases in the country declined from 27 percent in 2019 to just 13 percent of total purchases last year.

Pete Wickes, General Manager, EMEA, Worldpay from FIS said: “This research shows the speed and scale of the transformation in consumer behavior in just 12 months. The decline in the use of cash in the UK has accelerated, and while this opens up new opportunities for businesses to optimize and drive efficiencies, we need to be mindful that important parts of the economy continue to rely on cash, such as charity donations and restaurant tip jars, while there are many in society who remain underbanked. Fintechs and regulators need to collaborate to build new frameworks that allow for this shift and use technology to boost financial inclusion especially for those underserved communities.”

The Worldpay Global Payments Report, which examines current and future payments trends across 41 countries, found that digital commerce accelerated globally under the pandemic. Across all countries studied, cash usage dropped by 10 percent in 2020 to 20 percent of transactions. The 2021 report predicts that many European countries, including Denmark, Norway and Sweden, will be almost  cashless by 2024, and that the growth of non-cash payment methods will be primarily split between cards and mobile payments, with mobile payments expected to comprise a third of the POS market in 2024.

Share of cash at POS, percentage of total

To download the complete copy of the report, including the methodology, please visit https://worldpay.globalpaymentsreport.com/

About The Global Payments Report

Figures quoted are taken from data published in The 2021 Global Payments Report by Worldpay from FIS unless otherwise stated or referenced. This data was collected using consumer surveys, B2B surveys and input from local research teams. 46,000 consumers were surveyed globally. For research methodology, please refer to page 135 of the report.

About FIS

FIS is a leading provider of technology solutions for merchants, banks and capital markets firms globally. Our employees are dedicated to advancing the way the world pays, banks and invests by applying our scale, deep expertise and data-driven insights. We help our clients use technology in innovative ways to solve business-critical challenges and deliver superior experiences for their customers. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, FIS is a Fortune 500® company and is a member of Standard & Poor’s 500® Index. To learn more, visit www.fisglobal.com. Follow FIS on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter (@FISGlobal).