Spain’s Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) has published a study on financial inclusion in rural areas. It found that 76.9% of rural residents regularly use online banking or their bank’s app.
A debit or credit card is held by 94.2% of respondents. Some 48.8% use the Bizum payment service often or very often, while 52.6% withdraw cash with similar frequency.
Online banking use declines with age: it is a regular channel for 62.2% of people aged 65 to 74 and 29.2% of those over 75. Among the oldest group, 70.4% rate their ability to carry out banking transactions online as low or nonexistent.
Internet access itself is not the main obstacle: 69.2% describe the connection in their area as good or very good. Among people who do not use online banking, 39% prefer visiting a bank or speaking with an employee, 25.1% cite security concerns, and 19% do not know how to use it.
ATMs are the usual way to withdraw cash for 84.9% of rural residents and the preferred option for 79.2%. Only 31.8% regularly visit a bank branch.
About 30% of branch-visiting customers over 65 do not know whether their bank offers several services for older people. However, 82.9% say a bank employee will accompany them to an ATM if needed.
The study is based on 1,597 telephone interviews with people aged 18 and over living in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents. The interviews took place from 19 to 29 May 2026. The survey was commissioned by Spain’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business.
