Serbia reports significant growth in cashless card payments

The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) reports significant growth in the use of payment cards and cashless transactions within the country. By the end of the second quarter of 2026, there were 7.1 million card users and a total of 13.7 million issued cards, representing a 5.5 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

Card-based purchases in stores reached 237.9 million during the second quarter of 2026, a 19.3 percent rise from the second quarter of 2025. Of these transactions, 220.9 million were made using cards issued by domestic providers, while 17 million were made with foreign-issued cards. Over the last five years, the total number of card purchases has more than doubled, increasing by 105 percent.

The NBS attributes this trend to the long-term shift toward cashless payments and the growing attractiveness of Serbia as a tourist destination. Additionally, the infrastructure for cashless payments is expanding, with approximately 195,000 POS solutions available at merchants—a 10.1 percent increase year-over-year. The ATM network also grew by 6.8 percent, reaching a total of 3,412 machines by the end of June 2026.