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The Japanese government introduces incentives to promote electronic payments. The measure consists in a point-of-sale discount if approved digital payment are used. It poses challenges for the elderly and small shops.

Earlier in November, a Greek draft tax bill proposed to lower the limit for cash payments in from €500 to €300. The ECB declares that the threshold is disproportionate in light of the potentially adverse impact on the cash payment system.

Swiss payments services provider Six published a white paper on “The Future of Money”. The scenario-planning exercise designs seven medium-term scenarios, which all involve a sharp decline in cash demand or its disappearance. Meanwhile, the Swiss payment card network crashed on 19 November.

An increasing number of countries are taking a close look at the evolution of their cash infrastructure to ensure the future continuity of cash services, particularly as commercial banks optimise their branch and ATM networks. Other countries are taking measures to restrict cash usage.

CashEssentials will be holding one-day seminar entitled ‘Understanding the Costs of Payments’ which will be held in Madrid on the 20th of April 2020. The seminar will bring together economists, researchers, academics and payment experts.

In its recent publication (‘The Cash Industry in Transition’), Currency Research makes the argument that the next decade, 2019–2029, will be one of dramatic worldwide change for the cash and payments industry. Some impacts of the changes in the payments landscape, like the decreasing share of cash in transactions, have been evident already a while, and have been confirmed in the payment studies conducted by several central banks. Also the interest in digital currencies among central banks has increased worldwide simultaneously with concerns regarding cybersecurity.

The argument that cash fuels the shadow economy is commonplace. It has been used by Kenneth Rogoff, Larry Summers and Peter Sands and many others. On the other hand, for Yves Mersch, Member of the Board of the European Central Bank "No particular link can be established statistically between cash and criminal activities. The focus must be on the fight against crime. Cash must not be made the scapegoat."

The ATM doesn't just dispense cash, it dispenses value way beyond that of the banknotes it disgorges. They play a pivotal role in disaster risk reduction, poverty alleviation and social protection. But they could do more.

The World Payment Report estimates the non-cash transactions grew by 12% during 2016-2017. Cash in circulation is also growing and is outpacing digital payments in a third of the countries examined.

GLORY has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire 53% of shares in Cash Payment Solutions GmbH, which develops and provides online cash settlement platforms under the brands ‘Barzahlen’ and ‘viacash’.

We are on week two of our photo contest: SMALL BILL, BIG THRILL: A little Cash goes a Long Way and here’s a recap of our favourite shots so far!

The impact digital and mobile technologies have had on the financial services industry is undeniable, but innovation in the ATM self-service channel and the unique characteristics of cash will prove just as significant in the quest for greater financial inclusion.