The Payment Choice Alliance has officially refused to accept the “National Payments Vision”originally outlined in the 2023 Future of Payments Review, after launching its own study into customer retail behaviour which revealed 74 percent of UK residents oppose the idea of a fully cashless society.
The Payment Choice Alliance has officially refused to accept the findings of the Future of Payments Review published in 2023, which saw HM Treasury omit cash from its investigation into the future of consumer retail payments in the UK.
The review, authored by former Nationwide CEO Joe Garner, proposed a “National Payments Vision” for the country that excluded the payment method, despite 30 percent of submissions to the review referencing the importance of cash.
“The Payment Choice Alliance, of course, has completely rejected this badly flawed ‘Vision.’ Why? Because the UK public completely reject it,” said a spokesperson for the PCA.
“Just last month, in May 2026, the Payment Choice Alliance asked YouGov to seek the views of the UK public in relation to cash acceptance and cash generally. The results were crystal clear.”
According to the survey, 72 percent of the UK public support there being a legal requirement for businesses to accept cash as a customer payment choice, with only 8 percent opposing the proposition.
Those opposing the idea of the UK becoming a fully cashless society made up 74 percent of those surveyed, with just 10 percent in favour.
“Let the Payment Choice Alliance be equally clear with HM Treasury, PM Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Any ‘National Payments Vision’ that excludes cash will not be accepted by the UK public, nor the Payment Choice Alliance.”
“The public will not change their view on cash, so HM Treasury must change its stance on cash and, specifically, on cash acceptance.”
Alliance clash over cash
Payment Choice Alliance said… “The public will not change their view on cash, so HM Treasury must change its stance on cash and, specifically, on cash acceptance…
Originally published on Coinslot on June 22, 2026. Republished with permission.