<![CDATA[The rapid growth of the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) has been positioned by Bank Indonesia as the main instrument for accelerating a cashless society, yet cash remains the dominant instrument of everyday transactions in many rural areas. This study examines the persistence of cash preference amid the availability of QRIS in Desa Merek, Kabupaten Karo, North Sumatra, using a qualitative descriptive approach carried out during a community service program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata/KKN). Data were collected through in-depth interviews with micro, small, and medium enterprise (UMKM) operators, village residents, and village officials, complemented by field observation and documentation, then analyzed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model. The findings indicate that cash preference is primarily driven by the fear of fraud and an inadequate understanding of the QRIS transaction mechanism among UMKM actors, alongside limited digital and financial literacy, distrust toward unfamiliar payment technology, weak signal infrastructure, and habitual cultural practices that favor face-to-face cash exchange. In response to these barriers, the KKN team designed and delivered an anti-scam and digital-fraud-awareness seminar to help residents understand safer digitalization practices. The study concludes that digital payment adoption in rural communities cannot be separated from trust-building and continuous literacy efforts, and recommends collaborative, sustained education involving Bank Indonesia, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), village government, and higher education institutions.]]>
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