ECB urges Europeans: ‘Stay calm, carry cash’

7 March 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

The ECB told Europeans to carry cash after outages in Madrid and Berlin exposed digital payment risks. Keep some cash on hand.

The European Central Bank told Europeans to “stay calm, carry cash” after two major outages left digital payments unusable. Consequently, people who relied solely on cards or apps found themselves unable to pay for basic items for hours.

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Why ECB tells Europeans to carry cash

The ECB issued the advice after critical incidents disrupted card schemes and ATM networks. On April 28, 2025, in Madrid, systems failed for several hours. Moreover, on January 3, 2026, in Berlin, cards, apps and ATMs stopped working again. Therefore, businesses and travelers could not process electronic payments. The episodes showed how fragile payment rails can remain despite years of digital adoption.

What happened in Madrid and Berlin

In both cities, a mix of software faults and interbank routing problems cut off transactions. Consequently, small shops, cafés and transport kiosks saw long queues. However, some venues had already moved away from cash before these outages. In addition, merchants who only accepted cards faced customer ire. Thus people who kept banknotes could still buy meals and tickets.

Practical implications for people living in Poland

If you live in Poland, the risk matters too. Many urban stores accept cards, but small vendors, night taxis and local markets may still favor cash. Moreover, public services sometimes require on-site payments. For example, paying a traffic fine (mandat) can need immediate payment at a kiosk. In addition, you should know local institutions. ZUS is Poland’s social insurance agency (ZUS). NFZ runs public health insurance (NFZ). PESEL is the national ID number that officials often ask for (PESEL). Therefore, keep a small reserve of złoty for emergencies.

Practical steps are simple. First, carry some small bills and coins in your wallet. Second, keep a backup card from another bank or a prepaid card. Third, register emergency contacts and know how to access online banking by browser if apps fail. Meanwhile, note that ATMs may run out of certain denominations during peaks. Thus plan ahead before travel or events.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: Keep a small amount of Polish złoty on you for small purchases and transport. Learn how to pay a mandat (fine) quickly. Remember ZUS (social security) and NFZ (health care) offices may ask for on-site payments or documentation. Carry a copy or photo of your PESEL (national ID number) and your passport. Also keep a backup payment card and note bank emergency phone numbers.

Authorities and banks will likely improve resilience after these incidents. However, the ECB’s guidance reminds Europeans not to abandon cash entirely. Therefore, a small wallet reserve acts as simple insurance against temporary digital failures.

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