UK payment markets see 49.7 billion transactions in 2025

According to the 2025 annual Payment Markets Report from UK Finance, the United Kingdom recorded 49.7 billion total payments, representing a 2% increase from the previous year. Debit cards remain the most utilized payment method, accounting for 26.6 billion transactions, which constitutes more than half of all activity.

Bank transfers and remote banking methods have seen significant growth, reaching 6.2 billion payments. While card networks like Visa and Mastercard offer advantages in international acceptance and consumer dispute protections, such as chargeback rules, bank transfers serve as a major counterweight.

In the digital sector, mobile wallet registration has reached 65% of UK adults. PayPal remains a dominant digital payment platform, used by approximately 60% of UK internet adults. Other significant players in the payment gateway and processing landscape include Stripe, Worldpay, Adyen, and Checkout.com, which provide various services ranging from fraud management to omnichannel transaction processing.