Cash isn’t just money—it’s the backbone behind every payment system we rely on.

That was the key message coming out of this year’s ATMIA Europe & Emerging Markets Summit in London, where the International Currency Association’s Director General, Frane Maroević, joined a high-level panel titled “The Hidden Backbone: How Cash Enables Electronic Payments and Builds Resilience.”

Alongside Thierry Lebeaux, Secretary general of ESTA, Oliver Krist - Board Member of Bargeld zählt! e. V., Svetlana Pajević from OTP banka Serbia, expertly moderated by ATMIA’s CEO Lonnie Talbert, the discussion centered on how cash and digital payments don’t compete but complement each other. Together, they form a payment ecosystem that’s fair, resilient, and inclusive.

So, what did we learn from the ATMIA Summit?

First, true resilience means everyday access to cash. As Maroević reminded the audience, if we only treat cash as a backup, we risk losing the infrastructure that keeps it available when we need it most. ATMs, cash transport, secure storage—these systems depend on use to stay alive.

Second, cash remains the most inclusive form of payment ever invented. No app. No log-in. No approval required. It is democratic and it works for everyone: young, old, urban, rural, rich, poor… It does not require a credit reference or a proof of address... That makes it an anchor for social inclusion and fairness in an increasingly digital world.

In his remarks, Maroević also echoed the words of economist Prof. Jay Zagorski, author of Power of Cash, who spoke earlier at the Summit. Zagorski made it clear: cash isn’t just about convenience, it’s about national security, resilience, and privacy. A society that regularly uses cash keeps its payment lifeline strong and its people independent. His warning was simple but powerful: to keep cash working for all, we all have to use it.

The message for all of us is clear: keep paying with cash. Each transaction, no matter how small, keeps societies resilient and our choices open.