Italy sees surge in digital POS payments through 2025

A report from the Bank of Italy reveals a structural shift in Italian consumer habits toward digital payments. Between 2018 and 2025, transactions using alternatives to cash more than doubled, exceeding 16 billion operations.

Card payments at physical points of sale (POS) have seen significant growth, rising from approximately 6 billion operations in 2022 to over 10 billion in 2025, representing a 66% increase in three years. Debit cards are the primary driver, accounting for 71.2% of POS operations in 2025, followed by prepaid cards at 17.4% and credit cards at 11.6%.

Technology is also reshaping how these payments are made. In 2025, 88% of in-store payments were contactless, and 24% of transactions were conducted via mobile devices. While regional disparities exist, the report notes that the Central and Southern regions of Italy are seeing high growth rates in per capita card operations, helping to close the gap with the North.