UK consumers remain committed to cash and want the flexibility to choose whether to pay via cards, digital payments or physical tender when shopping, the latest research by Loomis UK reveals.

Despite the Payments Association estimating that now a third (33%) of UK consumers live largely cash-free, original research of over 2,000 British shoppers by Loomis showed that six in ten (62%) oppose a fully cashless society.

As card payments continue to dominate the transactions landscape – accounting for 61% of payments in 2025 and expected to rise to 66% by 2033 according to UK Finance – two fifths (41%) of UK shoppers polled by Loomis had been refused cash when paying for goods in the past month.

“Our findings show that choice is critical. Digital payments are extremely important but so too is cash… the public’s clear message [is] cash still matters,” said Shaun Forrester, Commercial Director at Loomis UK.

Over three quarters (78%) of respondents believe all UK businesses should be legally required to accept cash – and not just for convenience.

“People use [cash] for a wide variety of reasons including budgeting, privacy, security, and flexibility,” Forrester added. “There are many people in the UK that don’t have a bank account, have no access to digital payment methods, or find it challenging to pay in a way that does not include cash.”

Seven in ten (72%) of UK consumers remain concerned that digital-only payment options could exclude vulnerable groups in society, while over half (51%) say they use physical money for budgeting to keep their spending on track.