Have You Got ‘Num-nesia’? A third of under 35s don’t know their own postcode, whilst a majority can’t recall their PIN number

• More than a third (38%) of Brits remember fewer numbers now than five years ago, as our reliance on technology increases.

• Nearly a third of shoppers (32%) say they have abandoned or delayed an online purchase because they needed to fetch their bank card to read their card number.

• This trend of ‘Num-nesia’ – the modern phenomenon of forgetting long strings of digits because we no longer need them – comes as Visa Click to Pay is rolled out across UK online retailers, removing the need for millions of consumers to manually enter long card numbers when shopping online.

• Visa Click to Pay is designed to provide a faster, more secure and friction-free way to pay.

Thursday 26th February, 2026: New research from Visa shows that our relationship with numbers is changing, with technology all but removing the need to memorise them.

According to Visa’s study of 2,000 consumers in the UK, a majority (58%) of the consumers surveyed say that they hardly ever have to remember numbers anymore. This is found to be particularly true amongst younger generations:

• A third (33%) of under 35s surveyed admit that they can’t remember their own postcode, with the same age group unable to remember their PIN number (52%)

• Almost a quarter (24%) of Gen Z surveyed admit they don’t know their own phone number, whilst nearly three fifths (59%) of the boomer generation surveyed say they still recall their own home number – and even their childhood landline (26%)

• More than two thirds (68%) of under-35s surveyed say they don’t recall their National Insurance number, compared with 45% of over-55s surveyed

‘Num-nesia’ is not only a by-product of technological innovation, but a reflection of how shopping habits are changing. Nearly a third (32%) of shoppers surveyed say they have abandoned or delayed an online purchase because they needed to fetch their bank card - highlighting how even small points of friction at checkout can disrupt buying behaviour.

Mark Wilcocks, VP Product & Solutions UK&I at Visa comments: “As our lives become more digital, the way we interact with numbers has fundamentally changed. We no longer need to memorise long strings of digits, and this shift - what we call ‘Num-nesia’ - reflects how technology is simplifying everyday tasks. Visa Click to Pay is designed to simplify the online checkout experience,by removing the need to enter card details, making it faster, smarter and more secure. By removing friction, we’re helping consumers shop with confidence and ease, while supporting retailers with a trusted, seamless payment solution that keeps pace with modern habits.”

Num-nesia at the checkout

The research found that nearly half (41%) of the Brits surveyed say mistyping card details online is their most frustrating payment moment, while nearly a quarter (24%) of those surveyed cite having to switch apps or devices to find their card information.

Although almost two-thirds (65%) get it right first time, a third (35%) still struggle to enter their card details correctly, highlighting the need for a simpler solution. Visa Click to Pay brings the ease of contactless to online shopping, offering a faster, more secure checkout experience.

With convenience now a top priority, it’s no surprise that two in five (41%) shoppers surveyed say having payment details auto-filled at checkout is an important part of the buying experience.

Visa Click to Pay is a new way to pay online that removes the need to manually enter card details. It’s designed to help consumers:

• Shop securely with trusted retailers

• Save time at checkout, and have more choice with multiple cards easily available at checkout

• Reduce friction and frustration

Find out more: Click to Pay | Visa

ENDS

About the research: 

The research was conducted by Opinium, on behalf of Visa, between 17th – 21st October 2025. This survey includes a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults in the UK.