An industry report from the National Restaurant Association has highlighted the significant role of credit and debit cards in supporting restaurant sales. The association's research emphasizes mobile ordering, facilitated by electronic payments, as a crucial factor for engaging consumers and driving revenue.
The 2025 Off-Premises Restaurant Trends report reveals that over half of adults have recently used mobile ordering at restaurants, with millennials and Gen Z adults leading this trend. "Businesses and restaurants on Main Streets across the country know card payments are safe, secure, convenient – and help drive revenue," stated Electronic Payments Coalition Executive Chairman Richard Hunt.
Hunt criticized the Durbin-Marshall credit card mandates which would require transactions to use alternative networks. He expressed concerns about their impact on safety, security, and fraud protections. Despite claims of aiding small businesses, studies indicate these mandates could disproportionately benefit large retailers while negatively impacting smaller ones.
Hunt further noted that corporate mega-stores support these mandates to reduce costs but do not benefit small businesses or local restaurants. Instead, they threaten existing systems that provide liability protection and reward programs. "Believing Walmart, Target and other mega-stores are fighting for Main Street is laughable," Hunt commented.
He advocates for investing in technology and national data security standards to strengthen payment systems.