Most US Consumers Typically Use One Or Two Credit Or Debit Cards For Purchases A stacked bar chart compares the percentage of US online adults who responded to the questions ‘How many different credit or debit cards do you use for purchases in a typical week?’ and ‘How many different credit or debit cards do you currently own/have?’ This graphic has an associated spreadsheet that includes all data presented. Please access the spreadsheet for details. Figure 1

Digital payments, cash, debit cards, and buy now/pay later have all increased since 2020, while credit cards and direct debits have dropped. We also compared 10 regions on credit card usage: At 31%, German online adults have the lowest rate among the regions presented. This graphic has an associated spreadsheet that includes all data presented. Please access the spreadsheet for details.

Boomers and the Silent Generation lean heavily on credit cards (65%), reflecting comfort with established payment habits; they are also the least likely to use debit (33%) or digital wallets (3%). Gen X mirrors some of this behavior, showing strong credit usage (53%) but also moderate debit and limited digital wallet use.

Debit cards followed at 31%; 28% used credit cards. Smaller groups turn to direct debit (16%); buy now, pay later (BNPL) (12%); cheques (11%); and gift cards (11%). Physical purchase contexts trigger a broader, more traditional spread of payment choices than digital channels. Younger shoppers drive BNPL demand.

For Tap To Pay, Younger Consumers Show Some Preference For Mobile Over Card A bar chart shows generational preferences for using phones vs. credit/debit cards to tap and pay in stores, with Gen Z most likely to prefer phones. This graphic has an associated spreadsheet that includes all data presented. Please access the spreadsheet for details. Figure 1

However, even as they experiment with new alternatives, they still often opt for traditional payment methods (e.g., debit cards, credit cards, cash), especially in physical stores. This report reviews Forrester’s data on UK online adults’ attitudes and behaviors around payments, including digital payments and “buy now, pay later” (BNPL).

However, consumers still often opt for traditional payment methods (e.g., cash, credit cards, debit cards), especially in physical stores, while also experimenting with new alternatives. This report reviews Forrester’s data on US online adults’ attitudes and behaviors around payments, including digital payments and “buy now, pay later” (BNPL).

AI agents cannot make a payment directly on a customer’s behalf using credit or debit cards because the payments networks have no way of formally recognizing, authenticating, and managing authorizations with an AI agent. Plus, according to Forrester’s May 2025 data, two-thirds of US online adults don’t yet trust (64%) or want (67%) AI agents to use their data to make purchases in the first place.

Some assistants act as virtual sales agents, offering personalized product recommendations and guiding customers through applications for savings accounts, loans, credit cards, and investment products.

The second screenshot shows how users can personalize their account overview and select what they want to see on their home page, like current accounts, credit cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards. Figure 7 BMO Bank Offers Real-Time Cash Flows Visibility And Forecasting Across Multiple Accounts This figure contains two screenshots. The first, from BMO’s digital banking website, shows the dashboard where users get a summary of their accounts with balances.