How Switzerland paid in 2025 and why cash logistics is becoming more important

Cash in transition: stable usage, infrastructure under pressure

The latest payment methods survey by the Swiss National Bank shows a clear trend: Switzerland is becoming more digital – yet cash remains a stable pillar of everyday payments.

However, for businesses, this is not a reason for reassurance.
On the contrary: while usage remains stable, the physical cash infrastructure is increasingly under pressure:

fewer bank branches
fewer deposit options, such as ATMs
increasing complexity in operational processes

This leads to a new reality:

cash itself is no longer the challenge – its efficient organisation, and therefore logistics, is.

(Swiss National Bank (SNB), payment methods survey 2025, p. 3)

This chart shows that cash continues to account for a significant share of in-person payments despite increasing digitalisation.

Cash remains a relevant part of the payment mix

In 2025, cash is still used for around 30% of all in-person payments (SNB, 2025). It remains a key component of daily transactions, alongside debit cards and mobile payment solutions.

At the same time, cash continues to play an important role for many people:
a large share of the population carries cash or keeps reserves at home or in safes.

For businesses, this means:

cash is not disappearing – it remains a relevant customer need.

The real shift: availability

While payment behaviour is only changing slightly, the underlying infrastructure is shifting significantly.

Satisfaction with access to cash is declining – only 81% of the population remains satisfied, while more people report insufficient access points (SNB, 2025).

A key driver of this development is the decreasing number of ATMs.

This has direct implications for businesses:

cash becomes harder to access
access routes become longer in terms of time and security
supply is less widespread and no longer guaranteed

as a result, cash is increasingly becoming a logistical challenge.

(Swiss National Bank (SNB), payment methods survey 2025, p. 6)

This chart illustrates that satisfaction with access to cash is declining and that the infrastructure is increasingly under pressure.

Cash remains critical for business continuity

A particularly important aspect from a business perspective is the role of cash as a backup system:

“In around half of all payment disruptions, cash is used to complete transactions” (SNB, 2025).

This clearly shows:
cash is not only a means of payment, but also a key element of operational resilience.

(Swiss National Bank (SNB), payment methods survey 2025, p. 7)

This chart shows that a large share of the population deliberately holds cash reserves, particularly for unexpected situations or technical disruptions.

Especially in industries with direct customer interaction – such as retail, hospitality, and events – cash can make a critical difference, particularly in high-frequency transaction environments.

(Swiss National Bank (SNB), payment methods survey 2025, p. 4)

This chart highlights that cash continues to play a central role, particularly in hospitality, smaller retail businesses, and service sectors.

Increasing requirements for businesses

At the same time, handling cash is becoming more demanding.

Businesses are mainly facing two key challenges:

rising costs of cash handling
increased security requirements (SNB, 2025)

In addition, operational hurdles are growing:
deposits are becoming more complex, processes more demanding, and planning more resource-intensive.

the consequence:
cash remains essential – but must be managed more efficiently.

What this means for cash logistics

The developments are clear:

the focus is shifting from the question “do we need cash?” to:

“how do we manage cash professionally?”

Businesses need solutions that:

ensure reliable cash supply
simplify processes
keep costs under control
and minimise security risks

This is where cash logistics becomes strategically important.

Managing cash efficiently – with the right solutions

The SNB findings clearly show:
cash remains relevant, but the requirements for managing it are increasing.

For businesses, this means that cash processes must be managed more professionally – from supply and transport to secure deposit solutions.

This is exactly where we come in.

As a specialised partner in cash logistics, we support businesses in integrating cash efficiently, securely, and predictably into their operations. Our approach goes beyond transportation – we provide holistic solutions across the entire cash cycle.

Our solutions at a glance:

Reliable cash supply
We ensure that cash is available where it is needed – even as infrastructure declines and demand increases.

Professional cash logistics solutions
Secure transportation ensures smooth operations and minimises operational risks.

Efficient cash management
Optimised processes reduce effort, lower costs, and increase transparency.

Secure deposit solutions
We support businesses in handling cash safely and efficiently throughout its lifecycle.

this transforms cash into a controlled and reliable part of business operations.

Helveticor – your partner for modern cash logistics

As a specialised provider of cash logistics, Helveticor supports businesses in integrating cash efficiently and securely into their processes.

We ensure that cash is available where it is needed – reliably, predictably, and professionally managed.

Through structured transport and supply solutions, clearly defined processes, and high security standards, we reduce operational complexity in day-to-day cash handling.

The result: