Germany’s Bundesbank pushes cash with free stickers for retailers amid digital shift

Cash isn’t dead yet—Germany’s Bundesbank is handing out stickers to remind shoppers it’s still king. But can it compete with the rise of digital giants like Stripe?

, and Administrator

2025 November 16 . 9:07 AM

1 min read

There are a lot of images and books being sold in a store and in the front there is a woman... — There are a lot of images and books being sold in a store and in the front there is a woman standing at the billing counter and she is posing for the photo, behind her the crowd is buying the items from the store, there are different posters kept in display inside the store.

Germany’s Bundesbank pushes cash with free stickers for retailers amid digital shift

The Bundesbank is promoting cash payments in Germany with a new initiative. The central bank is distributing free stickers to retailers, encouraging customers to use cash. This move comes as cash remains popular, accounting for nearly half of in-store transactions in 2023. Burkhard Balz, a Bundesbank executive board member, backs the campaign.

The stickers, bearing slogans like 'Of course, cash too!' and 'Simple. Cash.', are designed to reassure customers that cash is still widely accepted. Retailers can obtain these stickers free of charge through their regional trade associations, which are responsible for distribution. The Bundesbank provides these stickers to promote cash acceptance in businesses.

Cash's reliability in crises has been highlighted recently. A crisis simulation emphasized the importance of cash and digital payment initiatives like Stripe and the digital euro. Despite the rise of digital payments, cash remains a crucial backup option, independent of technology and the internet.

The Bundesbank's sticker campaign aims to boost cash payments in Germany. With cash still preferred for nearly half of in-store transactions, the initiative seeks to remind customers that cash is widely accepted and reliable, especially in times of crisis.