The Future of Cash: Will Cash Disappear Soon

Initially, goods and services were exchanged directly, a practice that evolved into the use of tangible currency, symbolizing value. Cash, in its physical form, has been a central medium for centuries. However, recent decades have witnessed a dramatic shift towards digitalization, raising questions about the role of cash in modern society.

Is cash still king or will cash eventually become obsolete?

This article explores various factors influencing the future of cash, shedding light on its potential disappearance.

Evidence Supporting the Decline of Cash

The Rise of Digital Payments

Digital payments, ranging from online banking to mobile wallets, have gained immense popularity. They offer convenience, speed, and accessibility, posing a significant challenge to the traditional dominance of cash. The ongoing transformation in the payments industry is marked by several key trends and implications:

• Growing Digital Payments Market: The global payments revenue has been growing at a double-digit rate for consecutive years. This growth is fueled by the displacement of cash, particularly in countries like India, which has moved into the top five countries for payments revenues.

• Emergence of Instant Payments and Digital Wallets: Innovations in instant payments and the rise of digital wallets are significant drivers of this growth. Countries like Brazil and Nigeria are witnessing a notable decline in cash usage, with instant payments playing a pivotal role in this transition. For example, Brazil's PIX instant-payments network has been instrumental in reducing cash transactions, while Nigeria saw a reduction in cash transactions from 95% in 2019 to 80% in 2022.

• Shift in Developing Economies: By 2027, it's expected that developing economies will significantly shift towards instant payments, with these transactions projected to account for about half of all payment transactions. This represents a substantial increase from the levels observed in 2022.

• Rapid Expansion of Digital Wallets: Digital wallets are becoming increasingly popular, with many African countries like Kenya, Ghana, and Tanzania adopting mobile-wallet infrastructures. In Nigeria, efforts to promote a cashless economy have led to a surge in demand for digital payment solutions.

• Positive Outlook for Payment Industry:The payments industry is projected to maintain strong revenue growth, with an anticipated increase of 6 to 8 percent over the next five years. This growth is expected to be widespread across various regions, with electronic transaction volumes growing at rates exceeding revenue, indicating a sustained shift towards digital payments.

Cutting Costs with Digital Payments

The decrease in banking job numbers can be seen as an indicator that cash's days might be numbered. Here's what's happening:

• Cost Benefits of Going Cashless: In recent years, consumers and businesses alike have discovered that cashless payment methods – think online banking or mobile wallets – are way more convenient than old-school cash or checks. It turns out, going cashless is not just faster but also more cost-effective for businesses.

• Lower Processing Costs for Digital Payments: Most modern digital payment options don't hit you with sky-high fees, safeguarding business profit margins. We're talking credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, ACH/electronic checks, wire transfers, real-time payments, and mobile wallets – all part of the non-cash transaction family. These platforms offer around-the-clock shopping convenience, allowing companies to rake in sales even outside the typical 9-to-5.

• Cost Comparison with Checks: Data from Nacha and AFP reveal that ACH transfers usually cost around 40 cents per transaction, much cheaper than the $2.01 to $4.00 price tag for checks. The 2022 AFP Payments Cost Benchmarking Survey also shows that the recipients of these checks face a median processing and depositing cost of $1.01 to $2.00.

• The Lowdown on ACH Payment Costs: According to a Nacha report, the median cost for ACH payments clocks in at 40 cents, including 15 cents for internal expenses like staffing and 25 cents for external costs like bank fees. In contrast, the median cost for check transactions is around $3.00, while ACH ranges from 26 to 50 cents. Even credit and debit card payments, typically costing about $1.50, can't beat ACH's affordability.

Digital payments are not only more convenient and secure but also cost way less to process than traditional cash and check transactions. This cost efficiency is a major player in the decreasing use of cash.

