Bulgaria’s payments landscape is undergoing significant transformation, shaped by technological advancement, an evolving regulatory environment, and a landmark macroeconomic milestone: the country’s entry into the Eurozone in January 2026.

The payments landscape in Austria is characterized by a combination of traditional and modern payment methods, reflecting the country’s well-developed banking sector and high levels of technological adoption.

The payment landscape in Lithuania is evolving. The market is diversified,
and competitive with wide acceptance of payment methods and
digital solutions are rapidly gaining ground. Card payments
in particular are increasing quickly, as measured by the Central
Bank.

The modern payments landscape in Latvia is increasingly digital and both consumers and merchants’
preferences are evolving. According to data of the Central Bank, more
than two out of three payments are digital.

Finland has a highly diversified payments market and is more digitally inclined than many of its European peers. Consumers and merchants alike are benefitting from the digitalisation of the payments market. Both Finnish merchants (88%) and consumers (91%) are satisfied with the currently available payment methods and feel they meet their needs. Cash is less popular in Finland compared to most European markets among both merchants and consumers. Consumers have a clear preference for digital payments. While cards are by far the most popular payment method, the Finns are also inclined to use newer digital payment methods, especially buy now, pay later (BNPL), which was used by over a third of consumers in the past year.

The Slovak payments market is modern, varied and, most importantly, meets the expectations of its merchants and consumers, with 88% of merchants and 92% of consumers declaring satisfaction with the payments solutions available to them.

The Czech payments market is characterised by a diverse offering of payment options that compete effectively with each other, as evidenced by the fact that cash, cards, and standard and instant bank transfers are used more in the Czech Republic than in other European countries.
In the past year, cards and cash have been used by Czech consumers in virtually equal amounts (respectively, 88% and 87%), followed by standard and instant bank transfers.

The Hungarian payments market provides a wide variety of payment options to its merchants and consumers. Although reliance on cash remains higher than average, other payment methods, such as stan­dard and instant bank transfers are also used in Hungary more than elsewhere in Europe.

The payment landscape in Sweden has undergone a digital shift spurred by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and evolving merchant and consumer preferences. Sweden’s payments market is highly diversified and competitive, with merchants offer­ing and consumers taking advantage of this diversity in choice. In particular, although steadily used, cash is much less popular than in other markets, and we see a shift towards digital payments coupled with the continued growth of e-commerce. Cards, instant and regular bank transfers, and buy now, pay later (BNPL) are popular among Swedish merchants and consumers.

Payments Europe has published new research on the Danish payments landscape. Based on a survey of consumers and merchants in Denmark, the research highlights the value, cost and place of cards in Denmark’s economy.