Mastercard and seven other companies are under investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission for ‘surveillance pricing’ amid concerns it might introduce discrimination (changing the price of goods and services based on personal data) and privacy risks. cashmatters.org/blog/mastercar…

Spending is on the rise in India, and so too is cash. ATM withdrawals were up 5.5% between April 2023 and March 2024, accelerating later in the period to a 7.2% increase over the previous year. cashmatters.org/blog/indias-ca…

As Jersey’s Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel weighs payment choice, with the possibility of a cashless society on the table, a local charity warns of the marginalisation and fraud vulnerability that could result from an anti-cash outcome. cashmatters.org/blog/cash-will…

A recent Bank of Canada report shows the share of cash transactions remains steady at 20% and, while fewer ATM withdrawals are being made, the amounts withdrawn and held by people are rising. cashmatters.org/blog/canadian-…

👀 Bristol, UK

Criminals are taking advantage of cashless car parks in the UK, covering legitimate payment QR codes with fraudulent ones and redirecting payments. Unfortunately, this is far from the only problem arising from cashless parking policies. cashmatters.org/blog/the-many-…

A study of German payments in 2023 shows half of all transactions were settled using banknotes and coins, with privacy cited as a top reason why people choose cash. cashmatters.org/blog/cash-rema…

The Central Bank of China has fined businesses—including KFC and state-owned entities—for refusing to accept cash following a recent drive to support payment choice and encourage tourism and foreign investment. cashmatters.org/blog/chinas-ce…

Can you spot the 'subtle' pro-cash message from this truck in Norfolk, UK? 🔎

Cash is key to small businesses as card fees force tough choices on whether to forfeit profits or raise prices, with US businesses using discounts to incentivise cash payments and UK campaigners warning cash access loss is ‘hollowing out high streets’. cashmatters.org/blog/cash-supp…

Visitors to the Roman Baths of Somerset, UK were banned from throwing coins into its wishing well in March 2022 and the charity behind the attraction has since reported a 90 percent reduction in donations despite receiving one million visitors in 2023. cashmatters.org/blog/money-dri…

CASH ONLY Thank You Cash is Freedom (Vienna, Austria)

Reporting for Radio New Zealand, Leonard Powell says that ‘in a world of Afterpay, tap and go and online shopping, cash is—surprisingly—still king’ with many citing its resilience as key to their preference. cashmatters.org/blog/cash-keep…

Banks and building societies will be held responsible for ensuring fair access to cash across the UK under new rules coming into effect 18 September. Any that fail to meet these responsibilities will be subject to fines. cashmatters.org/blog/uk-introd…

The UK’s cashless car parks ‘are piling on extra charges and trying to sell us services we don’t need’ according to a Sunday Times article that makes a persuasive argument for the benefits of payment choice in parking. cashmatters.org/blog/the-need-…

For small businesses with narrow profit margins, facilitating cashless payments can be costly. Fortunately, cash is usable by anyone! Photograph: Brighton, UK

The ubiquity of cashless payments in China is eroding children’s understanding of money and denying them ‘essential’ financial education, warns a recent opinion piece from East China’s largest English-language newspaper, Shanghai Daily. cashmatters.org/blog/chinese-c…

Debate around cashless welfare in Australia has resurfaced, with former recipients anxious to keep control of their finances and First Nations leaders reiterating the disempowerment of Indigenous people ‘disproportionately impacted’ by the scheme. cashmatters.org/blog/cashless-…

‘Digital payments can be used to turn people off,’ warns author and economist Brett Scott. While cashless options add choice to the payments landscape, they can also be abused to take choice away, making cash a crucial tool of financial freedom. cashmatters.org/blog/cash-comb…

For small businesses, such as this UK card shop, cash payments can improve slim profit margins on low cost items by omitting the fees associated with providing cashless options.