Local payment methods in Europe

Learn about the payments landscape in the Europe region.

A street in Vienna with traditional European buildings at dusk, lit up with cozy lighting.

Austria

Austria's e-commerce market is valued at €9.1bn, with online banking and open invoices popular ways to pay.

Cobblestone street leading to a grand historic tower amidst Belgian buildings at dusk.

Belgium

1.6bn payments were made with Bancontact, Belgium's local payment method, in 2019.

Ancient fortified walls with a stone bridge leading to the Sibenik city by the sea in Croatia.

Croatia

There are around two cards per capita in Croatia, one of the highest in Central and Eastern Europe.

Traditional white church with blue dome and bright flowers under a clear blue sky in Cyprus.

Cyprus

In Cyprus, cards and cash are the most popular ways to pay.

Sunlight casting shadows on rolling green hills with trees in Czechia.

Czech republic

A large proportion of Czechs (36%) like to pay for ecommerce goods with cash.

Golden sunlight illuminating a vast wheat field with dramatic sky and a distinct path through the crops in Denmark.

Denmark

Denmark's payment mix is dominated by cards, with local scheme Dankort, often co-branded with Visa.

Historical building rooftops with dormer windows against a cloudy sky in Estonia.

The Baltics

Estonia has a strong tech infrastructure with a large percentage of online shoppers.

Snow-covered hills under a cloudy sky in Finland.

Finland

Finland is a market leader in online and mobile banking.

Lavender fields with a stone hut during sunset with mountains in the background in France.

France

Cartes Bancaires is a dominant payment method in France. A local scheme, most cards are co-branded with Visa or Mastercard.

Rolling hills covered in vibrant green grass and forests under a cloudy sky in Germany.

Germany

girocard is one of Germany's most popular payment methods with over 100 million cards in circulation.

Lighthouse on a cliff overlooking a calm sea with distant mountains in haze in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar

UK debit cards and all major credit cards are popular in Gibraltar.

White domed rooftop overlooking the calm blue sea during dusk in Greece.

Greece

The most popular credit and debit cards in Greece are Mastercard and Visa.

Sunrise view of the Hungarian Parliament Building through an archway.

Hungary

Hungary is working to limit the amount of cash in circulation with its AFR payment system.

Winding road along a cliff with a single car and scenic ocean view in Iceland.

Iceland

Card payments are very popular in Iceland.

Aerial view of the Cliffs of Moher on a cloudy day in Ireland.

Ireland

Payments in Ireland are dominated by cards. The average shopper holds 1-2 cards.

A coastal town in Italy with colorful buildings by the sea with boats and a beach.

Italy

Card payments are Italians' preferred way to shop. Mastercard, Visa and Maestro are most common.

Colorful flowerbed in a quaint Latvian town with traditional architecture under a clear blue sky.

Latvia

As in other Baltic states, the domestic banking market is dominated by the banks from Sweden.

A long wooden covered bridge with concrete pillars over a river, mountains and a castle in the background in Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein

Cards and cash are the most common payment methods in Liechtenstein.

Aerial view of a historic Lithuanian town with orange tiled roofs and church spires.

Lithuania

Debit cards dominate the landscape accounting for 81.6% of cards by the end of 2014.

Luxembourg city skyline at twilight with illuminated buildings and greenery in the foreground.

Luxembourg

Cards are the most popular payment method in Luxembourg.

Colorful traditional Maltese balconies in Valletta, Malta.

Malta

Cards and cash are the most frequently used payment methods in Malta.

Sunny day view of boats on a tree-lined canal with historic buildings on either side.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is one of Europe's cashless leaders

Curved bridge over a coastal inlet at dusk with light trails from passing vehicles in Norway.

Norway

Norway is a leader in card usage and mobile payments are on the rise.

Curved modern building in Poland with layered balconies against a clear sky at twilight.

Poland

Poland's ecommerce market is one of the fastest-growing in Europe, with a 30% increase in 2020.

Bright sunny street with traditional Portuguese architecture, cobblestone pavement, and a glimpse of the sea.

Portugal

The most popular payment method in Portugal is local debit card Multibanco, a post-pay option.

A historic town with orange-tiled roofs and a prominent church tower against a verdant hillside in Romania.

Romania

Romania is one of the biggest e-commerce markets in Central and Eastern Europe.

A castle located on a rocky slope overseeing a green forest in Slovakia.

Slovakia

Slovakia is a hub of cross border commerce due to it's location in the heart of Central Europe

White church with a red roof on a green hill against a backdrop of mountains and trees in Slovenia.

Slovenia

Cash on delivery and cards are preferred in Slovenia.

Seaside view with sandy beach and coastal houses under a clear sky at sunset in Spain.

Spain

Spanish shoppers like to pay with a mix of cash and card. 85% hold a debit or credit card.

A-frame house with illuminated windows by a tranquil lakeside at dusk under a starry sky in Sweden.

Sweden

Open invoice payments are big business in Sweden, and hold a market share of over 50% for ecommerce transactions.

Winding mountain road with hairpin turns surrounded by green slopes and distant peaks in Switzerland.

Switzerland

The average Swiss holds three debit or credit cards.

Colorful hot air balloons flying over unique rock formations at sunrise in Turkey.

Turkey

80% of ecommerce transactions in Turkey are made with credit cards.

Vast field of blooming sunflowers under bright sunlight in Ukraine.

Ukraine

Cards and digital wallets are popular in Ukraine.

Coastal cliffs with a grassy hillside and a beach at sunset in the United Kingdom.

United Kingdom

The UK is a country of card lovers, with 90% using this payment method for e-commerce payments.

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