Chile’s cash use has rebounded since pandemic, survey finds

Cash remains the primary payment method for small purchases, though card use has risen

Central Bank of Chile
Central Bank of Chile
Photo: Central Bank of Chile/Flickr

Surveys conducted by Chile’s central bank find that cash use has returned to pre-pandemic levels, but respondents report a growing preference for debit card transactions.

The proportion of people using cash more than once a week fell from 75% in 2019 to a low of 60% in 2021. This figure rose to 79% in 2022.

However, debit card use has risen steadily, from 44% in 2018 to 83% in 2022. Debit card use rates first exceeded cash in 2020.

Consumers’ preference for cash remains below its pre-pandemic

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