Lübeck introduces a cash ban: MuK and Gollan go digital!

Lübeck introduces a cash ban: MuK and Gollan go digital!

Cash has been abolished in the Lübeck Music and Congress Hall (MuK) from October 15, 2023. Goods and services in the house can only be paid for cashless, which also applies to the cloakroom and the catering area. The change is already showing positive results after just two weeks: waiting times at the cloakrooms and serving points have been noticeably shortened. This simple adjustment has a direct impact on the visitor's experience, allowing them to get their drinks and tickets more quickly.

Not only at MuK, Kulturwerft Gollan is also planning to follow this example and is working on a step-by-step plan for the introduction of cashless payments. This development is part of a larger trend that the North Trade Association is also observing. It is predicted that by 2025 more card payments will be made at checkouts in Germany than cash payments. According to Statista, 176.2 million cashless transactions are expected in Schleswig-Holstein in 2024, with sales of a magnificent 5.31 billion euros.

Cash use is changing

Cashless payments are on the fast track. In 2023, non-cash payments amounting to 63.6 trillion euros were implemented in Germany, catapulting the country to the top compared to the EU. Card payments, both via debit and credit cards, are continually increasing. Direct debit is the most commonly used, followed by wire transfers, while check transactions are facing a steady decline.

In the savings bank sector, there is an exciting statistic: 85 percent of customers pay at the checkouts with plastic cards, and among Girocard users it is even 91 percent who pay contactless. Current evidence shows that people are increasingly switching to cashless payment methods, significantly reducing staff time for change and settlement.

The future of payments

What does this mean for the future? Cash payments are also being discussed in urban transport in Lübeck; after all, 85 percent of the city's transport companies continue to sell their tickets in cash. And while some cultural institutions such as the Theater Lübeck continue to accept cash payments at the box office, the first congregations of the Protestant Northern Church are already switching to cashless collections with card readers.

The trend is clearly towards cashless payments, and the benefit of abolishing it is clear: speed and efficiency for customers and providers alike. So society has the chance to get used to new habits and develop routine. If you take a closer look at the rise in cashless payments, it quickly becomes clear that the future of payments is increasingly moving into the digital world.

In this new age of payment options, it is exciting to watch developments in Lübeck and throughout Germany. As long as everyone has their smartphone or card at the ready, paying becomes an easier matter, even if saying goodbye to cash in personal interactions remains a hotly debated topic.

Further information on cashless payment can be found at LN Online as well as detailed statistics Statista.