How Switzerland pays

Around half (47%) of all men shop several times a day. The figure is significantly lower for women, where just over a quarter (28%) make several purchases a day. Men in particular like things to be convenient and always or occasionally pay by credit card (67% versus 55% among women). And around a quarter (23%) could imagine doing without cash altogether. That's why only one-seventh do without a credit card when shopping online, according to the findings of a national survey representative of the population conducted by Demoscope.

Especially people who buy something several times a day use credit cards several times more often. Convenient and fast, that seems to be the motto for many. It is therefore not surprising that people who use credit cards regularly often (61%) pay with a "tap" (contactless). Just under one in three of all respondents (29%) already makes contactless payments. Men twice as often as women and German-speaking Swiss around 50% more often than French-speaking Swiss. However, not everyone seems to be aware that almost every credit card (around 90%) can be used to make contactless payments - at two out of three payment terminals.

Credit cards are most frequently used for online shopping (84%). Men slightly more often than women (87% versus 81%). Vacation and flight bookings (77%) and spending abroad (76%) are also preferred to be paid by credit card. And almost half of all respondents with a higher income want to benefit from bonus programs.

When not paying with a credit card, the debit card comes in ahead of cash at 73 percent (71%). Around a quarter (23%) of all respondents can imagine doing without cash altogether. Especially 18-34-year-olds and men compared with 50-65-year-olds and women.

The population-representative online survey was conducted by Demoscope between July 6 and 17. 921 people from all over Switzerland aged 18 to 65 were surveyed on behalf of the Swiss Card Providers Association.