Jersey's Cash Decline Raises Concerns for Vulnerable Residents
A decline in cash use could leave Jersey’s most vulnerable residents struggling to pay for goods and services, a political report warns. The Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel criticised the government for lacking a strategy to address the shift toward digital payments.
The panel urged officials to ensure equal access to digital transactions, support budgeting education, and help charities adapt. Chair Deputy Montfort Tadier said some islanders felt “penalized” for using cash and feared a future two-tier pricing system. He noted that many have an emotional attachment to cash, seeing it as essential for budgeting.
Survey results showed that only 21% of respondents mostly used cash, while island-wide cash spending dropped nearly two-thirds from £272m in 2016 to £102m in 2023. Liberty Bus, the island’s main transport provider, saw cash payments fall from 100% in 2013 to just 2.5% in early 2024.