LINK is the UK's largest cash machine network, connecting virtually all the UK’s ATMs and ensuring communities have the access to cash that they need through channels such as ATMs and cashback at retailers' tills. LINK is the only way banks and building societies can offer their customers access to cash across the whole of the UK. All the UK's main debit and ATM card issuers are LINK Members.
Cash machine operators join LINK in order to offer cash to the 100 million plus LINK-enabled UK cards in circulation.
The LINK Network is a fundamental part of the UK's payments infrastructure and cash machines are by far the most popular channel for cash withdrawal in the UK, used by millions of consumers every week.
LINK publishes weekly and monthly updates on its transaction volumes and values and they can be accessed here.
The role of LINK
LINK supports access to cash. It sets the rules for ATM operators who want their cash machines to be part of the UK ATM Network or card issuers who want their cardholders to be able to use the UK ATM Network.
Almost every cash machine in the UK, both free-to-use and pay-to-use, is connected to LINK, giving cardholders nationwide access to cash that is not achievable without joining LINK.
Link Scheme Holdings Ltd. is the operator of the LINK Scheme as set out in the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013. LINK is recognised as an inter-bank payment system under s.184 of the Banking Act 2009, bringing LINK into the scope of the Bank of England's supervisory regime. This is because of the crucial role that LINK plays in the UK economy as the main facilitator of free-to-use cash withdrawals. Find out more about our company Board and governance here.
