Cards Lead U.S. Payments, but 90% Plan to Keep Cash

The Federal Reserve’s Diary of Consumer Payment Choice, conducted annually since 2016, tracks how Americans pay and hold cash as cards, mobile wallets and remote commerce expand. The nationally representative study is managed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, administered by the University of Southern California’s Dornsife Center, and produced with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and Federal Reserve Financial Services’ FedCash Services. Its findings matter for payment-system resilience and the Fed’s responsibility to keep banks supplied with currency and coin.

Federal Reserve Financial Services released the 2026 findings on June 2, based on payments reported in 2025 by 6,079 participants. Consumers averaged 47 payments a month: 16 by credit card, 15 by debit card and six in cash, leaving cards with two-thirds of transactions and cash in third place. Credit was the preferred in-person method for 38% of respondents and debit for 40%, versus 16% for cash. Even so, more than 80% had used cash in the prior 30 days and 90% planned to keep using it. Some 76% carried cash, averaging $69, while 45% stored an average $364 elsewhere.