Decline in Banking Jobs

The decrease in banking job numbers can be seen as an indicator that cash's days might be numbered. Here's what's happening:

• Global Shifts in Banking: When COVID-19 hit, the banking world was already in the throes of major change. Over the past decade, U.S. bank branches have reduced by about 20%, and Nordic countries have seen a whopping 60% reduction. The related financial equipment industry has also been impacted. This includes products like safes, coin counter machines, and counterfeit detectors, which are adapting to these shifts in banking practices.As consumers' demands rapidly shift towards more sophisticated online banking services, banks have been busy digitizing everything from customer-facing operations to back-office tech, all in the name of cutting costs and stepping up their service game.

• Shrinking Bank Branch Workforce: Our research forecasts a significant decline in roles at bank branches over the next decade. We're looking at the average branch scaling down from six full-timers to just four by 2030.

• Major U.S. Banks Cutting Back on Job Postings: In the first eight months of 2023, despite being global recruitment leaders, major U.S. banks like US Bank, Citi, Wells Fargo, and JPMorgan Chase saw a steep drop in job postings compared to last year. For instance, US Bank's job postings dipped by 18%, Citi's plummeted by 44%, Wells Fargo's halved, and JPMorgan Chase witnessed a 54% reduction. Bank of America even fell below 10,000 job postings, a sharp contrast to the over 37,000 from the same period last year.

This data paints a picture of a banking industry in the midst of a digital and technological revolution. The decline in job numbers reflects the trend towards digitization in banking operations and indirectly supports the argument for the declining use of cash. As financial services move towards digital and automated platforms, the need for traditional cash handling and physical bank branch operations is gradually diminishing.

Evidence Against the Imminent Cashless Society

Despite the growing trend towards cashless transactions, substantial evidence suggests that we're not quite ready for a completely cashless society. Here's a closer look at the situation:

Strong Attachment to Cash Persists Globally

While digital payments are on the rise, there's still a strong attachment to cash in various parts of the world. The transition to a fully cashless society seems more gradual than immediate, with many still valuing the tangibility and familiarity of cash.

• Switzerland's Pro-Cash Sentiment: In Switzerland, cash is still a big deal. They're even holding a referendum to keep cash in play. This move shows that many folks aren't ready to ditch physical money just yet.

• UK's Cash Comeback: Over in the UK, cash use dipped during the pandemic but bounced back. About 15% of payments in 2021 were cash-based, and ATM withdrawals are climbing again. It's a sign that folks are still clinging to cash, at least for now.

• US's Mixed Payment Landscape: Americans love their credit cards, but cash hasn't left the building. In 2021, 20% of all payments were cash transactions. Plus, fears over credit card fraud are making some people think twice about going fully digital.

• Germany's Cash Affinity: Germans are notorious for their love of cash, and they're not giving it up easily. Even though cashless payments have grown, cash is still king in Germany. It's a clear indicator that cash is sticking around in some major economies.

• Germany's Future Cash Usage: While card payments are gaining traction in Germany, cash is expected to remain a significant part of the retail landscape. By 2025, cash payments might drop by 20%, but they're far from disappearing.

Increased Value on Privacy

In the digital age, privacy is becoming a hot-button issue. With every swipe of a card or click in an app, personal data gets logged somewhere. Cash transactions, on the other hand, leave no digital footprint, making them a go-to for those valuing privacy above all. This growing concern over data privacy and surveillance might slow the march towards a cashless society. People are becoming more aware of their digital footprints and might prefer cash to protect their personal information from potential misuse or tracking.

Emotional Connection to Cash

There's something undeniably emotional about cash that digital payments just can't match. Think about it: handing over a crisp, large-denomination bill as a gift packs a different emotional punch than writing a check or making a transfer. Cash has this unique ability to connect with our senses – the feel, the look, even the smell – triggering a deeper, more primal response. This sentimental value tied to cash, its role in traditions and human connections, isn't something easily replicated by digital means. This emotional attachment to physical money is another factor that could keep cash around for a good while longer.

What's the Deal with Cash's Future?

Despite technological advancements, cash isn’t going anywhere fast. Reports of the demise of cash or the advent of a cashless society are exaggerated. One crucial but often overlooked reason is the emotional significance of cash and its representation of people's trust in their government. This foundational trust is essential for the acceptance of new payment technologies. Yet, can we expect absolute trust from everyone globally? The answer is undoubtedly clear – there will always be a place for cash.