Postbank study shows contactless cards dominate German payments while mobile use rises among younger users

A Postbank Digitalstudy 2026 surveyed 3,050 German residents and found that 87 % now make contactless payments with a bank or credit card, confirming the method as the standard cash‑less option. Mobile payment – using a smartphone, smartwatch or app – is used by 47 % of respondents, up from 35 % a year earlier. The growth is driven chiefly by younger consumers: 72 % of those under 40 regularly pay with mobile devices, compared with only 36 % of people over 40. Convenience is cited as the main advantage, while habit, security and privacy concerns remain barriers for many, especially older users. David Dommel, head of digital performance marketing at Postbank, said the biggest obstacle to wider mobile‑payment adoption is “habit” rather than security worries.