Half of UK adults now pay on mobile

Half of adults in the UK are currently regularly paid for things by clicking on their phone, they offer new banking data.

As a result of using mobile payments using services such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, it was registered in different age groups, Froder Body Finance Finance.

“It is more convenient for people to leave their house only with their phone,” said Adrian Bakl, head of the research department.

He said that the “change of consumer behavior” was clear, since last year it was noted for the first time, when 50% of adults used mobile payments at least once a month – compared with 34% in 2023.

Consumers are increasingly storing the details of the card on phones or watches and make contactless payments, supported by checking the face or fingerprint, instead of pressing the PIN code.

About 78% of 16 to 24 years old regularly used mobile payments last year, and even more registered for their use.

Senior age groups are also increasingly choosing this option. For example, almost two-thirds (59%) from 35 to 44-year-olds regularly made mobile payments in 2024, compared with 38% a year earlier.

The fifth (19%) of those who were 65 years old and older often paid by phone.

As a result, the share of adults regularly uses physical contactless cards, although debit cards remain the most popular payment method. Cash continued to become less and less common in transactions – although almost 50 million people still used ATMs.

“Cash fell below 10% of all payments,” said Mr. Bakl. “These changes were not just due to young consumers. We saw the growth of mobile wallets and bought now and currently in the older age groups, emphasizing how digital payments become more and more basic in all directions. ”

In 2023, with stretched household finances, the number of people mainly uses cash, as this helped them the budget.

This number fell last year, but the campaign participants say that notes and coins should remain part of the mix for consumers.

“While the number of people relying on cash continues to fall, we know that those who do this are often at lower income or more vulnerable,” said Adrian Roberts, deputy executive director of Link, who observes access to funds and a network of ATMs.

“We should not be fees to a digital society before everyone is ready.”

He said that there were also issues related to stability for the payment system only for digital technologies, such as backup options during the widespread power outage.

Deputies in the treasury committee recently said that shops and services may be Forced to accept cash In the future, to help protect vulnerable people who rely on this.

Meanwhile, the financial regulator of Great Britain offered banks and cards suppliers Set your own restrictions on contactless payments Or it is allowed to completely delete the current payment limit in the amount of £ 100.

This would make the entrance to the pin even more rare, since smartphones – with additional built -in safety – no longer have restrictions on contactless payments through a digital wallet.