France

Ever walked from an ATM without your cash? Read how a human touch can transform the experience.

As France braces for a nationwide day of action dubbed “Bloquons tout” (“Block everything”), a striking feature of the protests is the call for citizens to withdraw cash from banks and use it instead of cards. This tactic, reminiscent of past grassroots movements like the Yellow Vests, aims to disrupt the financial system and send a message to both the government and major banks.

France's National Payments Committee urges immediate action to secure future payments sovereignty amid rising geopolitical tensions. Cash is crucial for economic resilience, industrial autonomy and national sovereignty.

A new opinion poll by Ifop for the Monnaie de Paris shows that cash remains the most trusted means of payment and that the level of attachment to cash is strengthening.

I attested how payment habits in France have changed during a recent visit to Paris. However, cash usage remains resilient.

CashEssentials is honoured to announce that Monnaie de Paris (the French Mint) has joined the think tank.

Consumer research shows that cash payments are firmly rooted in French society. Cash is an enabler of social connections and is the preferred form of payment at small shops and for charity.

According to the latest edition of the IFOP survey for Brink's France (27 and 28 0ctober, 2020), cash remains the most frequently used means of payment by the French. 79% of the population are opposed to its disappearance.

The French Federation of Cash Management Companies has lodged a complaint with the Competition and Fraud Authorities over refusals to accept cash in shops during the pandemic.

The Banque de France as well as the National Ombudsman have reminded merchants that refusing cash for a payment is illegal in France. In the UK, various associations increasingly speak out for cash.

The CFA Franc was established in 1945 and is used in two African monetary unions, one in Western Africa and the other in Central Africa. The West African CFA Franc will be replaced by the Eco in 2020.

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.