Joining the LINK Network

LINK is the UK's cash machine (ATM) network. Virtually every cash machine in the UK is connected to LINK, and must display the LINK logo.

Cardholders cannot enjoy reliable nationwide access to UK cash machines unless their card issuer is part of LINK. All the UK's significant debit and ATM card issuers are LINK Members.

There are over 100 million UK issued LINK-enabled cards in circulation. Operators who want to deploy ATMs or Counter Terminals in the UK to acquire transactions from these cards must also join LINK.

LINK is an open scheme in which membership is open to any organisation that meets the membership criteria.

The UK Interbank Payment Schemes guide (see opposite) provides an overview of the UK’s payment schemes, what each one offers, and how they can be accessed. It provides an overview of the steps to follow to help you engage with the Payments System Operators (PSOs) and the common process you should expect to follow to join them. It is accompanied by a pamphlet which is intended for use by Payments Service Providers (PSPs) that are thinking of joining or extending their existing payment services to their customers. Both publications have been developed collaboratively by the UK’s interbank Payments System Operators – Bacs Payment Schemes Limited (Bacs), CHAPS, Cheque and Credit Clearing Company, Faster Payments and LINK. It is intended for use by payments service providers (PSPs) that are considering joining, or thinking of extending more payments services to their customers.

Benefits of being a LINK Member

LINK is a not-for-profit membership association owned and governed by card issuers and ATM operators. This allows LINK to keep costs and fees at a minimum, and maintain its position as the scheme of choice for UK ATM and Counter Terminal transactions. LINK Rules support both free-to-use and pay-to-use ATMs and Counter Terminals. Cash machine and Counter Terminal operators cover the cost of free-to-use devices through a per transaction  interchange fee paid to them by the card issuing banks and building societies.

The interchange fee paid varies by the transaction type and whether the ATM is located in bank/building society or another type of location such as a supermarket/railway station/convenience store. These fees are as follows;

In addition to the interchange fee the ATM or Counter Terminal may be eligible for a Financial Inclusion Premium. Further information on these Premiums can be found here.

LINK Members are automatically provided with free detailed statistical information to help them manage their devices and card issuing effectively.

All LINK Members have free access to the on-line near real-time Transaction Enquiry System to help them manage customer queries quickly and effectively.

Fraud detection and alert services are provided free of charge as part of the core service.

All services offered to participating institutions are supported by detailed service level agreements. Full monitoring and reporting against service level targets are provided and regular customer reviews are an integral part of LINK Scheme membership

How to join the LINK Network

LINK is an open scheme in which membership is open to any organisation that meets the membership criteria. There are three categories of LINK membership;

• General Members who issue cards and operate ATMs and/or Counter Terminals and/or Automated Deposit Machines (ADMs).
• General Acquirer Members who operate ATMs, Counter Terminals and/or ADMs but do not issue cards:
  • Independent ATM Deployer Members (IAD Members) who operate ATMs but who do not connect ADMs or Counter Terminals to the LINK Network.
  • Counter Terminal Only Members (CTOM) who operate Counter Terminals but who do not connect ATMs or ADMs to the LINK Network.
  • Automated Deposit Machine Only Members (ADMOM) who operate ADMs but who do not connect ATMs or Counter Terminals to the LINK Network.
  • IADs, ADMOMs and CTOMs are sub-categories of the General Acquirer Member category of membership.
• Card Issuer Only Members (CIOMs) who issue cards but do not operate ATMs or ADMs or Counter Terminals.

The key steps in becoming a LINK Member are as follows:

• Sign a standard form of non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
• Provide a brief outline of the business proposal, e.g. likely card or ATM/Counter Terminal numbers, forecasts of transaction volumes, etc.
• Sign an agreement for participation in the LINK network. This agreement establishes the rights and obligations for participation and binds members to LINK's operating rules.

Membership enquiries regarding LINK network membership should be directed here.

For full details of the LINK Scheme membership Structure please click here.