Payment Card Activity
Key trends from the first quarter of 2026 show a continued surge in both the volume and value of cashless transactions using payment cards. During this period, total payment card operations reached 2.3 billion transactions, amounting to 1,830.6 billion UAH. Compared to Q1 2025, when 2.1913 billion transactions worth 1,646.5 billion UAH were recorded, this marks a clear upward trajectory.
Core Cashless Metrics
In Q1 2026, cashless transactions numbered 2.2088 billion, with a total value of 1,232.5 billion UAH. This represents a 5.9% increase in transaction count and a 14.8% rise in value compared to the same period last year. Cashless payments now account for 67.3% of total transaction value and 96% of all transaction volume—up from 65.2% and 95.2%, respectively, in Q1 2025.
Transactions at retail and service outlets totaled 1.6404 billion operations, worth 644.1 billion UAH. By volume, these in-store payments made up 74.3% of all cashless transactions, while by value they represented 52.3%. Card-to-card transfers accounted for 25.3% of the total value and 7.2% of the volume. Meanwhile, online payments for goods and services reached 16.9% of total value and 14.5% of volume.
The number of active POS terminals in Q1 2026 stood at 563,400, a nearly 1% increase. Points of sale and service locations accepting cards grew to 654,500, up 6.6% from earlier. The country’s ATM count reached 15,700. Total issued payment cards now number 151.7 million, a 2% rise since the start of the year.
The trend of rising cashless transaction volume and value continues this year. For more details, follow the link in the comments.
This growth in cashless payments reflects shifting consumer habits, as users increasingly favor electronic payments for their convenience and security. It may also stem from the adoption of new financial technologies that make transactions faster and more seamless.
Sustaining this trend could positively impact the development of financial technologies and services across the country.
As the trend towards cashless transactions continues to rise, it's essential to stay informed about potential implications for everyday banking activities. Recent reports highlight the possibility of fines for routine bank card transfers, which may affect many users. To understand how these changes could impact your financial habits, read more about the upcoming penalties that could alter the landscape of electronic payments.