Current Releases

22 September 2004

Growth In The ATM Network

In the light of press comment about the growth of ATMs in the UK, LINK would like to confirm that:

1. As at the end of July, there were 52,032 ATMs connected to the LINK network. Of these, 32,350 were non-surcharging machines and 19,682 were surcharging

2. Customers only pay for 3 per cent of transactions - 97 per cent of all transactions at ATMs in the UK are conducted free of charge

3. The LINK rules were changed in April this year to ensure that ATM operators place a notice on surcharging ATMs warning customers that they may be charged.

4. In addition, customers are notified of the amount of the charge during the course of the transaction and they have the option of accepting the charge or cancelling the transaction (in which case there is no charge). It is impossible to be charged a transaction fee without the explicit agreement of the customer

5. The number of free ATMs in the UK is continuing to grow, and numbers have increased by 3 per cent over the past year

6. The large increase in the number of ATMs that charge is in addition to the number of free machines, thereby widening customer choice and convenience

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Additional Information

LINK Interchange Network Ltd manages the UK’s ATM network, the world's busiest shared ATM network, providing 100 million debit and credit cardholders in the UK, with access to 52,032 cash machines. LINK also manages transactions for the basic bank accounts that form part of the Post Office’s universal banking services programme and has implemented an ATM prepay top-up service on behalf of mobile phone operators.

LINK’s outsourcing division, ATMOS, is Europe’s leading provider of outsourced transaction management services.
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© LINK Interchange Network Limited 2004. All Rights Reserved.