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The British Post Office is launching a campaign calling on the government to introduce legislation to ensure that access to cash becomes a right, requiring banks to ensure continued local access for those who need it.

After continuous years of success, CashEssentials is running its fourth photo contest where you’re invited to imagine the future and create your currency. Pick the images, background, name and associated values and let your banknote or coin tell a story of humanity and solidarity.

E.U. Financial Services Commissioner Mairead McGuiness has announced measures against money laundering, including limits to cash payments above €10,000. In 2018, the European Commission ruled against such limitations.

Big and small retailers around the UK have made a public commitment to accept cash as a method of payment by signing up to the Which? Cash Friendly pledge. Meanwhile, banks commit to supporting access to cash.

Deutsche Bank Research forecasts that not only will cash be around for a long time but the digitalisation of payments has the potential to rebalance global economic power.

The U.K. government has endorsed the accelerated adoption of contactless payments during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite risks of fraud and contradicting its plans to ensure people have access to cash.

Sweden, once the poster child of a society without cash, is increasing the number of cash centres and ATMs to ensure access to cash for all.

The Italia Cashless initiative offers shoppers refunds on purchases made by cards as part on an ongoing campaign to discourage tax evasion. The ECB has complained that the programme is disproportionate and undermines the neutral approach to payments. It also creates a distortion within the European internal market.

The ECB SPACE study investigates the Payment Attitudes of Consumers in the Euro Area in 2019. It concludes that 73% of Point-of-Sale and Person-to person payments were made using cash. In value terms, cash accounted for 48% of all transactions.

As cash payments have been declining during the pandemic, due to reduced economic activity and a shift towards online and contactless payments, consumers and citizens are increasingly calling for the right to access cash and its acceptance for payments.

Sweden and Zimbabwe, two countries that have gone far down the path to a cashless society, highlight the pitfalls of such thinking. Sweden shows the need to safeguard access to cash. Zimbabwe shows the importance of the transition not being forced.

In his latest comprehensive study, former Bank of Israel Cash Department head, Mordechai Fein, explores and reveals the drivers behind people’s continuing, resolute use of cash, despite the global context of rapidly developing electronic payments.