During confinement, we withdrew half as much cash from the ATM as we normally do. A trend that has continued since the deconfinement started almost two months ago: according to the Banque de France, cash withdrawals are down 20% compared to before the coronavirus crisis. This does not mean that we spend less, since the amount of credit card transactions is even slightly up, according to the deputy managing director of BNP Paribas, Thierry Laborde.
LIVE - Coronavirus: follow the situation Thursday, July 2
Contactless boom
"We now have, on bank card payments in France and for several weeks, + 3 or + 4% growth in the value of payments compared to the same period last year. We withdraw less cash, we use the card, and when we use it, we use it especially without contact ", analyzes Thierry Laborde.
CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS
> Coronavirus: three reasons to continue to respect barrier gestures
> Three questions about the Macron bonus, which can be paid until August 31
> Coronavirus: 5 mistakes not to make with your mask
> Coronavirus: three initiatives that will disrupt our beach habits
> Can we catch coronavirus on a plane?
This explosion of contactless payments is also noted by the grouping of bank cards, with a 45% increase in the number of transactions in June compared to the same period last year. It must be said that in the meantime, the limit for contactless payment has dropped from 30 to 50 euros.
Contactless payment has especially become the ideal barrier gesture for payment methods. However, after laboratory analysis, the Banque de France assures that the virus survives 10 to 100 times less time on a bank note than on a stainless steel door handle.