Cash was meant to be dying. But new RBA data tells a different story
Cash use ticked up for the first time since 2007 — and one in three Australians say they'd struggle without it, according to a survey.
www.sbs.com.auHere are the latest headlines on Australian cash use:
- A recent Australian media roundup highlights a notable uptick in cash use in 2025–2026, with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) surveys showing around 15% of payments were made with cash in 2025, up from 13% in 2022. This marks a rare rebound after years of decline, and suggests cash remains important for emergencies and certain demographic groups.[3][6][9]
- The RBA’s consumer payments data indicate cash still plays a role in the payments mix, with regional and older Australians more likely to rely on cash, though overall cash share has leveled off rather than continuing a steep decline.[7][3]
- Several outlets report a “cash comeback” narrative, noting that the number of Australians carrying or using cash has increased, and that many households still view cash as a backup or emergency option in a diversified payments system.[6][8][3]
Illustrative context:
- The RBA data show ATM cash withdrawals rose in mid-2024, and broader payments data through 2025 point to stabilized cash share rather than a complete disappearance, underscoring ongoing demand for notes and coins alongside digital methods.[1][9]
- Some reports frame this as a partial reversal of cashlessness trends, driven by concerns about access, emergencies, or preferred payment experiences in everyday life, especially in regional areas and among lower-income groups.[3][6]
If you’d like, I can pull in more sources from 2025–2026 and summarize key figures (cash share by year, regional differences, and demographic breakdown) with inline citations.