Zurich parliament backs cash mandate for city and subsidized businesses

Zurich’s city parliament has backed a requirement for municipal and city-subsidized businesses to accept cash, overruling the city executive’s opposition, SRF reports. The executive must now prepare a proposal to enshrine the rule in the city’s regulations.

The measure was narrowed from an initial proposal by the Alternative Left, which sought to protect cash payments at municipal businesses and some shops, cafes and cultural venues. Under the version approved by parliament, the requirement will not apply to businesses operating on public land.

The Alternative Left argued that people without bank accounts or digital payment services could be excluded if cash disappeared. The Swiss People’s Party supported the proposal, while the Green Party said cash also protects privacy. The city executive said a broad requirement would go too far, and the FDP, Centre and Green Liberal parties argued that businesses should decide which payment methods to accept.

Cash use has declined in Switzerland: it accounted for about 70 percent of transactions in 2017 but just under a third in 2025, according to figures cited from the national bank. Mobile payments made up about a fifth of transactions in both years.