A UK supermarket predicts contactless payments via mobile phones will outstrip cash within a decade. The Co-operative said customers currently used cash for almost two thirds (65 per cent) of all transactions, but contactless payments had trebled in a year as more bank cards with the technology came into use as well as the launch of mobile payments such as Apple Pay. It predicts that 65 per cent of all transactions will be by mobile phone by 2025, “with bank cards and cash becoming a thing of the past like cheque books”. The latest figures from The Co-operative show contactless has reached almost 11 million transactions in a month, up 1.4 million (15 per cent) on the previous period. Cheryl Marshall, retail chief information officer at The Co-operative Food, said: “We’ve seen incredible growth in contactless and it is the payment medium of tomorrow, although mobiles are ringing the changes. READ MORE: Contactless card fraud worry for Scottish consumers, finds survey “The new technology is perfect for convenience stores as shoppers buy fewer items and speed is important to them. “Cash is still king as people enjoy carrying money, however we predict that by 2025 mobile payments will overtake cards and cash.” However, a survey by the supermarket of 2,000 shoppers found they still tended to use chip and pin rather than contactless for payments over £10. Trust was the main barrier when making a more expensive purchase, and the ease of contactless “loses its appeal as soon as the spend gets into double figures in consumers’ minds”, the retailer’s report found. The average contactless spending on a basket in convenience stores is £8.66 compared with £18.16 when using chip and pin, and £9.38 compared with £23.28 for fuel despite the £30 limit. READ MORE: Ian Benn: Cashless society is moving closer A spokesman from the Royal Mint said: “The demise of cash has been predicted for a long time but it remains the currency option the general public turns to for confidence, convenience and security. “Cash is still the most prominent payment method for UK consumers and global demand for coins is as strong as ever.” Scotsman Food & Drink: ideas, inspiration and guides
UK retailer, The Co-operative, has predicted that the volume of mobile payment transactions at its stores will outstrip the use of cash by 2025 . While cash is currently used for 65% of transactions, it predicts that mobile payments will be used for 65% of all transactions by the last year . It cites the almost 11 million rise in the volume of mobile payment transactions over 2025 as evidence of this growing trend.