Cash is in decline. But Britain is not ready to go cashless, because digital payments don’t yet work for everyone. The consequences to society and individuals of not having a viable way of paying for goods are potentially severe. Our work shows the way forward. Consumers need a guarantee that they can access and use cash for as long as they need it. This requires us to radically review our cash infrastructure – something that is now pressing, as cracks in the system are showing. At the same time, we need to ensure that digital payments can eventually become a choice for everyone.