Cash withdrawals from ATMs and cashback facilities in Ireland fell last year, continuing a trend seen over recent years, according to new data from the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI). The total number of withdrawals dropped by 7.1% in 2025 to 82.2 million, while the value of cash taken out declined by 4.2% to €12.2 billion.
The decline in cash usage contrasts sharply with the continued growth of contactless payments. BPFI’s latest Payments Monitor shows that the number of contactless point-of-sale (POS) transactions increased by 6.8% last year compared with 2024, while their total value rose by 12.6%. Over 1.6 billion contactless payments, worth more than €30 billion, were made across shops, restaurants, and other retail outlets in 2025.
Contactless transactions accounted for 88.7% of all POS card payments, with mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay used in 62.4% of these payments. Gillian Byrne, Head of Payments at BPFI, highlighted the growing dominance of smartphones as a payment method. “Of the 298 contactless payments made per person in Ireland last year using Irish cards, 159 were through mobile wallets,” she said, “showing that smartphones are becoming the preferred method for many consumers over physical cards.”
By contrast, cash withdrawal activity continued to fall. Byrne said the decline was evident across most counties, with the total value of cash withdrawn decreasing everywhere except Donegal, where the level remained unchanged. She noted that the ratio of cash withdrawn to contactless spending has shifted significantly: for every €1 in cash withdrawn in 2025, €2.46 was spent via contactless payments, up from €1.70 in 2023.
The BPFI attributed the shift to the convenience and security of contactless and mobile wallet payments, which are increasingly shaping consumer behaviour. “While cash will continue to play an important role, the ease of use of digital payments is likely driving their rapid adoption,” Byrne said.
Despite the decline, authorities have put measures in place to maintain access to cash nationwide. Last year, legislation came into effect requiring financial institutions to ensure an ATM is located within 10km of most homes and businesses. The “access to cash” law aims to guarantee that towns and villages across Ireland continue to have reliable cash facilities.
The report reflects a broader transformation in Irish payment habits, as consumers increasingly rely on digital tools while cash usage gradually recedes. The BPFI’s findings underscore how mobile wallets and contactless cards are shaping everyday transactions, signaling a significant shift in the country’s financial landscape.
