New study: 38% of Americans say cash feels more 'real' than digital money

(BPT) - Close to 2 in 5 Americans (38%) say cash feels more "real" than digital money: It's a tangible reminder of value, and remains a permanent part of their financial toolkit (27%). Yet, new Empower research shows that in practice, physical dollar bills may be fading from daily life: 1 in 5 say they use cash only a few times per year, and just 18% use it daily. Still, a quarter often find themselves in situations where they wish they had cash on hand.

Its popularity may be dictated by what's going on in the economy, as a quarter (25%) view cash as a "safety net" currency in times of financial downturns, and 1 in 5 Americans have increased their physical cash holdings in the past year due to market uncertainty.